Education News

MPR News keeps track of the latest education news in Minnesota so you can understand the events shaping the future of learning and how it impacts students at any level.

Stay informed about local education events, policies and more happening in schools and colleges across Minnesota.

Two children's rights advocates discuss their humanitarian and educational work in Africa.
New U of M President answers questions from MPR audience
Eric Kaler will be the University of Minnesota President in July 2011. He joins Midday to answer questions about University priorities, funding, tuition, academics, sports and more.
Lake Superior College isn’t the only higher-ed campus undergoing an administrative shuffle. MPR’s Bob Kelleher reports that the University of Minnesota Duluth is losing two top administrators under the college’s new chancellor, Lendley Black. Read the full report here.
What professors should be thankful for
William Pannapacker, an associate professor of English at Hope College, says academe has a culture of ingratitude. (Just read On Campus to get a dose.) It’s apparently because academics aren’t supposed to accept the status quo, and so must struggle endlessly — and crabbily — for progress and enlightenment. But for Thanksgiving, he suggests thinking…
Desperate grad with $200,000 in debt has raised $2,000 with Web site
From the Let’s-Raise-Money-Off-the-Internet-in-a-Goofy-Way Department: Kelli Space, 23, a recent graduate of Northeastern University, is $200,000 in debt from her student loans. So in desperation she launched a Web site — twohundredthou.com, explaining how her naivete got her into this mess, and asked for donations. She’s taken her hits in various blogs and comments sections. People…
For the recent premier of the latest Harry Potter movie, last Thursday St. Olaf College threw a dinner reminiscent of a Hogwarts feast. Professors sat at the head table, candles “floated” above the dining tables, and students found themselves sorted in one of the main houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. And how could the…
Lake Superior College in Duluth is cutting up to two thirds of its vice president positions, the Duluth News Tribune reports. It’s the first big change under new president Patrick Johns, and is a move to combat a budget shortfall of up to $2.5 million for the 2011-12 school year. Who’s being kept: the VPs…
British Students Protest Tuition Fee Hikes Thousands of British students protested Wednesday against government plans to triple university tuition fees, and there were sporadic scuffles with police, two weeks after a similar demonstration sparked a small riot. (Huffington Post) Report Finds Low Graduation Rates at For-Profit Colleges Citing federal data, a study by the Education…
Just a heads-up: Eric Kaler, chosen last week to succeed Robert Bruininks as president of the University of Minnesota, will be Gary Eichten’s guest today during the 11 a.m. hour of MPR’s Midday program. Tune in.