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Innovation in Higher Education

April 17, 2019

Michael B. Alexander speaks with Chronicle reporters

Lasell College President Michael B. Alexander was featured on WCVB News Channel 5's Chronicle about the future of private, liberal arts institutions and the innovative ways that the College approaches affordability and curricular relevancy. 

Alexander spoke about Lasell's senior living and learning community, Lasell Village, and the College's approach to intergenerational learning. In the segment, Jon Marcus, higher education editor at the Hechinger Report, commented on the Village's unique nature:

"Lasell has done a really interesting thing. It doesn't have anything to do with their educational program. They use their real estate and they build housing on their land for non-students," noting that residents must take 450 hours of coursework annually. 

Alexander also offered insight on Lasell Works, the College's professionally focused cost-savings initiative:

"In the first year students are here on campus. In the sophomore year the students are not in residence, so they're living someplace else, probably at home, working at a job, 16 to 20 hours a week paid and taking online Lasell courses at the same time." 

In response to the idea that higher education is becoming less relevant, Alexander shared his take:

"The value of higher education generally has been kind of getting a bad rap out there lately. And that's just wrong. It is still demonstrably true that for the greatest number of people in our society, from whatever social strata you come from, you're going to be better off if you get a college education."