Lost in a lot of the media coverage and public debate is the fact that a significant number (this article suggests 40%) of illegal immigrants arrived legally, but overstayed a visa. Does this impact the policy initiatives intended to address the problem?  Should it? If so, how?

http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2013/sep/06/john-carter/john-carter-claim-40-percent-nations-illegal-resid/

Rather surprising, and worth a read.

http://www.cato.org/publications/economic-development-bulletin/poor-immigrants-use-public-benefits-lower-rate-poor?gclid=CNH–tSXl70CFbFFMgodDTsA3g

Because so many of the topics over the next few weeks tie directly to technology (immigration, IP, etc.), I thought I’d post this link to TechCrunch’s legislation page.  In case you’d like to peruse their site, I’ll add it to the blog roll, as well.

http://techcrunch.com/crunchgov/legislation/#immigration

Life beyond the hallowed halls of academia ….

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/education/edlife/finding-life-after-academia-and-not-feeling-bad-about-it.html

Can the Minerva School at K.G.I change the model of an “elite university”?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/education/edlife/minerva-strives-for-affordable-elitism.html

A story about the University of the People.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/education/edlife/where-are-the-graduates-of-university-of-the-people.html

An article about Gene Wade, founder of UniversityNow.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/education/universitynow-rides-a-low-cost-wave.html

Another article from the same NYT series, challenging the “credit hour” model of college education.  (This one actually mentions W.G.U, as irony would have it…)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/education/edlife/degrees-based-on-what-you-can-do-not-how-long-you-went.html

I was sent a series of articles in hard copy form – including one by Clayton Christensen – about the disruption to higher education that online programs pose.  I am going to post them if I can find them all electronically.  But here’s Professor Christensen’s article.  (These are all from the NYT, November 2013)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/education/edlife/online-education-as-an-agent-of-transformation.html

This brief piece, publishing by the Association of American Universities (aau.edu) has some excellent information on the importance of basic research, and the proportion of overall spending on it.

http://www.aau.edu/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=10828