We’ve discussed a number of important topics over the last few months, from tuition costs and liberal arts to paying students and going green. And rightly so. These issues stand firm at the forefront of higher ed as we know it. But has anything changed since we touched on these subjects the first time?

Yes! Let’s take a quick look at the highlights.

1. Columbia and MIT Follow Suit: Joining their university brethren (Harvard and Stanford), Columbia and MIT recently announced preparations to expand their free tuition initiatives to certain low- and middle-class demographics. Columbia will offer free tuition to students whose families earn less than $60,000 per year, while MIT will do the same for those who make less than $75,000.

2. Bloomberg Vows to Improve Arts in the Big Apple: Remember the liberal arts survey that our high schoolers bombed a few weeks ago? Although Mayor Bloomberg is focusing mainly on the fine arts, it’s a start. According to the media-mogul/politician, just 4% of New York’s elementary schools meet the state’s requirements for art education. Go get ‘em, Mayor!

3. Should Teachers Be Paid for Performance, Too?: In the Lower East Side of Manhattan, not only are students getting paid for test results, but so are those who instruct them. According to The New York Times, the city will offer teachers as much as $3,000 if their students show clear improvement on standardized tests.

4. Going Green on the Net: In what the USA Today has called a “youthquake of activism,” students from all over the country are encouraging their colleges and universities to increase their effort to tackle global warming. Although traditional banners and rallies can still be found on the quad, many students are using social networks such as MySpace and Facebook to spread the word.

Despite the seemingly static nature of education, widespread changes occur on almost a daily basis. Let’s just hope they’re all changes for the better. If you happen to see any updates regarding the many topics we’ve covered here…keep me posted!!!