Kirk Carapezza

Reporter

WGBH News

Kirk is a reporter for the NPR member station in Boston, WGBH, where he covers higher education. Kirk has reported for Wisconsin Public Radio in Madison, Wis., and Vermont Public Radio in Montpelier, Vt. He's been a writer and producer at WBUR in Boston; a teacher and coach at Nativity Preparatory School in New Bedford, Mass.; a Fenway Park tour guide; and a tourist abroad. When he's not reporting or editing stories on campus, you can find him posting K's on the Wall at Fenway.

A gate opened from a tall brick archway on a college campus

Professors fear creeping authoritarianism in academia amid Harvard fallout

Following the resignation of Harvard president Claudine Gay, some professors warn that political encroachment in academia is a sign of the times — and rising authoritarianism. GBH's Kirk Carapezza reports.

Professors fear creeping authoritarianism in academia amid Harvard fallout
Students walk through a gate at Harvard University, Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Cambridge, Mass.

Colleges struggle to balance free speech, international politics and public safety amid Israel-Hamas conflict

Colleges struggle to balance free speech, international politics and public safety amid Israel-Hamas conflict
People demonstrate in Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, June 30, 2023.

Student loans can be ‘simple’ and ‘automatic.’ Other countries offer lessons to the US.

Student loans can be ‘simple’ and ‘automatic.’ Other countries offer lessons to the US.
headshot of woman

Analysts: In the face of a high-skilled labor shortage, the US needs to rely more on immigrants

Analysts: In the face of a high-skilled labor shortage, the US needs to rely more on immigrants
destroyed room with books

US educators step up to help displaced Ukrainians continue their studies

US educators step up to help displaced Ukrainians continue their studies
Prem Pariyar stands in front of Alexander Meiklejohn Hall on the campus of California State University, East Bay.

'Hidden discrimination': California university joins national trend to protect against caste bias on campus

Caste was outlawed decades ago across South Asia. But it still exists and has found its way to American campuses.

'Hidden discrimination': California university joins national trend to protect against caste bias on campus
Alina Yurkiv sits with Dmitry Korkin at his home in Westborough, Massachusetts, on March 16, 2022. Korkin, a computer science professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, is using his connections so that whenever Yurkiv's husband, an economist in Ukraine

Echoing WWII rescue efforts, ethnic Russian researchers in the US support Ukrainian scholars

An effort to evacuate and find Ukrainian professors safe havens on US campuses parallels the rescue of European scholars during World War II.

Echoing WWII rescue efforts, ethnic Russian researchers in the US support Ukrainian scholars
A young woman on a laptop screen

Colleges brace for steep drop in international enrollment this fall

Nearly 90% of colleges expect international enrollment to decrease next semester due to the pandemic.

Colleges brace for steep drop in international enrollment this fall
Man walks as cameras follow him.

US researchers on edge as foreign funding comes under increased scrutiny

A clash has cropped up between the academic mission of sharing knowledge and national security.

US researchers on edge as foreign funding comes under increased scrutiny
Employment authorization forms

International students hoping for work training visas face long delays, denials

Across the country, international students are facing difficulties in obtaining a work permit that allow them to get training in their field of study. College administrators and immigration experts say visa delays and denials can have repercussions for American higher education and critical industries such as the health field.

International students hoping for work training visas face long delays, denials
A young woman standing on campus.

A public college in California makes strides in recruiting, graduating Latino students

As California implemented a ban on using race in college admissions 10 years ago, University of California, Irvine started aggressively recruiting talented students in Latino communities. Since then, the percentage of Latino students on-campus tripled.

A public college in California makes strides in recruiting, graduating Latino students
Students walking on the UCLA campus.

As decision nears in Harvard affirmative action case, another legal fight brews in California

In the next few months, a decision is expected in a case involving Harvard University and alleged discrimination against Asian American student applicants. But the University of California system is also facing a similar lawsuit — with allegations that administrators are considering race in admissions even though California bans the practice. A scandal is also raising larger questions about merit in college admissions and who has unfair advantage.

As decision nears in Harvard affirmative action case, another legal fight brews in California
Williams College

Colleges and universities are pushing to expand Asian American studies

Students at Williams College in Massachusetts are joining other institutions to demand Asian American Studies programs. It is a push, some scholars say, that is about advancing other programs, too, including African American and Latino academic programs.

Colleges and universities are pushing to expand Asian American studies
Two college students smile at the camera.

On a Texas college campus, conservative Latinos explain their opposition to DACA

Most Latinos in the US, about 90 percent, support Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. But in Texas and especially in cities that are the closest to the US-Mexico Border, about 24 percent say they would want to end the Obama-era program that provides work permits and deportation protections for undocumented immigrants who were brought the US illegally as children.

On a Texas college campus, conservative Latinos explain their opposition to DACA
Willis Wang

How Trump's rhetoric could cost colleges billions in lost tuition revenue

Walk up and down Commonwealth Avenue on the Boston University campus, and it's easy to see and hear the presence of international students. The largest percentage of foreign students — here and nationwide — come from China. So when President Donald Trump sounds off, college administrators get anxious.

How Trump's rhetoric could cost colleges billions in lost tuition revenue