Micah Ward, Author at University Business https://universitybusiness.com/author/micah/ University Business Thu, 15 Jun 2023 18:01:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.3 Nearly 2,000 colleges aren’t requiring SAT or ACT scores for fall 2023 https://universitybusiness.com/nearly-2000-colleges-arent-requiring-sat-or-act-scores-for-fall-2023/ Thu, 15 Jun 2023 18:01:12 +0000 https://universitybusiness.com/?p=18903 At least 78% of higher education institutions have already extended these policies through fall 2024 in anticipation of the pending U.S. Supreme Court decision on affirmative action.

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At a time when race-based admissions are at the forefront of public officials’ agendas, new data published last week suggests that the path to a college degree will soon become one that models equity and fairness. This is good news for our graduating seniors and the quality of higher education, experts note.

The latest tally by FairTest, a group seeking to dismantle the misuses and flaws of standardized testing, reveals that more than 1,900 U.S. colleges and universities aren’t requiring SAT or ACT scores for fall 2023 admissions. More than 200 colleges have made this decision since the fall of 2020. The current statistic represents 83% of four-year institutions.

At least 78% of higher education institutions have already extended these policies through the fall of 2024 in anticipation of the pending U.S. Supreme Court decision surrounding affirmative action.

“Admissions offices increasingly recognize that test requirements, given their negative disparate impact on Black and Latinx applicants, are ‘race-conscious’ factors, which can create unfair barriers to access higher education,” FairTest Executive Harry Feder said in a statement. “They also know that standardized exams are, at best, weak predictors of academic success and largely unrelated to college-ready skills and knowledge.

“If the Supreme Court bars affirmative action, we expect that very few schools will continue to require the ACT or SAT. And it is likely that many more graduate programs will eliminate requirements for exams such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT and GMAT.”

Colleges began removing GRE requirements as early as 2019, like Yale, which cited its potential to “skew” an applicant pool. Similarly, The New York Times reported that Boston University’s Black and Hispanic student demographic grew when it removed its GRE requirement and did not experience any loss in student performance.

Coincidentally, Educational Testing Service (ETS) recently announced its decision to cut the GRE in half to improve the test takers’ experience and reduce anxiety and fatigue. ETS did not mention how the pending decision on affirmative action or colleges’ concern with student equity molded the revamped GRE. However, Alberto Acereda, the associate vice president for global higher education at ETS, argued how important quantitative metrics are to streamline a changing admissions process and its contribution to student diversity.

“For institutions, the shorter GRE will continue to empower admissions professionals with critical data on a candidate’s graduate-level skills, as the only truly objective measure in a holistic admissions process,” said Acereda in an email. “The shorter GRE General Test will also help programs and schools choose diverse candidates who have the foundational skills needed to enrich their programs and have a successful graduate, business or law school experience.”

Conversely, FairTest Public Education Director Bob Schaeffer believes institutions’ transitions to test-optional policies are a race-neutral solution to enhancing campus diversity.

“Though not a full substitute for affirmative action, they are important tools in a robust set of holistic missions strategies to improve access for under-represented applicants.”


More from UB: How this college’s conservative takeover has led to lawsuits and accreditation troubles


Per the data, there’s no sign of these strategies slowing down. Here’s an in-depth tally provided by FairTest that reflects the growing number of four-year institutions adopting test-optional policies since the start of the pandemic:

  • 1,075 ACT/SAT-optional schools pre-pandemic (March 15, 2020)
  • 1,700 schools did not require scores for the fall of 2020
  • 1,775 schools did not require scores for the fall of 2021
  • 1,825 schools did not require scores for the fall of 2022
  • 1,904 schools don’t require scores for the fall of 2023

The long-awaited Supreme Court decision may very well be “the death knell” for standardized admissions tests, said Schaeffer.

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5 reasons fewer students may be going to college this year https://universitybusiness.com/5-reasons-fewer-students-may-be-going-to-college-this-year/ Wed, 07 Jun 2023 18:23:39 +0000 https://universitybusiness.com/?p=18845 More than 10% of 2023's high school graduating class contemplated whether to go to college this year, according to a new report. To no surprise, COVID is largely to blame.

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From student enrollment to instructional technologies, the pandemic’s reach was far greater than anyone anticipated. And while most areas of education have returned to what educators believe to be the new “normal,” its effects still linger. Now, students are thinking more critically about their lives post-graduation.

This year’s high school graduating class was in ninth grade when the pandemic struck. Some might say 2023-24’s incoming college freshmen haven’t had a traditional educational experience in four years.

“These kids have never had a normal year,” one counselor at Platte County High School in Platte City, Missouri, told USA Today.

And because of those experiences, perspectives on what life looks like after high school has changed dramatically, according to a new report released Wednesday by the American School Counselor Association.

“The pandemic was a defining aspect of their high school journey, leading to many circumstances that made these students’ high school years different from those of other graduating classes,” the report reads. “What are they thinking about their college and career choices? How did the pandemic affect their thoughts about these choices?”

In an effort to answer these questions, the ACT surveyed more than 1,500 students from the graduating class of 2023. The research uncovered five ways the pandemic altered their postsecondary trajectory, namely their future career choices. For instance, more than 10% of students contemplated whether or not to attend college at all.

According to the data, students said the pandemic affected their thoughts on:

  • Future career: 31%.
  • Program of study or major: 27%.
  • Which school to attend: 26%.
  • Type of school to attend: 17%.
  • Whether or not to attend college: 12%.

Several students shared their thoughts as to why they felt these feelings. For instance, one student said, “I also decided that community colleges are more suitable for me as they are not as expensive as universities.”


More from UB: How to ‘democratize education’: Stanford’s free online course gains 30,000 students in 3 years


Another student said COVID made them second-guess their decision to go to college because of how much it negatively impacted their academics.

“Before the pandemic, I always looked towards college and furthering my academics but once the pandemic hit it altered the way I looked at college,” they said. “It made me struggle in my high school years and made me doubt whether or not college was the best choice down the road.”

To that end, students were asked to identify the top challenges surrounding their thoughts toward college and their careers. Unsurprisingly, financial barriers top the list.

Students’ top challenges post-graduation:

  • Greater financial difficulties: 37%
  • Changing academic circumstances: 26%
  • Doubt about college: 26%
  • Heightened career influences: 23%
  • Ranging mental health issues: 21%
  • Education or career undecidedness: 18%

As the data suggests, these students’ postsecondary decisions may never be considered what’s been described as the traditional norm. Yet, colleges and universities must adapt to meet their needs. That said, here are four recommendations the researchers offer higher education institutions that want to make the class of 2023’s transition to college as seamless as possible:

  • Connect with families who need scholarship assistance, work-study options and financial aid.
  • Use reliable assessments and information to determine incoming students’ preparedness. Use that data and decide whether to offer short courses, tutoring, summer bridge programs and other options designed to support unfinished learning.
  • Make mental health resources readily available to students.
  • Encourage students to take advantage of opportunities that reflect their thoughts and feelings toward their life goals. Offer first-year experience courses, career planning programs and early internships.
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More than half of college students relied on mental health care in their youth https://universitybusiness.com/more-than-half-of-college-students-relied-on-mental-health-care-in-their-youth/ Tue, 09 May 2023 19:09:46 +0000 https://universitybusiness.com/?p=18621 With nearly 1 in 3 high school girls in the U.S. having seriously considered suicide, the surge in adolescents' internal struggles speaks to the need for data-driven, equitable mental health resources on college campuses.

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Nearly 60% of college students relied on mental health care in their youth, according to a new survey from TimelyCare, a virtual health and well-being provider for college students. The findings point to “the mental health crisis in this demographic that has been brewing for some time,” according to a news release. Students cite the following contributing factors impacting their mental health:

  • Academic pressures
  • Finances
  • Basic needs
  • Societal issues (e.g., mass shootings and economic uncertainty)

Since the pandemic, mental health for pre-college adolescents has reached unprecedented levels. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 3 high school girls in the U.S. have seriously considered suicide. These numbers also speak to the overwhelming need to provide data-driven, equitable resources on college campuses.

In addition, more than three-fourths (77%) of current college students know someone experiencing mental health challenges.

The survey also comes at a time when the CDC and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy have highlighted this growing issue over the past year to raise awareness and action around what’s been labeled a mental health crisis.

“While the numbers are overwhelming, it is critical to applaud America’s youth—and their trusted support systems—for taking the important first step of recognizing their need for professional therapeutic support and acting on it,” said Chief Care Officer for TimelyCare Bob Booth in a news release. “As students continue to seek mental health care and gain awareness of mental health issues earlier and earlier, we can expect a tidal wave of students entering college with unprecedented needs for support.”


More from UB: How two wellness providers are broadening the menu of mental health care services for students


TimelyCare also provides recommendations for colleges and universities on addressing student mental health. Here are 10 steps to improve student mental health as a higher education leader:

  1. Normalize and destigmatize mental health support
  2. Factor in all students’ backgrounds and identities
  3. Understand that mental health is an essential need
  4. Address areas where there are shortages in health providers
  5. Tackle it as an entire system
  6. Advocate for your school counselors staff
  7. Be intentional in reaching “silent sufferers”
  8. Encourage students to take the lead
  9. Champion student-athlete mental health
  10. Respond with a culture of caring
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‘The anti-CRT crusade’: 5 trends that point to its impact on education in 2023 https://universitybusiness.com/the-anti-crt-crusade-5-trends-that-point-to-its-impact-on-education-in-2023/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 19:17:00 +0000 https://universitybusiness.com/?p=18389 Most anti-CRT legislation targets K12 and higher education, a new report by CRT Forward suggests. As a result, faculty and school leadership is walking on eggshells over the thought of being sued by parents in the community.

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In September 2020, former President Donald Trump released an executive order banning “divisive conservatives” that fit under the umbrella of Critical Race Theory. Since then, lawmakers across the country have steadily passed legislation to ensure CRT-related discussions came nowhere near the classroom, and those efforts are likely to persist through 2023.

“This destructive ideology is grounded in misrepresentations of our country’s history and its role in the world,” Trump’s 2020 executive order reads. “Although presented as new and revolutionary, they resurrect the discredited notions of the nineteenth century’s apologists for slavery who, like President Lincoln’s rival Stephen A. Douglas, maintained that our government “was made on the white basis” “by white men, for the benefit of white men.'”

Now, researchers are pointing to the impact such restrictive legislation has had on K12 and higher education.

A new report by CRT Forward, an initiative from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law Critical Race Studies Program, reveals some of the most prominent trends that came about over the last two years of what they call “the crusade against CRT.”

Let’s take a detailed look at these five trends:

  1. The Executive Order’s long-lasting legacy: Though it was rescinded just a few months after it was released, its language continues to exist in most forms of anti-CRT legislation. Of the 563 anti-CRT measures introduced between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2022, 41% seek to regulate one form of subject matter for being a “divisive concept.” In addition, one-third ban instruction of divisive concepts that “any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex,” the report reads.
  2. Most states have adopted at least one anti-CRT measure: As of Dec. 31, 2022, 28 states have incorporated at least one anti-CRT law at the state level. 16 of the 28 have adopted specific anti-CRT legislation.
  3. These measures heavily focus on K12 schools, colleges and universities: K12 and higher ed have received the brunt of the crusade, according to the report. 91% of all introduced measures (513) and 94% of all those enacted (226 of 241) target K12 education. However, its impact on higher ed is much less as only 20% of introduced measures and 12% of those enacted target such institutions.
  4. Measures against K12 schools restrict curriculum and classroom lessons: 73% of the 513 introduced measures regulate classroom teaching and 75% regulate curricular materials, the report reads. In fact, most of them regulate both. Furthermore, 147 of the 513 introduced measures require school districts to allow parents to surveil curriculum. 28% of these proposed measures have been adopted.
  5. One-third of introduced state legislation threatens to withhold funding if schools violate these laws: Teachers, schools and districts are walking on eggshells knowing of the consequences associated with violating anti-CRT legislation. In fact, 14% of the proposed state legislative measures allow for individual citizens to sue district officials and teachers for “alleged noncompliance.”

“The findings in this report suggest that the anti-‘CRT’ movement is not stagnating; indeed, government officials at all levels are introducing an equal or greater number of measures in 2023 as they did in 2021 or 2022,” the report reads. “The CRT Forward Tracking Project will continue to compile, track and analyze these efforts to aid researchers, advocates and activists in resisting this current attack.”


More from UB: Bob Jones University is imploding. What happened?


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What is GPT-4 and why is it better than ChatGPT? https://universitybusiness.com/what-is-gpt-4-and-why-is-it-better-than-chatgpt/ Tue, 21 Mar 2023 14:55:22 +0000 https://universitybusiness.com/?p=18168 Just when it seemed artificial intelligence had hit its peak, this new iteration of OpenAI's chatbot can turn hand-drawn pictures into fully functioning websites and recreate the iconic game Pong in less than 60 seconds.

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Just when we thought artificial intelligence had hit its peak over the last few months, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, announced on Tuesday a new generation of the chatbot that knocks it out of the park.

GPT-4, is an updated version of the company’s language model, which has been trained using significant amounts of online data to generate detailed responses to user questions and prompts. Though it’s only available via a waitlist, it’s already been incorporated into various third-party products like Microsoft’s new AI-powered Bing search engine.

Those lucky enough to be given early access have shared their experiences with it, and their experiments are pretty astounding.

For example, GPT-4 does more than generate impressive essays and answer math questions. In one instance, a user demonstrated how a drawing can be turned into a fully functioning website in minutes. In the video, the program takes a messy notebook drawing and transforms it into a lackluster, yet functioning website.

It also can help students dive into coding with little to no prior knowledge. In another demonstration, one user had it recreate the iconic game Pong in under 60 seconds. All they had to do was follow step-by-step instructions provided by the tool and boom, one of the most iconic games in history was recreated.

As far as test-taking goes, it’s a star student. According to OpenAI’s announcement, “It passes a simulated bar exam with a score around the top 10% of test takers.”

Here are some other exams GPT-4 has taken:

  • SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: Scored 710/800 (93rd percentile)
  • Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program: Scored a 75%
  • AP US Government: Scored a 5 (88th-100th percentile)

So what does this mean for higher education? Well, if educators approach it the same way they did ChatGPT, we may see a divide between those who believe it should be embraced and those who fear it will promote cheating and academic dishonesty. Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, recently published a blog post describing his experience with GPT-4. Simply put, he thinks it has massive potential to close the digital divide among students.

For example, the organization has implemented a small AI pilot called Khanmigo for students and teachers to serve as a 24/7 tutor. Users can quite literally ask questions they would ask of their in-person tutor and it will generate patient, human-like responses. And for teachers, it serves as a timesaver so they can focus on what’s important—their students.

For example, in this video featured in Khan’s blog post, a user is seen interacting with AI to receive help with a math problem.

However, there’s still plenty of room for growth, according to Khan.

“AI makes mistakes,” he wrote. “Even the newest generation of AI can still make errors in math. AI can still ‘hallucinate,’ which is the term the industry uses for making stuff up. A lot of work needs to be done.”


More from UB: Why AI is about to become an integral part of higher education


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Why AI is about to become an integral part of higher education https://universitybusiness.com/why-ai-is-about-to-become-an-integral-part-of-higher-education/ Fri, 10 Mar 2023 16:24:51 +0000 https://universitybusiness.com/?p=18077 Colleges and universities across the country have entered a partnership to promote and expand AI education for all students, an area that's "exploded" since the emergence of tools like ChatGPT.

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With every technological innovation comes the need to educate the next generation of students to ensure they can apply those skills to their future careers. In the 70s, it was the computer as it became more available to students and schools. Then came Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Now, what we thought was the technology of the future is right at our fingertips, and it’s being used in America’s classrooms.

In July 2022, more than 500 tech and education leaders issued a call to action advocating for the expansion of computer science education opportunities for students. Less than a year later, education technology has come much further than we anticipated.

In early March, The AI Education Project, a nonprofit that aims to create equitable learning experiences through AI literacy, announced the rallying of higher education institutions across the country to bring AI education to every student with one common goal: to support students in becoming thriving workers, consumers, creators and citizens in the age of AI.

The recent surge in AI technology—most notably, the use of ChatGPT—has caused leaders in higher education to shift their focus to how such tools can be used in the classroom.

“aiEDU has been advocating for foundational AI education since 2019, but the sudden explosion of generative AI tools onto the scene has led to a huge wave of interest from educators and education leaders over the past few months,” said AI Education Project co-founder and CEO Alex Kotran in a statement. “Those who were around for the step change brought on by computers and the internet are experiencing a sense of déjà vu; it feels like we are once again on the cusp of a once-in-a-generation technological revolution, and it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that this is a really, really big deal—especially for students.”

Several notable colleges and universities have joined as catalyzing partners to advance AI education opportunities for students:

  • The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
  • Georgetown CSET
  • The Bay Area Community College Consortium
  • The University of Tennessee
  • Ohio University
  • Miami University
  • The University of South Florida
  • Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • Skyline College

“We urgently need to help our schools and educators evolve learning strategies for the Age of Artificial Intelligence, and aiEDU has an ambitious plan to help them do just that,” said Tiffany Taylor, chief people & impact officer at GSV Ventures and an aiEDU Board Member. “This might be the single most important challenge in the history of the U.S. education system, and no organization can solve the problem alone. The incredible coalition of partners that aiEDU has assembled validates its commitment to collaboration across the entire ecosystem.”


More from UB: A futurist’s perspective on generative AI in the classroom


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Does your university need an app? There’s a student for that https://universitybusiness.com/does-your-university-need-an-app-theres-a-student-for-that/ Tue, 28 Feb 2023 19:45:34 +0000 https://universitybusi.wpengine.com/?p=17947 Appy Pie, a no-code development platform, offers a free app development workshop designed for students to introduce them to the world of app development. Notable colleges around the world are utilizing the program, such as Texas Southern University and the University of Westminster.

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Today’s generation of students will become some of the most digitally literate citizens we’ve ever seen. Sure, they’re probably already Microsoft Word experts and have great search engine optimization skills, but even greater technological opportunities await them.

Nearly every job requires its employees to have a considerable range of digital skills, according to a report from the National Skills Coalition, an organization that seeks inclusive and high-quality skills training for all. Most students meet this expectation on their own, considering many students have access to the internet and a mobile device or computer. Schools can further prepare students for a successful future in tech through a multitude of career prep programs. How about a career in one of the most dominant industries in tech: app development?

Appy Pie, a no-code development platform, recently announced a free app development workshop designed for K12 and college students. The program aims to provide students with hands-on professional experience and introduce them to the world of app development. By removing coding from the creation process, teachers can utilize the workshop in their classrooms without any barriers to entry.

“We started back in 2015,” says Joel Perez, senior relationship development manager at Appy Pie. “Around that time, everything was program-based or code-based, so if you wanted to do anything you needed to know some kind of advanced coding. To jump this hurdle, we came up with a solution so now it’s a drag-and-click kind of process where you’re just building it and designing it.”

It does require some degree of configuration, he says, in order to set up the app. But it’s “really minimal.”

Since its inception, according to Perez, they’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students and professors.

“They love it,” he says. “They love that we’re starting these courses showing people how to build apps. It’s a great place to start and get that hands-on experience. With the app builder, you can create an app within five minutes and test it on your Apple or Android device. That’s how quickly you can have something done.”

Notable colleges and school districts around the world are utilizing the program, such as Reed Union School District, Fresno Unified, Montecito Union, Coleg Cambria (UK), Texas Southern University, and Westminster & Emirates College of Advance Education (University of Westminster).

Professors and students can participate in a pre-recorded curriculum where students can learn at their own pace with live sessions tailored for that particular course throughout. Perez says students have access to a variety of other opportunities beyond app development.

“We do automation, we have a website builder, a chatbot builder and other different products,” he says. In addition, for college students or more advanced users, they’re able to remove the “no coding” feature to obtain those real-world skills.

“We do have a code page that they can add to the app and they can develop apps themselves,” he explains.

Perhaps one of the most valuable features of the program is that students can tangibly see the value in their product. According to Perez, schools can implement students’ apps into their daily operations.

“Maybe you need a school directory app, for example,” he says. “Or an app that’s going to display school programs, events, maybe newsletters. We have schools using the actual apps in the real-life school environment.”


More from UB: How a college’s mobile app connects students when they can’t connect


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Plagiarism catcher Turnitin announces ‘state-of-the-art’ AI writing detector https://universitybusiness.com/plagiarism-catcher-turnitin-announces-state-of-the-art-ai-writing-detector/ Tue, 21 Feb 2023 19:26:25 +0000 https://universitybusi.wpengine.com/?p=17799 The tool, expected to launch in April, is capable of detecting 97% of ChatGPT writing with a less than 1% false positive rate, according to the company.

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Does artificial intelligence have a place in the classroom? That’s yet to be decided as generative AI tools, namely ChatGPT, continue to rock the higher education sphere. What we do know is that efforts to curb cheating have steadily increased since its inception.

OpenAI, the chatbot’s creator, launched its own AI-writing detector several weeks ago, yet it’s not 100% accurate, according to the company. They recommend that the classified not be the sole indicator of plagiarism, but instead “as a complement to other methods of determining the source of a piece of text.”

Most recently, the well-known plagiarism catcher Turnitin announced that it has successfully developed a generative AI detector that is capable of identifying 97% of text written by ChatGPT with a less than 1% false positive rate. It is expected to be available as early as April 2023.

“Based on how our detection technology is performing in our lab and with a significant number of test samples, we are confident that Turnitin’s AI writing detection capabilities will give educators information to help them decide how to best handle work that may have been influenced by AI writing tools,” said Chief Product Officer Annie Chechitelli in a statement. “Equally important as our confidence in the technology is making the information usable and helpful and in a format that educators can use.”

The company also published an AI writing resource page to support educators in their efforts to address AI writing and generated text.

“As AI text generators like ChatGPT quickly evolve, our educator resources will, too,” according to their resource page. “Curated and created by our team of veteran educators, our resources help educators meet these new challenges.”

For example, there are resources outlining what educators are saying about AI-generated text, as well as a guidebook for approaching tools like ChatGPT in the classroom.

“We are very happy to see productive conversations taking place across the education community about academic integrity and tools to ensure the authenticity of authorship,” said VP of AI Eric Wang. “Teachers should use Turnitin’s detector to have fulsome conversations with students about this technology.”


More from UB: ChatGPT a cheating tool? These educators think you’re looking at it wrong


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Quality and attainment: 2023’s most—and least—educated states in America https://universitybusiness.com/quality-and-attainment-2023s-most-and-least-educated-states-in-america/ Thu, 16 Feb 2023 19:50:31 +0000 https://universitybusi.wpengine.com/?p=17735 The five states with the highest percentage of college degree holders were also the top 10 most educated states, according to WalletHub's study. Additionally, three of the top 10 most educated states had the best university degree quality on average.

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College may not be for everyone, and some people wonder why their peers are choosing college in the first place. Generally speaking, however, the higher the level of education one receives, the greater their income potential becomes. Also, their chances of unemployment are lower. But that’s not all.

According to a new WalletHub study, the correlation between an individual’s education levels and income/employment rates does in fact exist.

In their “2023’s Most & Least Educated States in America” report, all 50 states were compared across two key dimensions: educational attainment and quality of education. Each dimension has its own set of metrics they took into consideration as well. For example, educational attainment pertains to a state’s share of adults 25 and older with at least a high school diploma, some college experience, at least a bachelor’s degree, and at least a graduate or professional degree. Quality and attainment were measured using 14 metrics, for example, the quality of a state’s school system and blue-ribbon schools per capita. According to the data, Massachusetts ranks no. 1 on both education attainment and quality of education.

Here’s a full look at the most—and least—educated states in the country for 2023:

Source: WalletHub
  1. Massachusetts: Educational Attainment (1), Quality of Education (1)
  2. Maryland: Educational Attainment (4), Quality of Education (2)
  3. Connecticut: Educational Attainment (6), Quality of Education (4)
  4. Vermont: Educational Attainment (3), Quality of Education (15)
  5. Colorado: Educational Attainment (2), Quality of Education (37)
  6. New Jersey: Educational Attainment (10), Quality of Education (6)
  7. Virginia: Educational Attainment (5), Quality of Education (16)
  8. New Hampshire: Educational Attainment (7), Quality of Education (11)
  9. Minnesota: Educational Attainment (8), Quality of Education (24)
  10. Utah: Educational Attainment (11), Quality of Education (12)
  11. Washington: Educational Attainment (9), Quality of Education (25)
  12. Rhode Island: Educational Attainment (24), Quality of Education (5)
  13. Delaware: Educational Attainment (21), Quality of Education (7)
  14. New York: Educational Attainment (18), Quality of Education (14)
  15. Oregon: Educational Attainment (12), Quality of Education (41)
  16. Illinois: Educational Attainment (17), Quality of Education (18)
  17. Hawaii: Educational Attainment (14), Quality of Education (35)
  18. Maine: Educational Attainment (15), Quality of Education (31)
  19. Montana: Educational Attainment (13), Quality of Education (46)
  20. Wisconsin: Educational Attainment (25), Quality of Education (10)
  21. Florida: Educational Attainment (35), Quality of Education (3)
  22. Nebraska: Educational Attainment (20), Quality of Education (38)
  23. North Dakota: Educational Attainment (22), Quality of Education (26)
  24. Wyoming: Educational Attainment (23), Quality of Education (30)
  25. Kansas: Educational Attainment (16), Quality of Education (49)
  26. North Carolina: Educational Attainment (28), Quality of Education (13)
  27. Michigan: Educational Attainment (26), Quality of Education (28)
  28. California: Educational Attainment (37), Quality of Attainment (8)
  29. Alaska: Education Attainment (19), Quality of Education (50)
  30. Pennsylvania: Education Attainment (27), Quality of Education (36)
  31. Iowa: Educational Attainment (29), Quality of Education (29)
  32. Georgia: Educational Attainment (33), Quality of Education (22)
  33. Missouri: Educational Attainment (31), Quality of Education (33)
  34. Ohio: Educational Attainment (36), Quality of Education (21)
  35. South Dakota: Educational Attainment (30), Quality of Education (40)
  36. Idaho: Educational Attainment (34), Quality of Education (32)
  37. Arizona: Educational Attainment (32), Quality of Education (44)
  38. Indiana: Educational Attainment (41), Quality of Education (9)
  39. South Carolina: Educational Attainment (38), Quality of Education (34)
  40. Tennessee: Educational Attainment (40), Quality of Education (19)
  41. Texas: Educational Attainment (42), Quality of Education (17)
  42. New Mexico: Educational Attainment (39), Quality of Education (48)
  43. Kentucky: Educational Attainment (46), Quality of Education (19)
  44. (Tied for 43) Nevada: Educational Attainment (45), Quality of Education (23)
  45. Oklahoma: Educational Attainment (43), Quality of Education (42)
  46. Alabama: Educational Attainment (44), Quality of Education (39)
  47. Arkansas: Educational Attainment (47), Quality of Education (27)
  48. Louisiana: Educational Attainment (48), Quality of Education (43)
  49. Mississippi: Educational Attainment (49), Quality of Education (45)
  50. West Virginia: Educational Attainment (50), Quality of Education (47)

Source: WalletHub

The five states with the highest percentage of college degree holders were also the top ten most educated states. Additionally, three of the top ten most educated states had the best university degree quality on average.

David H. Feldman, a William & Mary professor in Virginia, WalletHub’s seventh most educated state, talks about how less educated states can prevent brain drain of their more talented citizens.

“Excellent out-of-state students have lots of national opportunities after graduating, but significant numbers choose to stay in the state because the state offers a wide variety of excellent career pathways for our graduates,” Feldman said. “If states do not want us to poach talented high school graduates, they need to offer a rich variety of educational opportunities to meet the wide variety of careers college graduates tend to pursue.”


More from UB: Agree or disagree? Check out the latest list of the 100 best college towns


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U.S. joins international partnership to shine light on growing cyberattacks https://universitybusiness.com/u-s-joins-international-partnership-to-shine-light-on-growing-cyberattacks/ Mon, 13 Feb 2023 19:49:26 +0000 https://universitybusi.wpengine.com/?p=17678 The U.S. joined Australia, India and Japan in the Quad Cyber Challenge, a resource-sharing initiative to raise attention around cyber threats against education and government institutions. Education is a key focus of the initiative, as it is now the single-most targeted industry for cyberattacks.

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“Calling on all internet users: Protect yourself and your devices!” This is the message from the Biden Administration to all school and government organizations amidst persistent and malicious cyber threats.

On Tuesday, the U.S. joined Australia, India and Japan in the Quad Cyber Challenge, a resource-sharing initiative to raise awareness around cyber threats against education and government institutions. The announcement comes at a time when the education sector is the single-most targeted industry for cyberattacks.

“When it comes to ransomware operations, organizations with sensitive data and critical operations are key targets, as these two factors put significant pressure on victims to pay the ransom demand to restore operations and ensure their data isn’t exposed,” said Cyber Threat Intelligence Manager at the Center for Internet Security (CIS) TJ Sayers in a recent interview with District Administration. This is true for both K12 and higher education institutions alike.

One of the most prominent incidents was the ransomware attack by Vice Society against the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school district in the country. The attack sent chills down the spines of smaller, less-resourceful schools.

“Internet users worldwide are targets of cybercrime and other malicious cyber threats that can cost trillions of dollars each year and compromise sensitive, personal data,” according to a statement from the White House. “Many cyber attacks can be guarded against by simple preventative measures.”

Educational institutions will become a key focus of this initiative. In April, colleges and universities will be invited to take part in the challenge to “improve cyber hygiene.” According to the website, participants can cooperate as an individual or with the entire school. There’s also a checklist that schools can provide to their students and staff to follow to practice online safety habits. These include:

  • Installing security updates
  • Changing passwords
  • Using password managers
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Locking devices
  • Backing up files
  • Avoiding oversharing on social media
  • Bookmarking important sites
  • Using safe and reliable email providers
  • Deleting unused apps
  • Avoiding public Wi-Fi and charging stations
  • Being mindful of what you click on

“Malicious cyber actors are constantly seeking ways to exploit any opportunity to get in your systems, such as through out-of-date software, unsecured apps that leave your data exposed, or easy-to-guess passwords,” the checklist reads.

The initiative, which is scheduled for April 10-14, simply aims to provide institutions with the tools and resources necessary to practice online safety. More educational resources may be released in the coming months.


More from UB: For cybercriminals, the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year


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