November Update

"Whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul . . . I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can," says Ishmael, describing one camp of followers after a November election. The other camp celebrates with the ecstatic glee that now we will, indeed, finally have sanity in government. I awoke to the damp, drizzly gloom of a November morning and a new Congress. What does that mean for higher education? Well, here are a couple of takes.

The Chronicle of Higher Education filed their report suggesting that financial aid would increase, and we would have more scientists and engineers. Inside Higher Education agreed with more aid, but said accountability is here to stay.

And, while state measures appear to only impact that particular state, one might read all the results to see if there is a trend. Here is the Chronicle's rundown of state ballot inititatives.

Rather than Melville or Pollyana as our political seers, perhaps we ought to turn to Thoreau. "Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star," and turn our attention to building the New Academy, regardless of the weather.