Robert Kelchen
@robertkelchen.com
Professor & department head, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I study higher ed finance, accountability, and financial aid. Washington Monthly rankings data editor. Dad, gardener, and baker. Personal account.
https://robertkelchen.com/
https://robertkelchen.com/
The Secretary of Education just appointed five new members to the powerful National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI)--the organization that approves accreditors. Expect NACIQI to play a major role over the next several years.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
November 25, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The Secretary of Education just appointed five new members to the powerful National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI)--the organization that approves accreditors. Expect NACIQI to play a major role over the next several years.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
@dubravkaritter.bsky.social, @dougwebberecon.bsky.social, and I have a new Education Next article out that offers a less technical look at our research on predicting college closures using machine learning techniques.
Colleges Are Closing. Who Might Be Next?
How machine learning can fill data gaps and help forecast the future
www.educationnext.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 AM
@dubravkaritter.bsky.social, @dougwebberecon.bsky.social, and I have a new Education Next article out that offers a less technical look at our research on predicting college closures using machine learning techniques.
And that pressure just went up a few notches thanks to America's Finest News Source.
November 25, 2025 at 12:02 AM
And that pressure just went up a few notches thanks to America's Finest News Source.
ED is feeling enough pressure about the graduate vs. professional program distinction that they put out a press release (correctly) stating that nursing was never technically classified as professional. This probably won't gain much traction with the general public.
Myth vs. Fact: The Definition of Professional Degrees
President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act placed commonsense limits on federal student loans for graduate degrees. This fact sheet sets the record straight regarding the proposed treatment of nursi...
www.ed.gov
November 24, 2025 at 9:37 PM
ED is feeling enough pressure about the graduate vs. professional program distinction that they put out a press release (correctly) stating that nursing was never technically classified as professional. This probably won't gain much traction with the general public.
Conveniently, I'm entering my sixth meeting of the day.
In Advice | Six tips for chairs of large departments on how to cope with the meeting-heavy schedule that goes hand in hand with supervising a large faculty and staff. https://chroni.cl/4iiR6dB
Advice | How to Chair a Large Department
It’s crucial for heads of big departments to learn how to manage a meeting-heavy schedule.
www.chronicle.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Conveniently, I'm entering my sixth meeting of the day.
It's interesting to see a few universities moving away from responsibility center management budget models and back toward explicitly centralized models. That's a clear sign of tight budgets for years to come.
Temple hosts budget model workshops
Temple University is in the Budget Model Design phase as it works to create a new budget model.
news.temple.edu
November 24, 2025 at 5:22 PM
It's interesting to see a few universities moving away from responsibility center management budget models and back toward explicitly centralized models. That's a clear sign of tight budgets for years to come.
It appears that ED's first attempt to shift a piece of its portfolio to another agency has not gone tremendously well. We'll see if there are any lessons applied to this new, larger attempt.
The Education Department gave another agency power to distribute money. It hasn’t gone smoothly.
Critics say issues with accessing federal career and technical education funding could preview bigger problems when the Trump administration starts to outsource more of the Education Department’s resp...
www.politico.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:40 PM
It appears that ED's first attempt to shift a piece of its portfolio to another agency has not gone tremendously well. We'll see if there are any lessons applied to this new, larger attempt.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
These struggles, and others happening right now, is why I teach--how many more institutions will chase the DI dream in the era of "opting-in" and ultimately damage their institution's financial standing?
h/t @daniellibit.bsky.social @sportico.bsky.social
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...
h/t @daniellibit.bsky.social @sportico.bsky.social
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...
Sunk-Cost Football: UMass’ Faltering Quest to Belong in the FBS
UMass bought the promise of big-time football in 2011, when it joined the FBS. Fourteen brutal years later, the Minutemen are doubling down.
www.sportico.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:51 PM
These struggles, and others happening right now, is why I teach--how many more institutions will chase the DI dream in the era of "opting-in" and ultimately damage their institution's financial standing?
h/t @daniellibit.bsky.social @sportico.bsky.social
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...
h/t @daniellibit.bsky.social @sportico.bsky.social
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
"The White House has defended Mr. Trump’s approach, arguing that the wealthy have long influenced and improved American colleges and universities."
L.O.L.
This article makes perfect sense as long as you think in terms of power 1/2
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
L.O.L.
This article makes perfect sense as long as you think in terms of power 1/2
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Wealthy People Have Always Shaped Universities. This Time Is Different.
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
"The White House has defended Mr. Trump’s approach, arguing that the wealthy have long influenced and improved American colleges and universities."
L.O.L.
This article makes perfect sense as long as you think in terms of power 1/2
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
L.O.L.
This article makes perfect sense as long as you think in terms of power 1/2
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
I was sufficiently annoyed with a piece claiming that inflation-adjusted college costs have doubled over the last 20 years that I wrote a response. There really haven't been increases over the last decade, but I fear that promising trend may be changing.
College Prices Have Not Risen Dramatically in the Last Decade—But Will That Change?
Higher education is facing a crisis of confidence among the general public, and much of that is driven by concerns regarding affordability. For example, about 80 percent of Democrats and Republican…
robertkelchen.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I was sufficiently annoyed with a piece claiming that inflation-adjusted college costs have doubled over the last 20 years that I wrote a response. There really haven't been increases over the last decade, but I fear that promising trend may be changing.
ED has never considered these degrees to be professional, instead relying on a tiny list put together decades ago (that they barely changed in 2025). It's just that the graduate/professional distinction never really mattered for accessing federal student loans until now.
ICYMI Dept of Education will no longer considers these professional degrees:
Nursing
Public health
Social work
Physician assistant
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Audiology
Speech-language pathology
Social work
Counseling & therapy
Health Admin
A smaller health workforce makes us all sicker
Nursing
Public health
Social work
Physician assistant
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Audiology
Speech-language pathology
Social work
Counseling & therapy
Health Admin
A smaller health workforce makes us all sicker
November 22, 2025 at 10:29 PM
ED has never considered these degrees to be professional, instead relying on a tiny list put together decades ago (that they barely changed in 2025). It's just that the graduate/professional distinction never really mattered for accessing federal student loans until now.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
She's an unconventional choice, but you know what? I think she'll do great with Ole Miss football.
BREAKING: Marjorie Taylor Greene says she's resigning from Congress — effective January 5, 2026.
November 22, 2025 at 1:36 AM
She's an unconventional choice, but you know what? I think she'll do great with Ole Miss football.
ED is sticking close to an antiquated definition of professional programs that hasn't really mattered for decades for grad student loan access. A bit of good news: as my analysis of College Scorecard data shows, most nursing programs have average debt burdens below the new $100k limit.
Next generation of nurses at risk with proposed student loan caps
As nursing shortages hit an all-time high, new proposed borrowing limits by the Education Department could make it harder to pay for school.
www.usatoday.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:49 PM
ED is sticking close to an antiquated definition of professional programs that hasn't really mattered for decades for grad student loan access. A bit of good news: as my analysis of College Scorecard data shows, most nursing programs have average debt burdens below the new $100k limit.
I was sufficiently annoyed with a piece claiming that inflation-adjusted college costs have doubled over the last 20 years that I wrote a response. There really haven't been increases over the last decade, but I fear that promising trend may be changing.
College Prices Have Not Risen Dramatically in the Last Decade—But Will That Change?
Higher education is facing a crisis of confidence among the general public, and much of that is driven by concerns regarding affordability. For example, about 80 percent of Democrats and Republican…
robertkelchen.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I was sufficiently annoyed with a piece claiming that inflation-adjusted college costs have doubled over the last 20 years that I wrote a response. There really haven't been increases over the last decade, but I fear that promising trend may be changing.
Today was supposed to be the deadline for colleges to join Trump's higher ed compact, but only three have expressed real interest and public universities are stonewalling open records requests.
Pro tip: don't announce a compact until you already have a robust list of signers.
Pro tip: don't announce a compact until you already have a robust list of signers.
Public Universities Don’t Want to Discuss the Compact
Institutions have been slow to respond to records requests related to the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” and UT Austin is fighting to withhold records.
www.insidehighered.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Today was supposed to be the deadline for colleges to join Trump's higher ed compact, but only three have expressed real interest and public universities are stonewalling open records requests.
Pro tip: don't announce a compact until you already have a robust list of signers.
Pro tip: don't announce a compact until you already have a robust list of signers.
Montclair State University is planning to eliminate departments...and department chairs. Who is going to do things like handle promotion applications and approve mundane paperwork?
A Planned Shake-Up at Montclair State U. Raises a Question: What Is a Department for?
The administration says its plan to reorganize 15 departments into four schools will foster interdisciplinarity and make academic fields more relevant. Faculty members aren’t so sure.
www.chronicle.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Montclair State University is planning to eliminate departments...and department chairs. Who is going to do things like handle promotion applications and approve mundane paperwork?
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Please share this opportunity with any grad students or early-career scholars interested in rural higher education
The National Rural Higher Education Research Center at MDRC is now taking applications for the first cohort of the Rural Research Mentorship Network
www.mdrc.org/work/project...
The National Rural Higher Education Research Center at MDRC is now taking applications for the first cohort of the Rural Research Mentorship Network
www.mdrc.org/work/project...
National Rural Higher Education Research Center | MDRC
Funded by the U.S.
www.mdrc.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Please share this opportunity with any grad students or early-career scholars interested in rural higher education
The National Rural Higher Education Research Center at MDRC is now taking applications for the first cohort of the Rural Research Mentorship Network
www.mdrc.org/work/project...
The National Rural Higher Education Research Center at MDRC is now taking applications for the first cohort of the Rural Research Mentorship Network
www.mdrc.org/work/project...
I just signed off on five different items using five different platforms in 20 minutes (Cayuse, Adobe, Planon, our ancient IRB system, and Banner). Please clap.
Living the department head dream!
Living the department head dream!
November 20, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I just signed off on five different items using five different platforms in 20 minutes (Cayuse, Adobe, Planon, our ancient IRB system, and Banner). Please clap.
Living the department head dream!
Living the department head dream!
Costs (the money needed to provide an education) have risen. Prices (what students pay) have been at or below inflation for the past decade. That doesn't get nearly enough attention.
NPR folks, you know where to find me.
NPR folks, you know where to find me.
November 20, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Costs (the money needed to provide an education) have risen. Prices (what students pay) have been at or below inflation for the past decade. That doesn't get nearly enough attention.
NPR folks, you know where to find me.
NPR folks, you know where to find me.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Here are the key education leaders listed as participating in today's White House higher ed roundtable.
The mention of administrative bloat is one thing that unites Republicans and faculty unions, even though the reality is a lot more complicated.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
The mention of administrative bloat is one thing that unites Republicans and faculty unions, even though the reality is a lot more complicated.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
November 20, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Here are the key education leaders listed as participating in today's White House higher ed roundtable.
The mention of administrative bloat is one thing that unites Republicans and faculty unions, even though the reality is a lot more complicated.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
The mention of administrative bloat is one thing that unites Republicans and faculty unions, even though the reality is a lot more complicated.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
Here are the key education leaders listed as participating in today's White House higher ed roundtable.
The mention of administrative bloat is one thing that unites Republicans and faculty unions, even though the reality is a lot more complicated.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
The mention of administrative bloat is one thing that unites Republicans and faculty unions, even though the reality is a lot more complicated.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
November 20, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Here are the key education leaders listed as participating in today's White House higher ed roundtable.
The mention of administrative bloat is one thing that unites Republicans and faculty unions, even though the reality is a lot more complicated.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
The mention of administrative bloat is one thing that unites Republicans and faculty unions, even though the reality is a lot more complicated.
www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
As a department head, I send one-line e-mails and 1,500-word e-mails. There is very little in between.
November 19, 2025 at 7:36 PM
As a department head, I send one-line e-mails and 1,500-word e-mails. There is very little in between.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Well I searched "How do content standards influence teachers' instruction?" and nothing by me came up in the first ten hits. (Whereas a bunch of dissertations did.) So I would say it still has some kinks to iron out.
Google Scholar has a new "Labs" feature that strives to better identify papers answering certain research questions. Has anyone tried it out?
scholar.google.com/scholar_labs...
scholar.google.com/scholar_labs...
scholar.google.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Well I searched "How do content standards influence teachers' instruction?" and nothing by me came up in the first ten hits. (Whereas a bunch of dissertations did.) So I would say it still has some kinks to iron out.
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Reposted by Robert Kelchen
Margaret Spellings, the Ed Sec'y under George W. Bush, weighs in on the changes announced today to move several core functions of the Ed Dept to other federal agencies
November 19, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Margaret Spellings, the Ed Sec'y under George W. Bush, weighs in on the changes announced today to move several core functions of the Ed Dept to other federal agencies