Story Archives of 'college'

An experimental education program will soon be tested in New Hampshire. State school officials want to administer a new rigorous state board of exams to some tenth graders that – if passed – would allow the students to start attending community or technical college two years early. That could mean some students would be able to graduate after the tenth grade, or keep attending high school while working on their undergraduate degree.

This was a key recommendation from a national panel called the "New Commission on Skills of the American Workforce." The panel released a report that said the U.S. must overhaul its education system drastically to stay competitive globally. Yet some say early graduation exacerbates existing socioeconomic gaps.

Lyonel Tracy, New Hampshire's Commissioner for Education, joins us on the line to explain. Click here to read more on the idea.

(Photo by Drew)

It’s not all that uncommon for modern architectural design to clash with the local expectations of a community - especially what that community houses a college. A new building proposal at Dartmouth is straining town-gown relations between the school and some residents of Hanover. Dartmouth released plans for a new, $52 million visual arts center last week.

The design by a Boston architectural firm Machado and Silvetti Associates calls for more than 99 thousand square feet located downtown. The school says it would provide a “new gateway” for the college on the southern end of town.

But one member of the committee that acts as liason between the school and the town told the student newspaper The Dartmouth, "it’s creating an urban landscape in what used to be a traditional New England town. It’s gaudy and southwestern, and we’re not. It’s going to look funny with snow on it."

Word of Mouth’s architectural conitributor Don Kreis joins us to give us the details. His day job is with New Hampshire’s Public Utility Commission, where he’s general council.

The modern building proposal in Hanover seems downright tame, though, compared to what’s on top of a contemporary art museum in Paris right now. A pair of Swiss artists has created a single-room hotel and set it atop the Palais de Tokyo. The piece of interactive art allows one exclusive couple to spend the night in what may be the world’s first portable hotel. John Laurenson of Deutsche Welle Radio checked in to Hotel Everland to find out more.

Last week University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Stephen Reno announced he will be stepping down from his post next June. Over eight years as Chancellor he’s overseen the appointment of the four Presidents of New Hampshire’s four State Colleges as well as developed a new plan to try and retain more students in New Hampshire. He’s also had to deal with rising tuition costs and the state's ranking last in state support for higher ed. We’ll talk with Chancellor Reno about his years on the job, what he hopes to accomplish before he leaves and the state of higher education in New Hampshire.

Guest

• Stephen Reno, Chancellor for the University System of New Hampshire, which includes the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, Keene State College, and Granite State College

Energy costs are up.

The state is projecting a 200 million dollar revenue shortfall.

A new report predicts the pool of college-age students from New England is shrinking.

And then there’s always increasing healthcare costs.

New Hampshire Public Radio’s Dan Gorenstein reports, you put it all together and colleges and universities in the state are saying it could mean big tuition hikes are coming.