Ask the Dean: College mentors and advisers have distinctly different roles

Q: I've heard that some colleges have mentors for their students as well as advisers. What's the difference?

Ask the Dean: 'Facilitators' no substitute for faculty

Question: In this age of online courses, why do we need so many expensive faculty members in colleges? Can't we save money by replacing them with "course facilitators"?

Ask the Dean: Search for school presidents usually a painstaking process

Question: What qualifications should college presidents have, and how are they chosen? Why do some make so much money?

Ask the Dean: New setting, rules, freedom can make 1st year stressful

Question: I'm worried about my daughter being too stressed in college. What can parents do to help their kids be more relaxed?

Ask the Dean: Some doubt value of humanities and the arts

Question: Why should students waste their time majoring in history, English or the arts? If they can't get a job, aren't those majors useless?

Ask the Dean: Colleges huge pluses for towns, cities

Question: Students bring headaches to communities. Why should my city support a college?

Ask the Dean: Potential faculty members face maze

Q: How do colleges hire faculty members? How difficult is it to get a teaching position?

Ask the Dean: Adjunct instructors offer classes valuable career experience

Q: Why do universities hire so many adjuncts? Do they teach as effectively as the full-time faculty?

Ask the Dean: Unsung staffers make colleges run

Q: I'm a college student, and I have no idea what the staff does. Why are there so many of them?

Ask the Dean: Grad school worth it - for right person

Question: My daughter wants to go to graduate school right after receiving her undergraduate degree. Is that wise? Shouldn't she gain some work experience, and then go to grad school?

Ask the Dean: Community colleges: smart solution for many students

Question: Are community colleges a good value? After my son gets his two-year degree, would it be easy to transfer to a four-year college?

Ask the Dean: Electronic books will help cut text costs

Question: Why are my textbooks so expensive? I paid $100 for one book. I'm taking six classes, and some use more than one book.

Ask the Dean: By law, parents can't be told student info

Q: I have two children in college. Their college tells me it cannot reveal their grades to me, even though they are minors and I pay their tuition. Is this the norm?

Ask the Dean: Funding cuts, rising tuition will have lasting, harmful impact on students

Question: I'm worried that by the time my daughter goes to college in three years, the budget cuts at our local state college will have hurt the quality of her education. Are my concerns reasonable?

Ask the Dean: Nothing beats planning ahead, saving for kids' college education

Q: How much should I save for my kids' college education? Can I rely on government grants and athletic scholarships?

Ask the Dean: Wait until senior year to start career search? You're doomed

After I start college, when and how do I start focusing on a career?

Ask the Dean: Parents can use own strategies to gauge kids' college readiness

Question: How do I know if my daughter and son are ready for college?

Ask the Dean: Yes, college life can be tough, but let's get real

Q Is college life too difficult? My son keeps complaining about college and asking for more money. My wife says we shouldn't send more money. What do you think?