Wednesday Linkpile compiles, for your information and delight, links to noteworthy news articles pertaining to all things online and higher-educational.

• "The Gray Lady" turns schoolmarm. "USC [University of Southern California] Teams With New York Times Knowledge Network." "The USC and The New York Times Knowledge Network program offers students tailored, practical programs to enhance their professional paths and the flexibility of online courses for working and non-working adults. The seven programs comprise architecture, arts management, business, cinematic arts, communications, medicine and politics."
• South of the equator career colleges are all the rage. "Blame It on Rio: Brazil Set to Become a For-Profit Education Paradise." "The burgeoning labor market in Brazil has seen a dramatic rise in enrollment at for-profit schools. Already American companies are taking advantage of the increase. They wish to consolidate the fragmented Brazilian education system, which has more than 2,000 for-profit institutions."
• A June 29, 2011 USA Today article reports, Universities turn to outsourced instructors." "Colleges are also turning to for-profit companies to provide online tutoring and academic support. Smarthinking, for example, provides such services to about 500 colleges and universities, says Susan Aspey, spokeswoman for the online tutoring provider."
• A June 28, 2011 post at the New America Foundation reports, "Colleges Beginning to Take on Student Completion Rates. "With the United States slipping in international rankings of college degree attainment, policymakers and administrators of institutions of higher education (IHEs) have begun to focus on college completion and student retention—not just student access. To that effect, a new College Board report examines the ongoing efforts by colleges to improve student retention, and evaluates the efficacy of several alternative solutions in use around the country. The report dovetails with President Obama’s own calls for colleges to boost completion rates among their students."
• An expansion of state aid in the United Kingdom means high times in for-profit higher-ed. For-profits to benefit from level playing-field." "For-profit providers are to be given full access to the student loans system on condition that they agree to follow the same rules on standards, quality and fair access as publicly funded institutions, under proposals in the government’s higher education White Paper."
• A June 28, 2011 CBS Money Watch article offers some sound advice for those engaged in postsecondary education pursuits. "Paying for College: 7 Most Costly Myths and Mistakes." "What’s the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make? If you’re about to say 'a house,' stop and think for another second. Did your house cost $250,000 plus four years’ wages? That’s the cost of a private college education these days. The cost of public schools, while cheaper, is still likely to exceed $100,000 once you add in room, board, books and lost wages."
• The master is now the student. "Teachers Can Advance Their Skills With an Online Education Certificate." "In order to improve the quality of education for students in kindergarten through the 12th grade, teachers are using a variety of techniques. For example, many education organizations promote the use of spatial literacy. This is defined as the ability to understand spatial relationships as well as know how geographic space is represented."
• This credential adds new meaning to the phrase "drawing a nice salary." "The Art of Success: 5 Reasons Why Graphic Design Is the Hip Choice for an Online Degree." "Graphic design degrees are some of the most popular currently offered by online career universities. The discipline lends itself to online study, and you’ll be able to earn the degree in no time at all. But individuals with Web design and animation experience will fare best of all, so don’t neglect those areas of study when you undertake a graphic design degree."