Breaking the Small Business Code

The Brick Walls Keeping Education from Improving

    US News & World Report's Education Blog has a GREAT blog article on how the eduation "community" received President Obama's proposals for improving education. The differing opinions on what he said and what needs to be done is sadly another example of why it will be so difficult to improve education in America.

    To refresh your recollection, President Obama said he wants the United States to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020 and asked every American to complete a year or more of college or career training. He talked about the need for more reform in education and said he wants to reward teacher performance and grow the number of charter schools. He also talked about providing ore financial support from pre-school through college.

    Sadly, as usual, the "education community" was NOT pulling together. As usual the entrenched interests looked at their position and as the comments of the various "experts" show - they are all going in different directions.

    I am becoming so frustrated that I voiced my opinion in the comments section!  To read the article AND my comments, go to the On Education Blog Comment Section.  Then add your own comments there or here!

Cutting College Costs - A Fable that is not so Fictional

    As the financial markets and tax revenues tumble, states like California are making steep cuts to education including cuts to the support for state-run colleges like the University of California (UC) and the California State Universities (CSU). The budget that will be signed today imposes a 10 percent across-the-board cut to the UCs and CSUs, saving $264.4 million.

    California is not alone. Massachussetts is planning 11.6 percent in cuts for their state colleges. Florida is starting at 4 percent but more cuts are planned. New York state is cutting between 6 and 7 percent. Google the phrase "xxx budget cuts to colleges" and insert your state for xxx and you'll see what you are facing.

    This means college administrators will soon be living the fable presented by John Lombardi of Louisiana State University at his blog "Reality Check" called "Budget Crisis, Academic Change:A Fable"!

    I STRONGLY recommend that everyone who cares about higher education - both inside and outside the education "industry" - read Lombardi's blog.  How you react to the story will help you understand why there is no clear path to making colleges more accountable and affordable!  Politics, political correctness, turf wars, protectionism, etc., etc., keeps the colleges stuck where they are. 

    What do you think is going to be cut by the all these colleges?  What do you think should be done? What sacrifices/changes can be made?  One thing for sure, aid will go down, class size will go up, space for new students will go down, services will go down, and tuition will go up!

   As the daughter of a college dean, I understand the desire to protect and provide resources that serve more intangible needs like obscure languages, art and music. But when your children are starving, having a Monet on the wall is probably NOT the best use of your resources.

    This brings me back to my question to the social media universe - "What is College For"?  What should we focus on in these times? What should money be spent on?

   

  

What is College For?

   

    FABULOUS article in today's Inside Higher Education!  The topic was 3 year degrees. But it was reading both the article and the comments that made it clear that there is an even more basic question to be answered before deciding on how many years college should take.That question is . . .

WHAT IS COLLEGE FOR?

    Comments show the opinion on what college is all about varies from getting a job, having fun, gaining wisdom, getting an education (as opposed to a degree), research, money, etc.  It is very clear that without lack of clarity on WHY go to college, it is no wonder there is no agreement on how long that process -- whatever it is and it is for -- would take!!

    My first reaction to the article was to talk about my experience that much of the problem today is students simply "choosing" or being "forced" to take 5 years to get a 4 year degree. Sometimes it is the student’s fault by taking light loads for various reasons.  But more and more it is due to the student's inability to get their required courses! State colleges and universities are especially difficult right now because classes are not being offered during this semester/quarter or too few sections are offered to handle all the students who need it or the program is changed, etc.

     I originally was thinking about credit "creep" where more and more units/classes have been added to majors in order to graduate. I was thinking about students who start college with no clear path or major which means they are taking classes that may or may not be appropriate to the final major.

    But I think the dialogue first needs to be What is college for?  I know this both an individual AND a national dialog that needs to be held!  What do you think?

MBA and Jobs - Part 2

    I just read another article on how MBAs are having their visions of "corporate jets" crushed by the realities of the economy. One of the trends Business Week reports is MBA programs are seeing is more graduates interested in nonprofit and government jobs. Here is one of the most illuminating segments of the article:

"Better than Nothing

      Business schools have already been seeing some movement toward nonprofit professions, though historically those students have been outnumbered by investment bankers and consultants. Few new graduates—4.4% last year—typically take positions in nonprofits or government, says Kip Harrell, president of the CSC and vice-president for professional and career management at Thunderbird School of Global Management. However, the financial crisis and the scarcity of six-figure offers, could accelerate the do-gooder trend. Patrick Perrella, the director of MBA career development at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, broke it down this way: It's an easy decision "if your choice is a government job at a lower salary or no job at all."

    What I find interesting is how this is positioned as a cynical trend with students looking for jobs, period. I would hope that students who enter nonprofit and government service have a passion and an interest in their new industries.  As a taxpayer and advisor to several nonprofits, I would hate to think that these students are working in their jobs by default. 

     Something NOT mentioned in this article is the enormous cost of an elite/Ivy League MBA and the return on investment the student (and/or parents) get. Is it still a good "investment" if the job you get pays similar to one you could have gotten with just a bachelor's degree?

    Any comments from students who took a nonprofit or government job because it was available instead of their vision? Are you still okay with the cost and time you invested?

College Kids and Monkeys About Equal on Math

 "College Kids and Monkeys About Equal on Math" is an eye-catching title of an article posted by MSN Health today,  (PDF copy available here if it is missing from the MSN Site: LPT_PDF02142009).

Elizabeth Brannon, an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University is studying how human adults and infants, lemurs and monkeys think about numbers without using language. She is trying to identify which parts of the brain house "number sense" and the she is trying to determine how this math skills develop.

Among other things, she found college students and macaque have similar speed and accuracy (!) when doing a rough sort of math by summing sets of objects without actually counting them! As an engineer who speaks "math", I found it very interesting that math skills are apparently inherent to primates!

When I first saw the title I was prepared for an article on the sad state of math skills in our college students.  So while it didn't turn out to be that, it got me thinking about why students fight math when it is such a critical tool for college and life success.

I regularly have students tell me they are picking their college major based on NOT wanting anything with "math in it".  I have also lost count on the number of times one of my solid "B to B+" students ended up in a remedial math class in college - a situation which added time AND costs for getting their undergraduate degree!

I started my college planning career with college funding and scholarships, then added admissions, then majors and careers, and eventually added test prep.  But over the last 15 years it has become apparent that focusing on those 4 college-related steps with just high school juniors and seniors was not addressing the real needs of my client families.  Something was missing in their tool kits for success in college and for life!

Basic math skills are critical in the increasingly high tech economy.  Math is needed for personal financial literacy. A lot of our current economic problems can be blamed on people's inability to understand their personal cash flow. That is because virtually all the studies show our students are NOT getting what they need for math success.

I am not going to point fingers at anyone in the education "system" for failing to create math "literate" students. Blaming schools, teachers, parents, administrators, and/or the government is not the way to find solutions. Instead, I went looking for PROVEN TOOLS to make basic skills accessible and successful for more students regardless of the system.  I wanted to find something for teaching 21st century students using 21st century technology.

I am taking an engineering approach to building a SYSTEM for success in education available to anyone with internet access. I am proud to announce the launch on March 1 of a new initiative from Linda P. Taylor's Insider Secrets:  "Creating Access to Higher Scores and the Education Edge" (CAHSEE). 

CAHSEE is designed to pull together the tool kit that middle school, high school, college, and even adults need for learning success!  I want to give families access to the FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS we ALL need for a lifetime of success.  

I will soon announce the CAHSEE program for creating mastery in Math and English Language Arts (ELA).  But in the meantime, I want suggestions from readers about what other needs and especially what tools, programs, and systems you think should be included.  PLEASE send me comments, suggestions, ideas and referrals to make CAHSEE rock!

Taxes and College Support

                  

                         I am seeing serious BIG time feedback on many blogs about taxation, patriotism and "critical" services!  With the  melt-down in the financial market combined with the higher taxes that will come with the "bailout" with the losses in home equity with [pick your own financial problem], we have ANGER coming from many taxpayers!  And it is growing. . .

     One of the items in today's Inside Higher Education is a little tidbit about the income tax ballot item in Massachussetts and how the state universities are reacting.  The article was predictable with university officials warning about cut-backs and higher tuition to make up the tax losses. But what I find the most interesting is the responses. Here's one from ProfessorMojo, SUNY-Plattsburgh (I've added bolding for emphasis):

     "As usual, the academics focus on their own livelihoods as opposed to examining the larger issue at hand. Certainly, some taxation is necessary, and few would argue against funding a state university system. However, the issue is the state government’s constant desire to suck more money from the taxpayer as opposed to being responsible stewards of the public treasury.

     We’re facing budget cuts here at SUNY, and it is noteworthy that my co-worker’s first reactions are to increase taxes and tuition as opposed to reforming the union-driven state spending practices that got us in this mess in the first place."

      I made no secret of my anger at the PORK inside the so-called bailout bill for the financial markets.  That pork will cost ALL of us more tax dollars and redirect them to places we as taxpayers have no say over!  I am ANGRY enough to support a ballot issue just like this for my home state of California AND for the nation over all!!!

      I think this brings up the reason for taxes.

     As I write this, there is a large brush fire in Northern L.A. County where the 118 and 210 freeways meet.  I listened to the City of LA officials point out that there are 1,000 firefighters on the line and that THIS IS WHAT TAXPAYER want from their government - protection of the people.

    I agree that colleges and universities are critical to the well-being of America as are many other essential services like roads and water. But where does the definition of "essential" that stop?

   This question comes from an article in Education Week that talks about the complaints about changes inside the Department of Education combining the Title I and Title III programs for English as a second language programs.  Obviously there are savings in combining the programs as well as oversight issues. But predictably, there are screams that "their" issues are so important that they "deserve" a separate agency.

    Just how many things can we afford to make "special"?  How many tax dollars can we afford to spend on what?

    I appreciate that everyone wants their special needs handled.  I understand it's easy to say mine's more important than yours.  But in TOUGH ECONOMIC times, you make priorities.  You cut back on things that are "nice" and things that might even be "important" and focus on what is essential.  But we need COMMON SENSE.   

   What do YOU think we should pay for?  Where should we say, yes, I know it's important but NOT as important as firefighters or colleges or ????

 

       

NO Limits on College Political Speech - Part 3

       Per this morning's Inside Higher Education, the University of Illinois President  B. Joseph White sent an eMail affirming the right of employees to wear campaign buttons and attend political rallies on campus.  He said that university policy would not bar attending partisan rallies on campus, wearing political buttons, or having political bumper stickers on cars. 

     HOWEVER, he did say that these activities should not take place while employees are on duty [I bolded the phrase for emphasis].

     Gotta love those "wiggle phrases".  So President White, what constitutes "on duty" for a professor?  When are they "off duty" when at their campus worksplace? Can they wear their buttons when on "company" business off-campus? Is this how will you make sure your TAX-EXEMPT nonpolitical status is protected?

     Per my Blog on October 3, I had no objection to academic freedom of speech within the classroom. BUT I do think that University employees - and by this I mean mostly professors -- should be required to meet the same levels of neutrality WHEN IN THEIR WORKPLACE AND WORKING that I as a private citizen and employer also need to follow! The tax-exempt status of a state operated university should be held to the same standards!

     Having grown up on college campuses I can smell that this is a CYA eMail.  I know there will be little (if any!) attempt to enforce the off-duty requirement.  So professors will continue to do what they have always done  under the banner of  "academic freedom".  The university's nonprofit status is supposedly now protected by the insertion of the "off duty" phrase. 

    If I read about enforcement of the off duty requirement I will apologize.  But until then, I see this as another way professors will be allowed to break the rules that rest of us have to follow setting a bad example for our college students. 

Class on Boston Red Socks - Is This What College is For?

    Just read an announcement that Bates College in Lewiston, Maine is offering a class on the Boston Red Socks.  A lucky group of 15 students at this $51,400 per year college got into the class.

     Because the class is an elective, IN THEORY, taking it does not cut into the required/standard curriculum needed to graduate from Bates.  But when your student's college education costs over $50,000 a year, is this a good use of their time in college?  Is this what you are paying for on a per unit basis?  Should electives outside the major be allowed?

     As the daughter of a retired college dean, I have talked to many professors who teach classes on pet interests. I have seen classes on speaking "Klingon" or analysis of the soap opera "Dark Shadows" or classes on current "topics" like Paris Hilton.  Why such off-the-wall topics? 

      The real question is what is the purpose of electives?  Colleges say that electives "help a student become more well-rounded" by "exposing them to topics that help them better implement their major".  And virtually everyone of the professors I talked to defended their unusual topics by saying they "wove current events and unpopular topics into the class disguised by the more 'sexy' class topic".  But talking to the students, the class was usually more fun than "well-rounding".

      So is this a good use of your student's time?  Is this what you pay a per-unit tuition fee for? Does taking a class on the Boston Red Socks or Star Trek or . . . help with your career choices? And most important, should such classes even be offered when students can't get into required classes because there aren't enough of them?

      As an engineering major, taking an off-the-wall elective on "Star Trek" (yes I did) was a mental vacation for me.  But I should have taken a class in marketing or public speaking.  My parents weren't paying for me to use my units for "fun".  And about that "weaving" unpopular topics into the class -- talk to most students and usually does NOT happen. (Sorry professors who do, many of your peers use these classes for their mental vacations!).

      So what do you think about these not traditional classes being part of your student's options?  Do you think it is appropriate to pay per unit for these classes?  Do you think professors should teach these topics if the school doesn't have enough prerequisite classes?

Free Speech Versus Candidate Endorsement Limits

       A VERY timely and interesting article in the Inside Higher Education daily eMail today about the new University of Illinois policy that bans the wearing of campaign buttons, sporting of bumper stickers, and attendance at campaign rallies ON CAMPUS for employees of the University.  As expected, the outcry from staff and especially professors was quick and loud.

     Without taking sides, I wanted to explain to everyone what the issues were because it is a 4-way conflict between:

1. The right to free political speech,
2. Workplace rules,
3. The college's broad definition of workplace free speech, and
4. The IRS rules that nonprofits cannot directly support political candidates.

    First, we all have the right to support the political party and candidate of our choice under free speech.  On our private property and in the public locations, we can do, wear or say pretty much whatever we want as long as it follows the law.  It is not only allowed, it is encouraged that citizens be legally pro-active in the political process.  So if you want to wear a button or put a poster in your window or a sign on your lawn, it is your right.

     However, political speech can be constrained by the policy of your workplace as long as it is equally applied.  Companies usually restrict things that an employee may find offensive. This is because of all the lawsuits that have been filed regarding hostile or discriminatory work environments.  So most employers practice work site neutrality for virtually everything from religion to politics.  As an employee, you can expect to be asked to remove or cover political buttons or t-shirts.

    What creates a challenge for colleges is they do not think of themselves as a "traditional" workplace.   Colleges consider themselves a unique location where free speech of any kind is considered an essential part of their reason for being.  University staff usually felt their colleges were  "public" areas where workplace rules do not apply.  Students as "customers" are allowed to freely express their beliefs on campus.  So it was natural for professors and staff  to feel they too could participate as if the college were not their workplace!    But this has now run headlong into IRS rules for nonprofits!

     The IRS rules on nonprofits are VERY clear that they are not allowed to be partisan and support a specific political candidate.  This means that university employees including professors cannot show support WHILE THEY ARE BEING EMPLOYEES.  So to protect their tax-free status, the U of Illinois has issued rules on what staff can and cannot have or do while on campus -- their workplace. 

    It will be interesting to see if the professors on the U of Illinois finally understand what it is like out here in work-land where we have to adhere to rules that they have traditionally supported but not been constrained by because of their "special" nature. 

    What do you think of the new policy of U of Illinois?

Website Makes Getting College Information Easy! (But Where's the COA?)

         I just finished reviewing the UCAN  website hosted by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).   Per their press materials and website  (I have bolded phrases for emphasis): 

       "More than ever, as tuition continues to grow, families are focused on getting the best value for their dollar. The first step is finding the right information to make the right college choice. To this meet this challenge, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) has developed U-CAN (the University and College Accountability Network), a free, consumer-informed college information Web site.  For the first time, institutions of higher education have come together to develop and deliver key college information directly to consumers. With U-CAN, we will take an important step toward better educating consumers, and fostering student satisfaction and success." 

       This is one of the EASIEST sites I have ever seen for getting key information! The summary pages are visually appealing and simple to use.  It is easy to see how many students come from where, how many graduate, how many return after the freshman year, etc.  This is the key information with the option to click through to details like the surrounding area resources!

But I have not yet gone through each listing to see how each college lists the Total Cost of Attendance (COA).  So far, almost each one I looked at played "fair" . . . . BUT some are still are playing "hide the COA"!!

       Sadly, one of my local colleges --  California Lutheran College (Cal Lu) -- did not list the COA.  It listed only percent of freshman receiving aid.   I hope this is an oversight and NOT a deliberate attempt to hide their COA from prospective families!

Again, I applaud NAIC for a GREAT website.  But I continue to CHASTISE and RANT at those colleges who do NOT simply state their COA clearly and simply.  To hide the COA, omit it, only provide tuition, or to provide after-aid averages is DECEPTIVE and beneath the dignity of an institution of higher learning! 

Please let me know what you think about this issue of hidden COAs.