Complex Machine Learning (ML) models used to support decision-making in peer-to-peer (P2P) lending often lack clear, accurate, and interpretable explanations. While the game-theoretic concept of Shapley values and its computationally efficient variant Kernel SHAP may be employed for this aim, similarly to other existing methods, the latter makes…

There are many different schooling options, and we welcome them all under the broad umbrella of choice. But not all educational choice programs are created equal. EdChoice highlights and promotes the programs that create the most pathways for students to lead successful lives. This guide focuses on education savings accounts (ESAs), tax-credit…

Families may choose to save for college or elementary and secondary education expenses using tax-advantaged qualified tuition programs (QTPs), also known as 529 plans. This report provides an overview of the mechanics of 529 plans and examines the specific tax advantages of these plans. Specifically, this report is structured to first compare…

The current education accreditation process poses a significant risk globally to the quality of education due to the increased falsification of academic certificates. Although previous studies have highlighted the potential benefits of blockchain technology in this context, there remains an opportunity towards a thorough investigation into the…

Many campuses have utilized linked-course communities in an effort to enhance learning and build community, but most of the research on these communities are case studies or correlational designs subject to selection effects. This study conducted a randomized controlled trial of STEM linked-course communities for first-semester students with STEM…

Most college graduates in the United States earn excess credit hours (ECH) that do not apply to their degree. In response, multiple U.S. states and college systems have shifted the costs of ECH away from taxpayers and toward students--a response which implies ECH is primarily driven by students who engage in frivolous course-taking. To better…

This article shares a working group's self-study and report on equitable access to for-credit and paid internships at a large public university. Academic internships or other forms of field experience are high-impact practices that offer many potential benefits for students, including real-life applications of theoretical knowledge,…

As modern learners increasingly pursue non-linear pathways in higher education, transfer students face significant barriers to completion, particularly credit loss and reduced aid that contribute to higher debt. Utilizing findings from the 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey (SFWS), this brief offers insight into the financial implications of…

We propose an adaptive methodology for the curricular redesign based on the performance indicators of the student progression observed after a follow-up period. The feasibility of adopting the same approach should be thoroughly studied to assess its compatibility with institutions and countries that employ an academic credit system based on…

This study examined the impact of changes in tax codes on voluntary giving to universities and colleges. While higher education institutions have drawn attention to individual gifts and philanthropic donations as supplementary financial resources, the recent introduction of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 in the United States reduced tax…

In 2016, the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) released an analysis of school policies regarding Advanced Placement (AP) credit. Despite being one of the few ways students could seek to graduate in fewer than four years, PPI discovered that the vast majority of the nation's top schools restricted students from applying AP coursework toward degree…

In this paper, I introduce a new term to the online learning lexicon, "mesocredentials," an emerging and transformative approach to integrating massive open online courses (MOOCs) within the higher education system. A mesocredential connects MOOC achievement with academic credit applied to a traditional academic degree. I distinguish…

The main objective of this study is to develop a mathematical modeling framework for a deeper understanding of dynamics of math anxiety as a contagious process. Borrowing from theories of the spread of infectious disease, we develop two classes of mathematical models representing the spread of math anxiety in math gateway classes. The first…

The literature has established burnout syndrome as a modern epidemic with adverse consequences. Burnout in dental students is a growing area of research. The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to assess if, and to what extent, differences exist in the dimensions of burnout between traditional and advanced standing student program…

During the COVID-19 pandemic the federal government enacted an unprecedented package of social safety net measures, including broad-based cash transfers in the form of expanded unemployment insurance (UI), a series of economic impact payments (EIPs), and the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC). It is well known that these measures-- especially the…