Our Privacy Notice has been updated to explain how we use cookies, which you accept by continuing to use this website. To withdraw your consent, see Your Choices.

Reconsidering the Value of Education

Monday, December 12 at 11:00 AM CT

College enrollments have declined steadily in recent years with hundreds of thousands of prospective students choosing not to pursue a degree. Students have to weigh the cost of college against the value they’ll take away from it. We all have a role to play in helping students realize the greatest possible value from their investment in their education. Join the Macmillan Learning team and a panel of experts for a conversation about what an education offers students, the decisions they have to weigh, and how we can work to provide value to every student. What you'll take away: An overview of the state of college enrollments; An understanding of the role that instructors can play in making courses feel worthwhile for students; and Ideas for making courses feel more relevant for students.




Speakers

Matt Sanders

Matt Sanders

Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Utah State University

Matthew L. Sanders is an Associate Professor of communication studies at Utah State University. He holds a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Matt conducts research in the areas of nonprofit organizations and student empowerment and his work has been published in academic journals in communication, business, and public administration. He is the author of the book Becoming a Learner: Realizing the Opportunity of Education, which is used in First Year Experience programs at several universities. Awards recognizing his work with students include being named Teacher of the Year for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (2010) at Utah State University; Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (2013) at Utah State University; Certificate of Merit – Outstanding New Faculty Advisor (2011) for the National Academic Advising Association; and the Graduate Teaching Impact Award for the Department of Communication (2008) at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Sophie Nguyen

Sophie Nguyen

Senior Policy Analyst, Higher Education at New America

Sophie Nguyen is a senior policy analyst with the Education Policy program at New America. Her work focuses on higher education issues pertaining to college finance and public opinion. She manages the HigherEd Public Opinion Hub, an online repository of higher education surveys. She co-authors Public Insight, New America's monthly newsletter that provides analysis on survey findings. Sophie joined the program after graduating from Mount Holyoke College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in economics. She also earned a master’s degree in higher education administration from The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

Brian Powell

Brian Powell

James H. Rudy Professor of Sociology , Indiana University

Brian Powell is James H. Rudy professor and co-director of the Preparing Future Faculty program in the department of Sociology at Indiana University. He also is affiliated faculty in the Department of Gender Studies and the Kinsey Institute. He served as department chair and was a visiting scholar at the Russell Sage Foundation. Professor Powell's research focuses on family, education, gender, and sexuality. With grants from the National Science Foundation, American Education Research Association, and the Spencer Foundation, he has examined how families confer advantages (or disadvantages) to their children and how family structure influences parental investments in children. With coauthor Natasha Quadlin, he recently published, WHO SHOULD PAY? Higher Education, Responsibility and the Public, which explores Americans' views regarding the role of parents, children, and the government in college funding.