As former interim Provost and current UConn School of Business Dean, I am very aware of the important role our international students play in the vibrant intellectual life of our community. Whether international students who learn here decide to stay in the United States, return to their country of origin, or become global citizens, we all learn and benefit from engaging with them. We are a country of immigrants and a deeply diverse student community enriches us all.
John Elliott
Responding With Action: First Steps
Re-engaging: A Message from John Elliott
Bending the Arc
Tale of a Fearless Newswoman

“The Post” Offers Glimpse into the Role of the ‘Fourth Estate,’ Keeping Government Accountable
On New Year’s Eve, we watched the new film: “The Post,” starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. The film traces the decision by Katharine Graham (Streep) and Ben Bradlee (Hanks) to publish Vietnam-era stories based on the Pentagon papers. Continue Reading
Michelle Obama: Authentic, Engaged, Funny and Inspiring

More than 3,000 people packed The Bushnell in Hartford recently to hear former First Lady Michelle Obama in a moderated conversation. While the venue was large, the evening came across as an intimate conversation because she was “authentic,” funny, and told engaging stories. Continue Reading
Op-Ed: Higher Education Is Still the Most Sure-Footed Route to Employment, Career and Financial Success

The Facts Don’t Lie
One of the pleasures of being part of a great educational institution is that I learn from colleagues. Professor Shaun Dougherty from UConn’s Neag School of Education recently published an article in The Conversation that was featured in UConn Today titled, “Want a Job? It’s Still about Education.” She reminds us of some glaring facts that have recently been lost in some of the debates about whether college is worth the investment. Continue Reading
Op-Ed: Student Debt: Problem or Crisis?

Reforms, Not Revolution, May be Solution to College Debt Crunch
Crisis is the operative word that has focused massive attention on student debt.
The press has stoked the fires by highlighting the growing size of total student debt and featuring poignant stories of out-of-work graduates with massive debt burdens. Continue Reading
Correcting a Common Misconception About College Graduates and Their Prospects
“What do you think the unemployment rate is for 25- to 34- year-olds who graduated from a four year college?” author Quoctrung Bui asked readers of the New York Times.
Hint: for those with only a high school degree, it was 7.4 percent in June 2016.
Before reading on, you should select a number. Continue Reading
Swimming with Sharks

New Crowdfunding Rules Let Small Investors Join a Riskier League
New rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission, which took effect May 16, 2016, open many doors for “ordinary people” to invest in start-ups and other small businesses.
The issuers of the securities that they invest in will not need to affirm the investors’ financial sophistication nor provide them with audited financial statements. The underlying law was signed four years ago, but it has taken a while for the SEC to write the rules, all 685 pages of them. Continue Reading