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"Some college administrators seem so distracted with fund raising, academic infighting, and community initiatives that they set up their emergency communications departments very poorly. Training is poor to nonexistent, secretaries are pressed into service with tremendous responsibilities for running 'notification systems' 24/7 and on weekends because no one else knows how to do it and the administration won’t pay for additional staff. Procedures are seat-of-the-pants and dependent on HIPPO (highest paid person’s opinion), except when something like Virginia Tech happens and there is some sort of scramble to do something different." --Donna
Most Colleges Avoid Risk Management, Report Says
Jill Biden Shines a Global Spotlight on American Community Colleges
Speaking at a Unesco conference in Paris, the vice president’s wife stressed the importance of two-year institutions to the nation’s educational goals.
Connecticut Public Colleges Lose 200 Professors to Early Retirement
Administrators are scrambling to plug holes in their course schedules for fall, with most expecting to do so by hiring more adjuncts or increasing class sizes.
U. of Georgia Paid 2 Fraternities $2.4-Million to Relocate, Contracts Show
The two were among five with houses on property where the university plans to build new academic facilities.
New Allegations in Admissions Controversy at U. of Illinois Suggest Ex-Provost Played a Role
Linda P.B. Katehi, the incoming chancellor of the University of California at Davis, has insisted she knew nothing of the admission of politically connected applicants at Illinois.
Sonoma State U. Foundation May Lose $350,000 on Loan to Former Board Member
The foundation will be forced to issue fewer scholarships in the 2010-11 academic year because of a diminished endowment, a university official said.
College Suspends Student for Working in Gay Pornography | 58
President Obama's Visit to Notre Dame Carries Barely a Hint of Controversy That Preceded It | 58
Drug Sting Nabs 21 Students at U. of Illinois | 57
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May 21, 2008
New Institute Aims to Improve Science and Math Education for Needy Students
Only 30 out of every 10,000 financially needy students who reach the ninth grade complete college with a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. And of those 30, only one or two go on to earn graduate degrees in those fields, according to statistics gathered by the Council for Opportunity in Education.
A new institute, created by the nonprofit council, wants to increase that number. The Louis Stokes Institute for Opportunity in STEM Education, which opens today, will provide training for educators and resources for low-income, first-generation, and minority students in those fields. The institute is named for Louis Stokes, a retired congressman who advocated increased educational opportunities for disadvantaged students during the 41 years he served Cleveland in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Those to be served by the institute include the approximately 850,000 students already involved in the federal TRIO programs, which help prepare needy students for college. A majority of students in the TRIO programs come from families with annual incomes under $30,975. —Ingrid Norton
Posted on Wednesday May 21, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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It is not surprising we have so few low-income, first-generation and minority students in science, engineering and mathematics. One could argue these are areas relatively underpaid when compared to business, medicine or law, although equally demanding. Moreover, our society at large does not give these areas the recognition they deserve. No money and no recognition, many reason, so why to go into them —especially if you qualify for the more lucrative and appreciated careers. I would be very pleased to learn the new institute turns around the present situation, but I doubt it. It is a cultural problem difficult to deal with. Survival, society recognition, lack of encouragement and support at home and at school, upside-down scale of compensation (CEOs and football players have it all) contribute to this problem. Globalization will make it worse, and our government is just beginning to do something. I hope it helps, but I am sure the new institute would not solve the problem.
— Luis F Chaparro May 21, 05:45 PM #
As with all statistics, I need some context or a control group. How many students who are not finanacially needy complete a college degree in science? Is it 31 out of 10,000? 300 of 10,000? 3,000 of 10,000?
How many
— Dr. Shaya Kass May 21, 07:08 PM #
We’re never going to have science geniuses in the United States as long as we continue allowing the evangelicals to keep jabbing us in the ribs with their creationism-and-intellegent-design-are-valid-sciences voodoo sticks.
— darrell in dallas May 22, 12:06 PM #