If you want a decent economic future, pile on the education.
That's the message from the second annual report by Michigan Future Inc. and a University of Michigan economist on the state’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.
The report found that in the first 13 months of the current recession -- which began in December 2007 but wasn't officially admitted until after the November election -- the United States lost more than 3.75 million jobs in low-education attainment industries, such as manufacturing, construction, retail and hospitality.
However, the economy actually gained 163,000 jobs in high-education attainment industries.
The number of jobs requiring higher education peaked in August 2008, prior to the historic fall 2008 Wall Street meltdown.
“What we found is stunning,” said Michigan Future Inc. President Lou Glazer, who conducted the study with UM economist Donald Grimes. “The trends that we have written about in our previous report have accelerated in the downturn.”
Glazer and Grimes show that the long-term trend is clear: job growth in America is concentrating in the knowledge-based economy.
Employment in low-education attainment industries have grown nearly 16 percent from January 1990 to January 2009, while the number of jobs in high-education attainment industries has grown by 32 percent.
In their report, the researchers analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2001 to 2007 on all 50 states and the 54 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of at least a million, plus Lansing and Madison, Wis.
They found that the most prosperous places in the country are big metropolitan areas where college educated adults and knowledge-based employers are concentrating. Surprisingly, the largest urban areas not only have the highest proportion of households with incomes of $75,000 or more, but also the smallest proportion of households with incomes under $25,000.
“In a flat world where more and more work can be done anyplace, many predicted an economic resurgence in small metropolitan areas and even rural areas,” Glazer said. “The pattern we found is the opposite.”
Glazer and Grimes say that high-education industries -- such as information, finance and insurance, professional and technical services, health care and education -- accounted for 60 percent of U.S. job growth from 2001 to 2007. The average wage in these knowledge industries is nearly $59,000, compared to about $33,000 in all other industries.
Unfortunately, Michigan and its big metropolitan areas are lagging in the transition to a knowledge-based economy, the researchers say.
In 2007, the state ranked 33rd in per capita income -- down from 16th in 2000 -- 34th in the proportion of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree and 36th in the share of wages from knowledge-based industries. From 2001 to 2007, Michigan ranked last in both overall employment growth and job growth in high-education attainment industries.
Among large U.S. metropolitan areas, Detroit ranked 25th in per capita income, 36th in college attainment and 37th in knowledge-based industries in 2007. Grand Rapids lagged even more -- 51st in per capita income, 44th in college attainment and 53rd in knowledge-based industries.
The story is pretty much the same for Lansing, which substantially trailed the comparable Madison, Wis., area on all economic metrics.
“What most distinguishes successful areas from Michigan is their concentrations of talent, where talent is defined as a combination of knowledge, creativity and entrepreneurship,” Grimes said. “Quite simply, in a flattening world, the places with the greatest concentrations of talent win. Michigan has lagged in its support of the assets necessary to develop a knowledge economy at the needed scale. Building that economy is going to take a long time and require fundamental change. But we believe it is the only reliable path to regain high prosperity.”
According to the researchers, the plan for economic vitality is clear. Michigan must place a higher value on learning and entrepreneurship; create places where young, talented individuals want to live (e.g., vibrant central city neighborhoods); ensure the long-term success of its higher education system by expanding public investment; transform teaching and learning to align with the realities of a “flattening” world; and develop new private and public-sector leadership that has moved beyond the desire to recreate the old economy and that is clearly focused on preparing, retaining and attracting talent.
Glazer and Grimes caution that Michigan must build a diversified knowledge economy based not only on information technology, the life sciences, alternative energy and green technology, but also on finance and insurance, professional and technical services, health care and education.
They also acknowledge that, while in great decline, the auto industry and other manufacturing will continue to be important to Michigan’s economy. However, good-paying, low-skilled manufacturing employment is no longer the path to prosperity or to a broad middle class.
“There is a widespread concern that the decline of good-paying manufacturing jobs will mean the days of a mass middle class in America are coming to an end,” Glazer said. “Far more likely is a change in the nature of good-paying jobs, not their decline. That middle-class employment in the future will come primarily in the high-education attainment industries.”
The report was released Tuesday and shared with business leaders and officials from Michigan’s University Research Corridor, an alliance of Michigan State University, UM and Wayne State University to marshal their collective resources to transform, strengthen and diversify Michigan’s economy.
At an 11 a.m. news conference at the UM Detroit Center, officials from UM, WSU and Detroit Regional Chamber outlined programs they are undertaking to keep talented young people in the state and encourage entrepreneurism. Glazer and Grimes will share their findings with MSU and state officials Wednesday at the state Capitol.
http://www.wwj.com/
High education jobs still growing by Michigan study
Education needed quality, not quantity
Thai governement needed to take changes just like American education recent effort,thanks to President Obama that suggest increment in education budget to reward good teachers and establish uniform academic standards in America, with all that mentioned by him as 'a relative decline of American education"
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New spending for education increased
After less than three months, the Obama Administration has approved an unprecedented increase in federal spending for the Department of Education (DOE). But if history is any guide, these spending increases will have little if any positive effect on the quality of American education.
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U.S. Chamber Welcomes Secretary Duncan’s Remarks on Education Reform Funding
The FINANCIAL -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on March 5 welcomed remarks by Education Secretary Arne Duncan regarding the use of stimulus funds to tackle such reform issues as teacher accountability, the expansion of school terms, innovation and evaluation, and tying student achievement to international benchmarks.
“The Chamber has always emphasized that a first class education system is the only way for America to compete and succeed in the global economy,” said Arthur Rothkopf, senior vice president at the Chamber. “We applaud Secretary Duncan for the willingness to meet our current education challenges head-on to ensure every child has the opportunity to achieve the American dream.”
Education reform continues to be one of the Chamber’s top priorities. Nationwide, only about one-third of 4th and 8th graders—and less than 20% of low-income and minority children—are proficient in reading and math. The core ideas the Chamber believes are necessary to strengthen and reform the nation’s education system remain:
1. Changing the way we train, pay and evaluate teachers
2. Giving school administrators greater independence to run their schools
3. Collecting more data to accurately measure results such as teacher performance and
return on investment
4. Implementing more rigorous academic standards and a system to measure whether
schools are meeting them
5. Focusing on innovation and evaluation
“We look forward to working with Secretary Duncan and the Obama Administration on addressing the looming education crisis and making sure education reform comes to fruition,” Rothkopf said.
The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) promotes high educational standards and effective workforce training systems so that they are aligned with each other and with today’s rigorous business demands.
http://finchannel.com/index.php
New program offer tuition assistance to military spouses
LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. -- Military spouses have an exclusive opportunity to use up to $6,000 in tuition assistance toward any degree, certificate or vocational program at Allied Business Schools or Allied American University through the new Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Program.
MSCAAP provides spouses the opportunity to train for today's high-demand career fields without having to pay anything out-of-pocket - up to 100 percent of their education may be covered.
Available through the Department of Defense, MSCAAP is offered to military spouses nationwide in all military branches. Military Spouses of active-duty military service members, who have at least one year of remaining service, can receive up to $6,000 for their education. The program is available to spouses of active-duty military service members including Coast Guard deployed with the Navy, Active/Guard Reserve, and reservists called to active duty in support of Operations Enduring or Iraqi Freedom.
"MSCAAP provides an unprecedented opportunity for military spouses to get an education. They can enroll in a degree, certificate or vocational program in today's high demand career fields without having to worry about the cost of education," said Steve Rathje, president of Allied Schools. "The program enables them to get the education they've always wanted and build a career that enables them to contribute to the family income - it's a huge opportunity."
Spouses that are already employed, under-employed, or need an education or training to maintain employment or become employed at future posts may also obtain MSCAAP funds.
Allied Business Schools and Allied American University provide a variety of options to military spouses wishing to capitalize on the new benefit. Allied American University offers degree and certificate programs - including degree programs in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Computer Information Systems and more. Certificate programs include Business, Management, Internet Marketing, Web Design, Law Enforcement, Forensic Investigations, Terrorism & Security, Finance, IT Management, to name just a few. Allied Schools also has comprehensive, short-term vocational courses in high-demand careers like medical billing, medical coding, medical transcription, dental office assistant, real estate salesperson, small business management, and more.
It is fast and easy for military spouses to start their education and utilize the MSCAAP benefit. Once the spouse establishes a career goal and chooses the degree, certificate or vocational course, they can call Allied and a representative who will walk them through the admissions process.
Allied's online educational programs are ideal for military spouses because it allows them to attend class from any location and study according to their own schedule. The course materials are available 24/7 - they can log onto their degree, certificate or vocational courses when they have time. The online education is also self-paced, allowing them to learn at an accelerated rate or keep a regular pace throughout their studies.
"At Allied, we recognize the sacrifices that military spouses make and are proud to support the degree, certificate and vocational goals of military spouses," said Rathje. "The military is recognizing the importance of education for today's military spouse and we are happy to be part if this exciting program. MSCAAP opens doors for these individuals and provides an opportunity to get an education or career training that otherwise might not have been possible."
To learn more about Allied Schools, visit www.alliedschools.com or call (888) 501-7686 to speak with an admissions representative.
http://www.elmendorf.af.mil/
Arts and humanities grants awarded to 28 faculty at IU
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Twenty-eight faculty from various Indiana University campuses have been awarded New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities grants. With the intent of encouraging faculty to expand their work into new disciplinary or interdisciplinary areas, the awards will provide funding for this year's winners to explore topics such as:
"Divine Healing and Deliverance in America, 1860-2010," a book manuscript by Candy Gunther Brown, associate professor of religious studies at IU Bloomington.
"All in the Family: Identifying Kinship in Prehistory Using Ancient DNA," a project looking at kinship patterns in the Midwest over the past 2,000 years by Frederika Kaestle, assistant professor of anthropology at IU Bloomington.
"Requiem for the Innocent," a vocal and orchestral remembrance of victims of terrorism by Jorge Muñiz, assistant professor of music at IU South Bend.
"Mothers' L.A.N.D. (League Against Nuclear Dangers): History, Heroines, Housewives and Homeland," an exhibition examining an organization formed in 1973 in opposition to the construction of a nuclear generating facility, by Matthew Groshek, assistant professor of civic engagement, exhibition planning and design at IUPUI.
This is the fifth and final year for the original New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities program, which was funded by the Lilly Endowment for five years with $5 million. However, the university will continue to support the program after this year.
"In the last four years, more than 300 awards have been made to faculty members on all eight campuses, resulting in many dozens of books, art exhibitions and performances," said Sarita Soni, IU vice provost for research, whose office oversees the program. "Equally impressive is the fact that many of these awardees have successfully competed for external funds to continue their work. President McRobbie's commitment to continuing funds for this program for the next five years is a recognition of the work faculty are accomplishing in the arts and humanities at IU."
The New Frontiers program offers support to faculty in a number of ways. New Frontiers grants assist in the development of innovative works of scholarship and creative activities, while New Perspectives grants target workshops and conferences on the arts and humanities. Visiting Visionary scholar grants support extended visits to IU by scholars and performers, and Exploration Traveling Fellowship grants support national and international travel for scholars and researchers in the initial stages of new projects.
"The value the New Frontiers Visiting Visionary grant is immeasurable for my research and for the SoFA Gallery," said Betsy Stirratt, director of the School of Fine Arts Gallery at IU Bloomington. She will orchestrate "Re(Actions) Visualizing Climate Change," a series of programs and exhibits. "This funding has made it possible to present the topic of global warming in a completely new way. Through interdisciplinary activities, collaborations and the display of contemporary art, I hope that we will provide a forum to examine and understand, through visual means, climate change."
The deadline for 2009 New Frontiers grant proposals occurs in October. For more information about the program and the application process, see
www.research.iu.edu/funding/newfron/index.html.
2009 New Frontier grants were awarded to:
Candy Brown, IU Bloomington, Religious Studies, "Divine Healing and Deliverance in America, 1860-2010
David Craig, IUPUI, Religious Studies, "Debating Desire: Ritual Performance and the Politics of Man
Denise Cruz, IU Bloomington, English, "Transpacific Femininities: Literature and the Making of the Modern Filipina"
Margaret Dolinsky, IU Bloomington, Fine Arts, "Annunciation + Visitation: Operatic Projections of Her Sexual Insight"
Matthew Groshek, IUPUI, Fine Arts, "Mothers' L.A.N.D. (League Against Nuclear Dangers): History, Heroines, Housewives and Homeland"
Jeffrey Hass, IU Bloomington, Music, "Third Symphony for Orchestra with Electronics and Video Projection: Together and Apart"
Frederika Kaestle, IU Bloomington, Anthropology, "All in the Family: Identifying Kinship in Prehistory Using Ancient DNA"
Stacie King, IU Bloomington, Anthropology, "Archaeology of/as Political Action in Southern Mexico"
Brigitte Le Normand, IU Southeast, History, "Gastarbajteri: The Influence of Labor Migration on Yugoslav Society and Culture, 1960-1980"
Murray McGibbon, IU Bloomington, Theatre and Drama, "The African Tempest Revisited"
Elliott McKinley, IU East, Music, "Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra"
Jorge Muniz, IU South Bend, "Requiem for the Innocent"
Kathleen O'Connell, IUPUI, Fine Arts, "Watercolor Groundscapes Inspired by Ecosystems of the Desert"
Rakesh Solomon, IU Bloomington, Theatre and Drama, "Islamic Fundamentalists, Hindu Militants, and Globalization: Locating Traditional Theatre within Contemporary India's Political Economy"
Rachel Wheeler, IUPUI, Religious Studies, "Revolutions in Faith: Five Generations of a Mohican-Moravian Family, 1740-1815"
New Perspectives grants were awarded to:
Colin Allen, IU Bloomington, Poynter Center, "Neuroethics: Ethical and Social Implications of Neuroscience"
Hakki Cipa, IU Bloomington, Central Eurasian Studies, "Editing the Past, Fashioning the Future: Historiography of the Ottoman Empire"
William Deal, IUPUI, Music, "Intermedia Festival Project"
Adelheid Gealt, IU Bloomington, Fine Arts, "Merged Symmetries: Exploring the Geometric Sculptures of Morton C. Bradley Jr."
Philip Goff, IUPUI, Religious Studies, "The Religion and American Culture Conference"
Bessie House-Soremekun, IUPUI, Political Science, "Rethinking Economic Development in the Context of Globalization"
Paula Katz, IUPUI, Fine Arts, "Collaborate: Projects for the 21st Century"
Michael Martin, IU Bloomington, African American and African Diaspora Studies, "Cinematic Representations of Racial Conflict in 'Real Time'"
Portia Maultsby, African American and African Diaspora Studies, "Black Rock Music and Audio Visual Archives: The Conference as a Solution to Filling the Documentation Gap"
David Ransel, IU Bloomington, History, "Everyday Life in Russia: Strategies, Subjectivities and Perspectives"
Jutta Schickore, IU Bloomington, History and the Philosophy of Science, "Integrated History and Philosophy of Science Conference"
Samrat Upadhyay, IU Bloomington, English, "The Writer in the World: The Personal and the Political"
Visiting Visionary Scholars grant was awarded to:
Elizabeth Stirratt, IU Bloomington, Fine Arts, "ReActions: Visualizing Climate Change"
Georgetown Granted $50 Million for Latin American Education Program
The United States Agency for International Development recently gave a $50 million grant to the Georgetown Center for Intercultural Education Development to fund its Scholarships for Education and Economic Development program.
The university announced this gift on Feb. 3 in a press release.
USAID typically provides grants for programs aimed at helping people in poorer areas of the world. SEED is set to begin in August 2009.
“[SEED brings] disadvantaged youths from Central America and the Caribbean to study at community colleges for two years. It also has an employment program for the youths when they return to their countries,” said Chantal Santelices, director of CIED.
The program allows youths from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua to study agriculture, business, health, education, information technologies and other fields that will enable them to be successful upon return to their home country. The students will also be given the opportunity to enroll in English as a second language and leadership courses.
Santelices emphasized the importance of this program, as well as the nature of the grant given by USAID.
“This is a very important program for CIED. SEED embodies the mission of the center to train young people and find employment. [It emphasizes] social justice and empowerment through education and training,” she said.
USAID currently funds many similar initiatives in Latin America. It previously sponsored CIED’s Cooperative Association of States for Scholarships program, which preceded SEED. The CASS program provided training for more than 6,000 students from low-income and rural areas in Central America and the Caribbean. CIED and the university hope that with the help of USAID, the SEED program will be as or more successful.
“This grant funds the important work of CIED in carrying out educational opportunities for many students from foreign countries,” university spokesperson Julie Bataille said. “Georgetown is certainly pleased that CIED’s efforts are recognized with this grant funding — it speaks to the high caliber of their work and the success of the educational opportunities they provide to students who participate in their programs.”
USAID could not be reached for comment.
By Laura Engshuber Feb 05 2009
Obama stimulus package questioned
Professor Michael Porter is boyish in his enthusiasm. His work may be taught at most business schools in the world, but he's no ivory-tower pedant.
Professor Porter, who sweeps his hands expansively through the air while talking at a hundred miles a hour, has been called "the doyen of living management gurus", a pillar of Harvard Business School and author of textbooks on competitive advantage and strategy.
Professor Porter has also advised various governments on economic policy and in the past was picked out to lead a presidential commission by Ronald Reagan.
So when he expresses concern that the US government's economic stimulus package has not targeted the right areas, it's worth listening to his arguments.
Short-term jolt
Professor Porter concedes that America does need something to stimulate its ailing economy.
But he is not impressed with the shape of the package presented to the US Congress - leaving aside the controversy over the "Buy America" clause.
The current package includes almost $300bn (£205bn) of tax-cuts and twice that in extra government spending, which would extend unemployment benefits, and increase spending in some areas of healthcare, education and transport.
It is all meant to give a short-term jolt to the economy and set in motion projects that will create jobs over the longer term.
Self-interest
The plan has left Professor Porter frustrated.
In his opinion, much of it displays "the usual pork-barrel, favourite projects" and he insists that America ought to be identifying the fundamental challenges facing its economy and the country and investing in those.
The country, he says, ought to focus on "issues which would be critical constraints to our future".
In Professor Porter's view, those include the problem of access to higher education, and a dearth of spending on research and development.
He accepts that some parts of the stimulus package addresses those subjects, but not enough; much of it is about the politics of local self-interest, he believes.
'Washington is broken'
Asked why the plan from the Obama team is being rushed through, Professor Porter considers for a moment, before saying:: "I don't think it's so much their plan.
"It's a plan that's come out of the political process in Washington," he adds.
That's the trouble.
In his view "Washington is broken".
"It's not good at strategic thinking and it's become a circus that jumps from issue to issue and soundbite to soundbite."
Professor Porter believes the US has never dealt with any of the real issues that affect its competitiveness, such as healthcare and public education.
Any suggestion that these are major problems that need time and thought for wholesale reform, time that America's economy does not have, are met with a reminder that there are short-term things that could be done immediately.
One example would be providing better access to higher education.
Increasingly, Professor Porter insists, university is unaffordable.
America's educational attainment in terms of university education has "not gone anywhere in 20 years".
The stimulus could provide student loans and grants to support kids going to college, and grants to allow people to re-train, he suggests.
"This kind of activity does put money into the economy. It helps the short-term problem, but it's investing behind a fundamental priority, and if we don't address that priority, the country's not going anywhere."
'Nip and tuck'
Professor Porter's is not the only voice raised in criticism of the existing stimulus package.
Any number of politicians and economists have expressed a range of concerns, but his centre on America's long-term competitiveness.
He still hopes though, that the plan may yet be adjusted.
"President Obama has an ability to break the pattern", he muses.
"It will be interesting to see if he can use his tremendous, amazing popularity to start to nip and tuck on this stimulus package and get more of it aligned with the nation's real agenda."
He professes to have enormous respect for President Obama's economic team, but tempers that with a concern that he "would like to see some more business expertise and credentials in his people".
But could the United States manage to re-invent itself?
Professor Porter sighs and talks about his tremendous faith in the resiliency and dynamism of the US economy "which over and over again, takes its hits and moves on".
People across the world should not be pessimistic about the US, he insists, though there is a "but".
With the current stimulus plan, he says, "we're falling into the trap of taking an enormous amount of money that we really don't have right now, and not necessarily spending it well".
The head of the committee in charge of overhauling CORE said he wanted to modernize the university's general education curriculum to give students mor
The head of the committee in charge of overhauling CORE said he wanted to modernize the university's general education curriculum to give students more freedom.
"Nobody likes being told what to do - this is America," said Ira Berlin, who will lead the general education committee. "There are general education curriculums around the country that have been modeled after CORE, but it's been 20 years; things change. We are a very different society and university now. We need our general education to evolve like we have."
Provost Nariman Farvardin named Berlin, a history professor, as chairman of the committee yesterday, ending a lengthy search for the position. The task force was jointly appointed by the provost and the University Senate.
"I really had to twist his arm," Farvardin said. "But we were very persistent, and it paid off."
Berlin said he only changed his mind and agreed to chair the task force after giving the offer long and serious consideration. This reluctance delayed the start of the task force, which was supposed to begin work last semester.
"It's a very big job," Berlin said. "I, personally, would be deeply suspicious of anyone who would take on such a big responsibility on a lark."
Berlin said he ultimately hopes to change undergraduate sentiments to be more accepting of a "new CORE" curriculum. University officials have repeatedly said they want students to view general education courses as more than boxes to be checked off before graduating. Berlin said the decades-old curriculum was rigid and outdated, which causes aversion to the program.
"We're going to try to provide students with options," Berlin said. "There's not just one way of doing general education and we'd like to try to think of different possibilities instead of a one-size-fits-all approach."
Farvadin added that though the task force would be looking at and revamping the content of CORE, he hopes they also consider how such education is "delivered" to students, citing smaller class sizes and attracting the best professors on the campus to teach general education courses as key means to this end.
"I want all of the university to participate in general education - especially our best teachers," Farvardin said. "I hope [the task force] will come up with powerful ways to better this program."
Giving general education courses smaller class sizes and prominent professors was also a goal of the Pease Committee, which created CORE two decades ago. However, many of its recommendations were subsequently ignored.
Criticism from sociology professor John Pease, who chaired the commission, as well as fellow Pease Committee members Danny Gulick, a math professor, and Maynard Mack, an English professor, was part of the reason the original plan to overhaul CORE was delayed and the task force was created. Along with other faculty members, Pease, Gulick and Mack said the original proposal focused too much on current issues and not enough on broad philosophical issues students would not likely otherwise consider. In contrast, administrators said the focus on current issues would make students more interested in the classes.
The committee, consisting of 17 professors and administrators and two undergraduates, will begin to meet weekly after spring break, officials said. The provost has set a deadline of the end of fall 2009 for the task force to deliver its report and said the university will begin implementing the new recommendations as soon as the report is filed.
"We would like to move forward with this as soon as possible," Farvardin said. "The budget might be tight right now, but already we have resources behind the existing CORE program that we can use. I don't have any more worries. I am completely focused on the implementation of the strategic plan.
"I consider general education - CORE - a very important thing that separates this university from others," he added. "We want to pay special attention to this distinguishing program and better it, to give students the tools they really need to be successful, no matter what they do in life."
University officials said Berlin was the obvious choice to chair the committee, citing his experience, clout, enthusiasm and familiarity with undergraduate education as key factors in his appointment.
"He'll be very good as chair," Senate Chair Ken Holum said. "He's very enthusiastic about it, and everyone is really very happy. He's absolutely the right person for the job."
"CORE has been around for almost 20 years," Berlin said. "There are a lot of Terps out there who have been affected by CORE. And I think that if the new general education curriculum will be just as influential, it should be something that students embrace. And maybe if 20 years from now, students came back and said, 'You know, that was really important,' we could really feel like we accomplished something."
Marissa Lang
langdbk@gmail.com
International universities: Long-distance relationships
Colleges and teaching-led universities call for more recognition of their overseas ventures
Five vice-chancellors accompanied Gordon Brown across the globe this time last year on a mission to foster stronger higher education links with India and China. But the trip seems to have done little for relations with some of their colleagues back in the UK.
The fact that the prime minister took the leaders of five research-led universities with him, rather sthan a group reflecting a wider mix, clearly still rankles with some of their counterparts in the teaching-led universities.
That episode typifies a level of ignorance in the government and civil service, according to Professor Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire and chair of Million+, a higher education thinktank subscribed to by 28 post-1992 universities.
"We often find that ministers don't recognise fully the range of international activities that universities are involved with," he says. "And in particular there is maybe a perception that only certain universities are engaged."
Nottingham Ningbo
He says that whenever he brings up the topic of "transnational education" - the growing phenomenon of UK institutions running courses overseas - the immediate response from politicians or officials is: "Oh yes, we know all about that". And then they mention University of Nottingham Ningbo.
Nottingham was the first foreign university to establish a campus in China. "The Nottingham partnership is very famous, and rightly so, but that's just a few thousand students," Ebdon says. "The concern after that trip to China and India was that it only reflected links with the most selective universities.
"What we are trying to do is remind ministers of the range of activity and to convey to them that the idea that you can supply the Chinese market from a handful of universities is laughable."
Now the newer universities may have what they need to get their message across. Today, at a conference in London entitled International Higher Education Partnerships, Million+ will unveil a report that shows for the first time, it claims, the range and richness of the international partnerships in which its 28 subscriber universities - 24 in England, four in Scotland - are engaged.
It was already known, the report says, that these universities were between them teaching more than 70,000 international students on their UK campuses. The survey therefore focused on the range and extent of international partnerships, and looked at transnational education in particular.
This chimes with the second phase of the Prime Minister's Initiative (PMI), a programme launched in 1999 as a five-year strategy to increase the number of international students in the UK. PMI2 began in 2006. It aims to boost the numbers of overseas students by a further 100,000 - 70,000 of them to higher and the rest to further education. It also intends to beef up the numbers of partnerships between institutions in the UK and abroad, and lists 24 countries where it wants particular efforts made.
But however clear these aims are, the UK is not best geared to achieve them, says Pam Tatlow, chief executive of Million+. "In comparison to Australia, the UK still lacks a comprehensive approach to international HE," she says. "This has resulted in a default position that has reinforced presumptions and hierarchies."
The government, its agencies and universities themselves need a co-ordinated strategy if the UK is to build on the successes revealed in the survey, she says.
The University of Bedford set up one of the first transnational programmes 10 years ago with the Chinese Agricultural College in Beijing, says Ebdon. Since then, the survey informing the Million+ report has identified a broad spread of partnerships for teaching, knowledge transfer and research in more than 70 countries. Its compilers estimate that more than 50,000 non-UK students are studying on higher education-level programmes overseas, yielding an estimated £47m.
"We also estimate that the inflow of international students to the universities is bringing at least £0.6bn to their local communities," the report says. Overall, says Ebdon, the direct benefits to the UK economy of international education are estimated at £5bn.
"There's no way you could make that £5bn if it were only the Russell group universities involved," he says. "Take China, with its thousands of universities. There's no way that a partnership of a very small group of universities can really offer benefit to China or, for that matter, offer the same kind of benefits to UK plc."
In a curious echo of this, further education colleges are arguing that the university sector on its own is not going to gain maximum benefit for the UK from transnational operations - a view supported by the British Council.
Under-appreciated
Like the teaching-led universities, colleges feel that the extent of their global involvement has been under-measured and under-appreciated by the government. "The emphasis has always been on universities and international students," says Geoff Pine, principal of Greenwich College and chair of the British Council's vocational education advisory forum.
Only in the last three or four years has the British Council woken up to the strength of demand for vocational education in developing economies, he says. The Association of Colleges is due to publish a report shortly showing for the first time the true extent of UK further education's international operations.
Universities in emerging economies often run the sorts of courses that would be found in FE colleges in the UK, says Julia Smith, the British Council's regional adviser on vocational education. But, she adds: "The customer might say, 'we're only prepared to deal with a university', but the university doesn't necessarily deliver the package in the end." For this reason, universities should be encouraged to form partnerships with colleges, Smith says.
A collaboration between a UK university and college could more closely match the demand from an institution in an emerging economy than either on their own, she says. "If the customer needs one institution that teaches everything from low-level technical stuff right through to master's degree-level or a PhD, there is no one institution over here that can do it," she says. "A partnership might be the answer."
Pine says one thing that better FE/HE partnerships will not be able to mend is the damage done by the "points-based system" that now governs the entry of migrants to the UK from countries outside the European Union. This means that anyone wanting to come here to study level 1 or 2 courses (the most basic) will not be able to rack up enough points to qualify for a visa. Points effectively begin when people apply to do level 3 courses (an A-level or its vocational equivalent), he says.
Peter Kingston
FAMU administrators plan to cut millions from their budget
Florida A&M administrators are planning for deeper budget cuts going into $10 million to $15 million, according to Chief Financial Officer Teresa Hardee.
Hardee said university administrators met Monday and will continue to meet up to the Feb. 12 board of trustees meeting. Their hope is to have a firm plan in hand to present to university trustees. So far, administrators expect to cut remaining vacant positions.
“Anything coming up we’re not filling it,” Hardee said.
They’re suggesting a five-day furlough for some employees.
“I would think we would put some criteria on that,” Hardee said explaining that not all employees will be required to take the unpaid leave.
And, the third option for the business side of the house is layoffs. Hardee said no number has been discussed yet.
For the academic side of the house, Provost Cynthia Hughes Harris said student numbers will likely have to be increased in classes. Professors will have to juggle more classes.
“We’re going to have to juggle and find that balance between not spending as much money and … maintaining our goals,” Harris said.
Grand jury to investigate Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom
House Speaker Ray Sansom issued a statement declaring his innocence after a grand jury announced that his relationship with a college warranted a criminal probe.
BY ALEX LEARY
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
TALLAHASSEE -- A grand jury decided Monday to launch a formal investigation into Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom and whether his six-figure job at a Panhandle college was payback for helping the school get millions of dollars in construction money over the past two years.
The 21-member panel concluded that Sansom's relationship with the school warranted a criminal probe after reviewing the facts outlined in a series of articles by the Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau.
Many of the stories focused on a $6 million airport facility that Sansom added to the 2007 state budget. The school had not requested the money, but agreed to use it for a large building that will provide classroom space for first-responder courses and will double as a staging area for emergency workers in time of disaster.
Questions about the building arose when the Herald/Times reported that it is almost identical to a hangar that a longtime Sansom ally was hoping to build for his private jet business. The college plans to construct it on land it leases from the jet business owner, on the plot of land where he planned to put his hangar.
''We will now begin to bring them evidence and documents,'' including e-mails, budget records and witness statements, said North Florida State Attorney Willie Meggs.
RESPONSE
Sansom, R-Destin, quickly issued a statement Monday declaring his innocence.
''I have acted honestly in all matters, including in my work as a state legislator,'' he said. ``The complaints are based on news articles, not personal knowledge of the facts. Once the facts are fully aired, I expect the outcome of this inquiry will be positive. I will cooperate fully and look forward to a speedy conclusion.''
The investigation is likely to cast a shadow over the Capitol through most of the Legislature's regular session, which will begin March 3. The grand jury does not meet again until mid-February, and Meggs said it could take several months to reach a resolution.
Also Monday, the House Rules Committee announced it would appoint a special investigator to look into the same reports after a voter made a formal complaint about the issue.
Sansom, who recently hired a criminal-defense attorney, took an unadvertised $110,000-per-year job as a vice president of Northwest Florida State College on the same day in November that he became House speaker. He announced several weeks ago that he was resigning the college job effective Saturday.
EDUCATIONAL USE
Sansom defends his record, saying that all the money the school got was designated for educational use and could not have been used on other state needs. He also noted that the final budget for 2007 and 2008 is, like every other budget, a public document that anyone can read before the Legislature approves it.
Grand jury investigations of state lawmakers are rare. The last time a sitting House Speaker was the subject of a grand jury probe was 1991, when Rep. T.K., Wetherell, D-Daytona Beach, was one of more than two dozen lawmakers accused of accepting trips from lobbyists and not reporting them. The prosecutor: Willie Meggs. Wetherell pleaded no contest in Leon County Court to misdemeanor charges.
HOUSE RULES
Sansom also faces a review of whether he broke House rules. Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, who oversees the House Rules & Calendar Council, said he was recommending that a special investigator look into a citizen complaint that alleges Sansom violated a rule saying public office ``is a trust to be performed with integrity in the public interest.''
Galvano could have asked for a legislative panel to determine whether there was probable cause, but said an independent investigator would provide more objectivity.
Legislative reaction was mixed Monday.
''What's sad is that this is all going on while we go into a session with a $4 billion deficit,'' said Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando. ``It makes it very difficult for him to have the authority that he needs to do to get things done in the House.''
Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa expressed confidence in Sansom. He said it was normal for ranking officials to get money in the budget for their districts, adding: ``I don't think his area was unique.''
Herald/Times staff writers Steve Bousquet and Lucy Morgan contributed to this report.
Princeton sets lowest tuition raise in decades
By Susan Snyder
Inquirer Staff Writer
As the season of tuition price-setting begins, Princeton University yesterday set the tone: It announced its lowest tuition and fees percentage increase since 1966.
The cost of undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board for 2009-10 will rise 2.9 percent at the Ivy League institution, to $47,020 - up $1,325 from the current year.
National and state education experts yesterday said that they expected to see lower than normal tuition increases at other private universities across the nation, as they try to help families floundering in a difficult economy.
State universities are expected to hike tuition to make up for cuts from state governments.
While increases have averaged 5 or 6 percent a year at private universities for the last decade, they're likely to fall in the 3 to 4 percent range this year, said Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education.
"You're going to see a lot more Princetons," agreed Don Francis, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania. "You're going to see a number of schools doing everything they can to help families right now, knowing that times are tough."
Public schools, officials said, will have a harder time because their states also likely will be cutting funding, and they will need tuition to make up the difference.
Pennsylvania State University already announced a 5.87 percent hike in its room-and-board fees and is anticipating hiking tuition between 5 and 5.5 percent.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which includes West Chester and Cheyney Universities, anticipated needing a 4 percent tuition hike next year when it submitted its budget request to the governor in October.
But both institutions say that their projections are only estimates and that they are waiting to see Gov. Rendell's funding proposals for higher education, expected to be released next week as part of his budget address.
Most area universities contacted yesterday said they had not yet set fees for next year.
Private schools expect to make those decisions in the next couple months, while public schools will wait until late spring or summer, after state budgets are finalized.
"Our proposal attempts to slow the increase in costs from previous years, and seeks to ensure our financial aid budget is rising faster than our costs," said Rick DiFeliciantonio, vice president for enrollment at Ursinus College in Collegeville, where the trustees board plans to take action at a Feb. 12 meeting.
Two area schools said they have set fees: Chestnut Hill College's tuition will rise 3.87 percent to $27,000; it went up 4.4 percent last year. Its room and board will go up 2.9 percent to $8,550.
Gwynedd-Mercy College raised tuition 6 percent, 3 percentage points less than last year. Tuition, fees and room and board will cost $33,510 next year in most programs.
Princeton also will increase its financial-aid budget by 13 percent or about $12 million, to $104 million, to help students cover the additional costs, officials announced.
The decision came at a weekend meeting of the board of trustees, where they also adopted a $1.3 billion budget for next year.
And it follows mid-year requests from students for more financial aid because of job loss or reductions in family income, officials said. Princeton increased its financial-aid budget mid-year by $5 million, up to $92 million, to meet those additional requests.
Princeton, which plans to cut non-personnel budget expenses by 5 percent and exercise other belt-tightening to achieve the lower increase, said its decision was driven by an economy that continues to sputter.
"Princeton needs to take extraordinary measures in light of the hardships being faced by many tuition-paying families," Princeton Provost Christopher Eisgruber said in a prepared statement.
But some officials say that's really not enough.
"While it is a low increase for Princeton, it really is going in the wrong direction, given the state of the economy. Right now, [colleges and universities] really need to hold the line on tuition and mandatory fees generally," said Joni Finney, vice president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education who teaches in the graduate school of education at the University of Pennsylvania.
That would be impossible for many private colleges and universities, countered Hartle, of the American Council.
"They might be able to have zero increases if they laid off two dozen faculty members. That's the sort of trade-off that most colleges and universities face," he said.
It is easier for a school such as Princeton to keep increases lower because of its large endowment, which was at $16.3 billion at the end of 2007-08. Princeton's endowment, as that of other colleges, has taken a hit in recent months, but the school declined to provide more current figures.
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Irony in Madera
A ruling that invalidated how elections were held for the Madera Unified School District's board may end up making Latino representation harder.
In the long struggle to ensure voting rights for minority groups, a recurring battle has been the one to replace at-large voting systems with district-based systems. At-large systems -- in which each candidate for, say, city council or the local school board is elected by all the voters, rather than by voters in smaller districts -- have long been known to dilute the votes of minorities.
Beginning decades ago in the Deep South and moving on to other communities where voting is racially polarized, the Justice Department and civil rights groups have asked courts to dismantle these systems and to draw smaller districts that allow geographically concentrated ethnic and racial groups a voice in local elections. Lo and behold, African Americans, Latinos, Asians and others have been elected to city councils and school boards and water districts that never had nonwhite representation before.
In California, this is still a significant issue. About 92% of the state's school boards use at-large voting, as do many city councils and other local boards. The California Voting Rights Act, signed into law just seven years ago, does not allow such systems if there is evidence that they "impair the ability" of a minority group to influence the outcome of an election. We support efforts to ensure a voice for minority groups that traditionally have been underrepresented.
But it is not always so straightforward. Consider the case of the Madera Unified School District. Madera's student body is more than 80% Latino. Yet there is only one Latino on the school board. Some of this disparity can be explained by the fact that many of the community's voting-age Latinos are not citizens. But even after subtracting them, there are still an awful lot of eligible Latino voters in Madera.
In August, the San Francisco-based Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights sued the school district on behalf of three students, arguing that its voting system violated the California Voting Rights Act. A judge agreed, nullifying the upcoming election, and the district subsequently promised to dismantle the at-large system.
Here's the complication: Eligible Latino voters are no longer a minority in Madera. According to documents submitted to the court, they now hold a small majority.
So how can they have been disenfranchised? At-large systems work to the advantage of majorities -- even slim ones. Today, the real reason Latinos cannot successfully elect candidates is that they are not registering and turning out to vote in high enough numbers. That's unfortunate, but it's not the fault of the at-large electoral system. Instead of a court stepping in to "protect" them, maybe what theyneed is more community organizers to register voters and to turn them out on election day -- along with more laws aimed at making voter registration quick and easy.
These are tricky issues. We don't want to see groups disenfranchised, but we don't want to encourage unnecessary social engineering either. Civil rights lawyers note that as recently as 2000, Latinos constituted just 44% of the total eligible voters in Madera, and argue that the reason they aren't voting at full strength is because historic patterns of discrimination have convinced them that they can't achieve much through the electoral system. That may be true, but we remain dubious that once a group is in the majority, it still needs the government's protection.
There are two ironies here. First, the creation of district systems works to the advantage of Latinos today -- but won't for long. As they move from 44% of eligible voters to 51% to even larger majorities in Madera and elsewhere, the district system will work to the advantage of other minorities -- including, interestingly, the new white minority, if it continues to vote along racial lines.
Second, although we think the court stepped in for the wrong reasons in Madera, we actually prefer district-based election systems -- because they do protect minorities, and all minorities deserve a voice.
A Guilty Plea for Failing to Test Youth Helmets Properly
By Alan Schwarz
The former president of a company that refurbished sports equipment for hundreds of school districts pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Newark on Monday to charges that included failure to conduct proper tests on thousands of youth football helmets.
David Drill, the former president of Circle System Inc., of Easton, Pa., acknowledged that his company tested fewer helmets than it was required to under guidelines set by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. While the exact number was not specified in the pleading, an official for the national organization said in an interview Monday that about 4,000 helmets were returned to the field improperly during 2005 and 2006.
Circle System was one of the nation’s largest helmet reconditioners, cleaning and replacing any worn parts in about 300,000 helmets used mostly by youth and high school players at a cost of about $50 a helmet.
To earn Nocsae certification, companies must not only visually inspect the helmets for cracks and other problems but also subject about 2 percent to drop tests in which they are hit with substantial forces from different angles.
Drill, 60, who lives in Easton, was the president of Circle System from 1988 until September 2007, when he left near the beginning of the federal inquiry. Circle System had recently been purchased by Schutt Sports, a prominent helmet manufacturer that was not a subject of the investigation.
In a statement, the acting United States Attorney Ralph J. Marra Jr., said that Drill admitted to submitting hundreds of fake invoices and price quotations, sometimes on competitors’ letterhead; bribing school officials with gifts like golf clubs and clothes, billing the cost back to schools under the guise of professional services; and double-billing, sometimes with knowledge of the school officials involved.
Drill pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
United States District Judge Dickinson R. Debevoise did not schedule a sentencing date because of Drill’s continuing cooperation in the investigation, the United States Attorney’s office said.
Drill’s lawyer, Joseph T. Afflitto, Sr., said through an assistant, “My client accepted responsibility and will cooperate when called upon.”
It is not known whether any players were hurt in a helmet reconditioned by Circle System, which did much of its business in the Northeast.
More than 50 football players ages 12 to 18 have died or sustained serious brain injuries since 1997.
Private Colleges Worry About a Dip in Enrollment
By Tamar Lewin
First came the good news for St. Olaf College: early-decision applications were way up this year.
Now comes the bad news: the number of regular applications is way down, about 30 percent fewer than at this time last year.
“To be quite honest, I don’t know how we’ll end up,” said Derek Gueldenzoph, dean of admissions at the college, in Northfield, Minn. “By this time last year, we had three-quarters of all our applications. The deadline’s Jan. 15. If what we’ve got now is three-quarters of what we’re going to get, we’re in big trouble. But if this turns out to be only half, we’ll be fine.”
Not all private colleges are reporting fewer applications this year. Even in the Midwest and Pennsylvania, where most colleges seem to have dwindling numbers, some are getting more applications than ever. Still, in a survey of 371 private institutions released last week by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, two-thirds said they were greatly concerned about preventing a decline in enrollment.
Getting exactly the right enrollment — always a tricky proposition — is especially crucial for small colleges with tuition-driven budgets. One case in point came last month, when Beloit College in Wisconsin announced it would eliminate about 40 positions because 36 fewer students than expected had enrolled. The college has about 1,300 students and gets three-quarters of its $55 million budget from tuition.
Admissions officers nationwide point to several possible reasons for the drop in applications. Some students have pared their college lists this year. Many more are looking at less-expensive state universities. Many institutions accepted more students under binding early-decision programs, and each such acceptance drains off an average of 8 to 10 regular-decision applications. And some experts suspect that students are delaying their college plans.
The deadline at most colleges is still a few weeks off, so a last-minute flood of applications could raise the numbers to last year’s level. But admissions officers say they are not counting on that.
“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I don’t remember a year when applications started out behind and didn’t end up behind,” said Steve Thomas, director of admissions at Colby College in Waterville, Me., where early-decision applications were higher than usual but regular applications are running about 14 percent behind.
At Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, where early-decision applications were up, regular applications are down about 15 percent, said Gail Sweezey, the director of admissions.
“One thing that’s happened this year is that there’s all this talk, and one-sided media stories, about how private colleges are unaffordable,” Ms. Sweezey said. “It’s become almost viral that there’s no loans, that schools are having problems. The truth is that a lot of private colleges have more financial aid available this year, but there’s lots of misinformation out there. And my guidance counselor friends tell me students may be applying to fewer places and turning to their state university, which will be at capacity.”
If some private colleges are grappling with the specter of too few applications, public universities and community colleges are having the opposite problem — more students at a time when their state financing is being slashed.
In California and Florida, some public institutions have been forced to cap enrollment. And even in states like Pennsylvania, where the number of high school graduates is declining, applications to public universities are growing.
“We have 47,971 applications as of now, compared to 45,760 at this time last year,” said Anne Rohrbach, executive director of undergraduate admissions at Pennsylvania State University. “We’ve been making offers since October, and we’ve already had 1,638 students say yes, compared to 1,096 at this time last year.”
Generally, Ivy League universities with generous aid packages to low- and middle-income families have as many applicants as ever — and even more applying for financial aid.
“We had 27,462 applications last year, and we’ve been running almost exactly on last year’s pace,” said William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions at Harvard College, which has eliminated early decision. “More students are applying for financial aid. It’s a significant increase, four full percentage points ahead of last year.”
Yale received 5,556 applications this year, 14 percent more than last year, for its nonbinding single-choice early action program, said Jeffrey Brenzel, the dean of admissions, who added that regular applications were running higher, too.
Dartmouth has more applications than ever, early and regular, as do Duke University, the University of Denver and the University of Rochester.
Jonathan Burdick, the dean of admissions and financial aid at Rochester, said the school’s reputation for generous merit aid helped draw applicants.
“This is a time when families may be looking at options that are less costly,” Mr. Burdick said. “There are a lot of families who may make $180,000 to $200,000 but can’t afford $50,000 a year and might apply to a Rochester, where merit aid this year can be as much as $14,000.”
Many selective private colleges say fewer applications are no problem.
“We’re down about 16 percent now, and I think we’ll be down 10 to 15 percent at the end, Jan. 1,” said Monica Inzer, the dean of admission and financial aid at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. “If our acceptance rate goes up a little, that’s O.K.”
Mark Hatch, vice president for enrollment management at Colorado College, said he expected to have about 5 percent fewer applicants this year and took a similar view.
“We admitted 26 percent last year, and if it’s 31 percent this year, we’ll make more people happy,” Mr. Hatch said. “I think the economic uncertainty has families, even families of means, telling their children to round out their college lists with state universities. This year, families want two safety nets, one for the first hurdle, admission, and one for affordability. Anecdotally, I’ve noticed a lot of parents this year listing their occupation as unemployed.”
At many colleges, financial aid requests are up significantly. At Connecticut College, for example, 42 percent of the accepted early-decision students applied for financial said, compared with 34 percent last year — and 36 percent qualified for aid, compared with 24 percent last year.
This has been a particularly difficult year for small private colleges that accept a majority of their applicants.
Stephen MacDonald, the president of Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., where applications are down about 15 percent, is taking steps to lure more students, including adding lacrosse for men and women and hiring a prominent coach, which he thinks will attract 20 to 25 students.
“We’ve also increased our scholarship award to children of alums, from $500, which is a nice gesture, to $2,500 a year, which is more than a gesture,” Mr. MacDonald said.
“We could still end up down 3 percent, which could sting,” he said. “This is a time when schools like ours, private liberal arts colleges that don’t have a big name, are in a potentially dangerous realm.
U.S Education Grants
United States have a several grants for student who interested to further theirs studies. Here's a few grants available that you might want to check out.
CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G) and Discovery Education
“Win a Wireless Lab” Sweepstakes
Deadline: May 01 2009
The Korea Society
2009 Fellowship in Korean Studies Program
Feb 16 2009
U.S Dept. of Education
Reopen: Advanced Placement (AP) Test Fee Program
Jan 15 2009
More grants available:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/grants/index.html
http://www.grantsalert.com/
Cuts to state education budget
Nanette Asimov
Saturday, January 10, 2009
What's at stake: Five fewer days of school next year are among the cuts proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to save $5.2 billion from schools, community colleges and preschool budgets this fiscal year and next. Immediately, the governor would eliminate cost-of-living increases for all education programs and defer or reduce other payouts to save $2.1 billion. Another $3.1 billion would be slashed next fiscal year (which begins July 1) by offering just 175 days of school and axing the High Priority Schools program for low-scoring schools, among other things.
Reaction: The proposed cuts "will be catastrophic," said David Sanchez, president of the California Teachers Association. "It's like the governor wants to maintain all the requirements and penalties for schools without providing schools with the funding they need to succeed." State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell called the proposal "devastating." Community colleges would get money for a 3 percent growth in enrollment. Community College Chancellor Jack Scott said the budget "would provide the basic resources needed to keep the doors open."
This article appeared on page A - 6 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Panel to explore why black students lag peers
Jill Tucker, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, January 9, 2009
As the upcoming inauguration of the nation's first black president reshapes America's debate on race, the state Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to create an "African American Advisory Committee" to ask why black students lag so far behind their peers.
The committee's race-based mission drew praise as well as criticism and confusion.
"Clearly we need to focus on where the greatest need is, and that's where the greatest need is," said state board member Greg Jones. "Some people might find that a little bit politically sensitive."
Critics questioned the need to isolate one racial group for study when other groups - Latinos and Pacific Islanders, among others - also sit on the wrong side of the achievement gap.
The name suggests the issue is a "black problem," said Fred Harris, director for the Center on African American Politics and Society at Columbia University.
Yet, he said, there are probably systemic problems at play - poverty and low education levels of parents, for example - that may not have much to do with race.
Ward Connerly, a former UC regent and a prominent opponent of affirmative action, said he believes the problem is based on cultural attitudes about education and that creating the committee was a "segregated approach to educating black kids."
"On the one hand it's goofy to be doing this at this point in American history," he said. "On the other hand, we do have a problem."
African American students score lower than virtually every other student subgroup, including English language learners and, in some cases, special education students. More than a third of African American students drop out of high school, according to state estimates.
"I deeply believe that you have to directly acknowledge and focus on the struggles of African Americans if we are going to successfully change the status quo," said state Deputy Superintendent of Schools Rick Miller, who applauded the creation of the committee.
The problem and attempts to solve it aren't new.
Schools have done desegregation; they tried affirmative action. Later, the president promised to leave no child behind. Civil rights lawyers, in the meantime, have sued over inequality in classrooms. And politicians have promised to do better.
Yet even as America is about to swear in its first black president, California has created a committee to ask why African Americans lag so far behind everyone else in school.
Brenda Stevenson, chairwoman of African American Studies at UCLA, said the question is appropriate.
"We haven't solved it," she said. "That's very clear. Everyone knows there's a problem. We have to figure out how to fix it."
In recent years, hundreds of books have been written on the topic of African Americans and public education, yet public officials have tended to shy away from addressing academic achievement in racial terms.
"Everybody talks about this forever," said Jones, president of State Farm Mutual Companies and a Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointee to the state Board of Education. "I want to get focused on solutions."
Jones acknowledged the board could have called the committee something more politically correct.
"That might make people feel a little bit better," he said. "But we know that African American students are suffering. They are being challenged."
The committee will include researchers, parents, teachers and community members who can bring solutions to the table, efforts that are already working somewhere, Jones said.
The state advisory group, in name at least, harkens back to a task force created by the Oakland Unified school board a little more than 10 years ago.
The Oakland Board called it the Task Force on African American Students.
The committee came up with a new approach to black students: Ebonics. It encouraged the local school board to adopt a language curriculum policy that became the subject of national ridicule.
"That's not going to happen," Jones said laughing at the comparison. "I assure you."
The 11-member state Board of Education is appointed by the governor and serves as the governing and policymaking body of the California Department of Education. The vote to create the committee was 9-0.
E-mail Jill Tucker at jtucker@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
