AKA Review– February 25, 2022

From The New York Times:
Who Do Americans Think Should Pay for College?
By Tressie McMillan Cottom
This article discusses a nationally representative survey of Americans’ views on who should bear responsibility for the cost of college and highlights surprising differences and similarities by race, age, and gender. "We overestimate how much people know or care about higher education finance or university conflict." However, the vast majority does believe college holds great value, even those people who feel it is not essential. Where they differ is on the right mix of government, family, and student responsibility for the cost of higher education. Read this article

From Inside Higher Education:
Land Acknowledgments Spur Controversies
By John Moody
Land acknowledgments, recognizing Native people and their historic ties to the land on which campuses rest, are an increasing and somewhat controversial practice among universities. This article thoughtfully explores problematic land acknowledgments, including those which serve as proxies for demonstrating environmental responsibility, ignore the contemporary presence of indigenous peoples, or mistake where tribes actually have historic ties. While there are challenges to getting such statements right, they are "entry points" that can lead to broader and more thoughtful conversations and action. Read this article

From WIRED:
Can You Be an NFT Artist and an Environmentalist?
By Charlotte Kent
Artists have historically reflected environmental concerns in their work. But as greater numbers of digital creators experiment with NFTs, their desire to create art seems to conflict with their environmentalism due to NFTs’ sizable carbon footprint. New blockchain technologies and other practices that greatly reduce energy expenditure and carbon emissions—platforms that utilize renewable energy, incorporating CO2 offsets—are being used by some artists to remain environmentally conscious while exploring NFTs’ creative potential. Read this article

From The New York Times:
Mikaela Shiffrin Stumbled. What Happens Next Matters More.
By Sian Beilock
Humans are biologically hard-wired to crave a sense of control and certainty over what will happen in the future. But with that comes a tendency to over-fixate on the details of performance, which can get in the way of achieving one’s best. The author, President of Barnard College and a cognitive scientist, compares Mikaela Shiffrin’s stumbles at the Olympics to the waves of grief campus communities have wrestled with. She offers approaches from her research for dealing with stress and setbacks, including dwelling less on the moments of failure and focusing on the bigger picture. Read this article

From Northeastern University Center for the Future of Higher Education and Talent Strategy:
Employers’ Post-COVID Business Strategy & the Race for Talent: A View from the C-Suite
Using a national survey of 1,014 U.S. C-suite executives conducted in April-May 2021, this report analyzes how the pandemic has escalated the pace of digital transformation in both work and learning. These trends include greater investment in AI, making remote work more of a central component of talent acquisition, providing for enhanced employee learning and development, and greater acceptance of and reliance on online learning and credentials. Read this article