Jeff Selingo

Plenary Speaker

Editor
The Chronicle of Higher Education

A Reality Check on the Financial Health in Academe
Friday, 10:00am - 10:55am, Auditorium

Biography

Jeffrey Selingo was named editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education in August 2007. He directs a staff of more than 70 editors and reporters, in print and online.

Previously, he had been an assistant managing editor and senior editor at The Chronicle since 2002, overseeing coverage of higher-education policy, campus leadership, fund raising, as well as surveys of presidents and trustees.

Before that, he had been a reporter covering state politics. In his 10 years at The Chronicle, his work has been honored with a National Award for Education Reporting from the Education Writers Association, a Dateline Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, and finalist status for a Livingston Award in national reporting.

Prior to coming to The Chronicle, he was the environmental reporter for the Wilmington (N.C.) Star-News. He was a member of the staff that won a North Carolina Press Association Award for its coverage of two major hurricanes in 1996, and was the recipient of the state's top Associated Press writing award. He also worked for The Ithaca (N.Y.) Journal, and as a recipient of the Pulliam Journalism Fellowship he covered business technology for The Arizona Republic.

He received his bachelor's degree in journalism from Ithaca College and a master's degree in government from the Johns Hopkins University.

Abstract

American higher education is the envy of the world, but its future in that leadership position remains cloudy given growing concerns about cost, quality, and value.

The Wall Street crisis leaves the question about financial aid in doubt. Many new programs will be slashed. Hiring freeze, and the possibility of raid on good faculty from larger and richer institutions, deferring capital improvements, will prevail into years. However, institutions with large endowments may reap gains over mid-size colleges and universities that depend on federal subsidies. Community colleges may gain through their on-line courses and affordability. Fund raising will be hard to attain. What are some of the solution? A discussion of the biggest obstacles for college officials as they navigate the future of higher education.