Higher Education

As a predictor for the future, it is crucial to look at the graduation rates of colleges and universities in America. Students need to know the graduation rates of prospective colleges as their graduation rate reflects the institution’s ability to support their students across the board. With that being said, it’s alarming to note that some colleges have exceptionally low graduation rates. Here are the top colleges and universities with the worst graduation rates that you should avoid.

1. Southern University at New Orleans – With a graduation rate of only 4%, Southern University in New Orleans tops the list of the worst graduation rates in America. This university, located in Louisiana, is a member of the Southern University System and serves approximately 2,500 students.

2. Jarvis Christian College – This private, historically black college, located in Hawkins, Texas, is the second-lowest graduation rate in the United States. Only 5% of the 930 students who enroll at this institution, graduate within six years.

3. Kentucky State University – Only 8% of students at this liberal arts college in Frankfort, KY graduate within six years, making it one of the lowest-performing institutions in the state.

4. Mississippi Valley State University – With a graduation rate of only 10%, Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, MS, fails to deliver quality education for its 2,400 students, most of whom are African American.

5. Philander Smith College – This historically black college located in Little Rock, AR, serves around 1,000 students, but only 15% of them are successful in graduating.

6. Harris-Stowe State University – This historically black university in St. Louis, MO, has a graduation rate of 16%. With almost 1,500 students enrolled at this institution, Harris-Stowe State University is accountable for providing better quality education to its students.

7. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff – Located in Pine Bluff, AR, with a graduation rate of 17%, this public university seems to have a lack of academic support, which leads to a challenging journey to graduation for its 2,800 students.

8. Lincoln University – With only 19% of students graduating from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO, this institution lands on the list of colleges with the worst graduation rates in America. Lincoln University needs to sharpen its guidelines to ensure that students excel academically and complete their degree programs successfully.

9. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology – This private, STEM-focused institution in Harrisburg, PA, with less than 1,000 students, reports a graduation rate of only 22%. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology needs to figure out paths to help students succeed academically if they hope to improve their ranking.

10. Shaw University – A private liberal arts institution in Raleigh, NC, Shaw University’s graduation rate of 24% leaves little to be desired, considering that around 1,200 students are enrolled at the university.

In conclusion, the graduation rates of these institutions are alarmingly low; they highlight the inability of these colleges and universities to support students to succeed in their academic endeavors. It is advisable to check the graduation rates of the colleges and universities before enrolling in one to avoid being disappointed and wasting money spent on tuition fees.   

As someone who has witnessed and experienced the challenges of getting an education as a black boy, it’s heartbreaking to see that this problem still persists, especially for black girls. The statistics speak for themselves – black girls face staggering education challenges that put them at a disadvantage in a world where education is seen as one of the keys to economic success.

One of the biggest challenges that black girls face is the achievement gap. According to the National Women’s Law Center, black girls are more likely to be suspended and expelled from school than white girls. This can lead to missed opportunities to learn or even dropping out of school completely. Additionally, black girls are more likely to attend under-resourced and overcrowded schools, which can hinder their learning experience.

Another challenge black girls face is the lack of representation in the curriculum. The stories and experiences of black girls and women are often absent from textbooks and classrooms. This creates a disconnect between black girls and the material they are supposed to be learning. It also reinforces the idea that their experiences and voices don’t matter, which is detrimental to their self-esteem and sense of belonging.

Stereotypes and prejudice also play a role in the education challenges black girls face. Teachers, like anyone else, are not immune to their own unexamined biases. Black girls are often labeled as disruptive or difficult when they are simply expressing themselves or challenging the status quo. This can lead to them being punished unfairly or not being taken seriously, which can hamper their academic growth.

The education challenges that black girls face are not just academic. Emotional and mental health factors are also significant issue. According to a report by the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality, black girls are significantly more likely to experience sexual assault and harassment in schools. This can lead to trauma and difficulties in forming healthy relationships, which can have long-term consequences.

It’s time to acknowledge the education challenges that black girls face and work to address them. Our society must prioritize ensuring that black girls have access to quality education that values their experiences and supports their growth. This can be done by implementing policies that address the achievement gap, increasing representation in the curriculum, and addressing biases and prejudice in the education system. We must create a world where black girls have a fair shot at the education they deserve so that they can thrive and succeed.     

As a society, we often focus on skill-building and academic achievement in schools. However, it is crucial to remember that students are not just vessels for academic knowledge – they are multifaceted individuals with their own distinct needs, strengths, and challenges. This is why schools should focus on the whole child, taking into account their emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development.

The first reason why schools need to focus on the whole child is that this approach acknowledges that children are not just their IQ scores or grades but complex individuals. All students are different and can benefit from a wide range of teaching strategies. For example, a student who struggles with anxiety may not perform their best in a traditional classroom setting, but they may thrive in a more nurturing environment that includes mindfulness practices or physical activities. When educators understand that each student has unique strengths and needs, they can better tailor instruction and support to facilitate their learning.

Another reason why schools should take a whole-child approach is that social-emotional learning (SEL) is essential to academic success. Children who have developed skills such as self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy, often show more significant academic progress. SEL provides children with the tools they need to navigate relationships, communicate effectively, and cope with stress. These are skills that can not only help students in high school and beyond but that can also extend to all areas of their lives.

Moreover, focusing on the whole child promotes engagement, which can lead to better student outcomes. When children feel seen, heard, and valued, they are more likely to be motivated to attend school, participate in class, form bonds with peers, and make healthy decisions. Such engagement sets the stage for long-term success in both school and life.

Finally, focusing on the whole child is simply the right thing to do. As educators, we have a responsibility to empower our students so that they can fulfill their potential and make a meaningful impact on the world. By cultivating an environment that honors the diverse needs of diverse children, we can help each student succeed and in turn, create a healthier, more inclusive society.

In conclusion, it is crucial to understand that children are much more than their grades or academic abilities. A whole-child approach to education takes into account emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development, leading to better student outcomes, engagement, and overall well-being. By focusing on the whole child, schools can create an environment that fosters growth, empowerment, and success for all children, regardless of their backgrounds or current level of academic ability.    

The United States is home to a wide range of colleges and universities, each with its own unique characteristics. While larger institutions tend to dominate the headlines, there are also many tiny colleges and universities scattered throughout the country. These tiny institutions can offer unique benefits for students searching for a more personalized, intimate educational experience. In this article, we’ll explore some of the smallest colleges and universities in the United States and highlight their strengths.

Starting at the very bottom of the list, we have Deep Springs College in California. This highly selective institution, founded in 1917, enrolls just 26 students per year, all of whom are male and live on a working cattle ranch. The curriculum is focused on the liberal arts, and students participate in a full-time work program in addition to their studies. Needless to say, the sense of community at Deep Springs is tight-knit and collaboration is highly encouraged.

Next up is Maine’s College of the Atlantic, with an enrollment of just over 350 students. This environmentally-focused college offers a unique, interdisciplinary curriculum that encourages students to explore the ways in which humans interact with and impact the natural world. Students here have the opportunity to engage in hands-on research projects both in Maine and around the world, making COA an excellent choice for those interested in environmental science and activism.

Similarly focused on environmental issues, Green Mountain College in Vermont enrolls around 700 students. This college offers an entirely sustainability-focused curriculum, with interdisciplinary programs in areas such as renewable energy, ecological design, and sustainable agriculture. The campus itself has been recognized for its environmental stewardship, so students here can live and learn in a highly eco-conscious environment.

Moving on, we have other small colleges like Oglala Lakota College in South Dakota, which enrolls around 1,000 students, and Alice Lloyd College in Kentucky, which enrolls around 620 students. Both of these institutions have mission statements focused on serving specific populations or communities, such as Native Americans in the case of Oglala Lakota College or Appalachian residents in the case of Alice Lloyd College. As such, they offer unique educational opportunities tailored to the needs and interests of their respective student populations.

Finally, we have Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Massachusetts, with an enrollment of around 400 students. This unique institution allows high school students to enroll and earn college credits or even complete their Bachelor’s degrees early. The curriculum here is highly flexible, and students have the opportunity to design their own programs of study. This freedom to explore and experiment is highly appealing to many students.

In conclusion, while tiny colleges and universities are certainly not for everyone, they offer unique benefits that larger institutions cannot replicate. Students looking for intimate, personalized educational experiences, or to explore specific areas of interest, might find these small colleges and universities to be an excellent fit.  

Tenure is a vital aspect of academic life for professors, particularly in the United States. It provides job security and guarantees academic freedom, allowing professors to conduct their research freely without fear of persecution. On the other hand, tenure is not a given; it is never guaranteed for any professor. After years of dedicated service, some professors may be denied tenure for various reasons. Before discussing what happens when a professor is denied tenure, it is vital to understand the tenure system.

The Tenure System

The tenure system is a framework that provides job security and academic freedom to professors. It enables educational institutions to maintain a diverse and respectable faculty by ensuring that the most proficient lecturers stay employed for a more extended period. Typically, after serving for several years as assistant professors, faculty members apply for tenure. The university then examines their work and grants the decision based on merit, teaching ability, and research output. It is a very rigorous process, and those who do not make the grade can lose their positions.

What happens when a professor is denied tenure?

Professional Repercussions

When a professor is denied tenure, it can have far-reaching repercussions that go way beyond losing their job. Firstly, being refused tenure can be psychologically devastating for the professor. It can affect their self-esteem, leading to feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness, and depression. It could also be embarrassing to them among their colleagues, who have already received tenure. Since professors spend years building their careers with the assumption of receiving tenure, the shock of being denied can be profound.

Furthermore, being denied tenure can significantly impact the professor’s career. For starters, they are likely to lose their job at the institution where they applied for tenure. Denial of tenure frequently causes a professor to search for a new job, with the uncertainty that comes with being unemployed. Although they may find a new job in another university, it may take time, and some may even have to downscale, accepting less paid positions. It could mean having to move to a new city, state or even country, depending on the professor’s career choices.

Faculty Interaction Turnovers

Another significant repercussion of a tenure denial is the loss of valuable resources in the university. Since faculty members of tenure are often distinguished and influential in their fields, losing them could cause a loss of valuable mentorship and instruction. Students will not have the opportunity to interact with these resources, take their courses or benefit from their research. Losing them could also cause a significant brain drain to the university in terms of research output, new publications, and similar academic pursuits. Scholarship within the department could then decline due to limited faculties to work with.

Closing Thoughts

In conclusion, when a professor is denied tenure, the consequences can be severe, ranging from job loss to professional and psychological impact. Inevitably, this can be a very traumatic and life-altering event for those professors affected. What is needful though, is for institutional leaders to ensure that standards for granting the tenure are clear and explicit, and to provide clear criteria for assessing the academic and scholarly record of the applicants. This will make the process less arbitrary, and more equitable in the long run.     ₃