Archive for category Quality
College Degrees Without Going to Class
The New York Times
March 3, 2010 (The Editors)
Six university experts from a variety of disciplines weigh in on a variety of issues surrounding online courses. As universities look for ways to decrease expenses while increasing student populations, online courses have become more attractive. If you or your child is considering taking a course online, you will find their opinions very helpful.
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/college-degrees-without-going-to-class/
The New Math on Campus
The New York Times (Alex Williams)
I have been telling parents for years about preferential treatment given to boys in the college application process. Colleges have many reasons to keep enrollment near a 50/50 split between male and female students. Take a look at what happens when the female population exceeds that of the men on campus. Dads, you may want to check this statistic before sending your little girl off to that “good school”. Follow the link to find out more about the changing face of college campuses. http://tinyurl.com/yctbprx
Colleges Are Failing in Graduation Rates
The New York Times (David Leonhardt)
Our high school students work at a break-neck pace for years to get great grades and perform well on the SAT or ACT. During the senior year they must make very important choices about colleges and majors. Here is where things can go very wrong for otherwise high achieving students. Selecting the wrong college can be more devastating than the wrong course of study. Find out how ending up at the wrong school can doom bright students to a second class existence. Follow the link to find out more. http://tinyurl.com/mjbcup
3 colleges to offer combined curricula
The Boston Globe (Tracy Jan)
Tough economic times challenge the creativity of anyone involved in running a business – make no mistake colleges are businesses. Wellesley, Olin and Babson Universities have struck a deal that is likely to change the way many schools regard one another when it comes to facilities and programs. Sharing strengths to eliminate weak areas may pay dividends for all three schools. Follow the link to find out more. http://tinyurl.com/kn8uwq
Harvard, Princeton top U.S. News college rankings again
The Associated Press
What has to happen for a school to land at the top of the rankings of US News and World Report? You may be surprised. Much of the criteria used to arrive at these rankings are far removed from anything that will impact the education of an undergraduate. Check out how different criteria (that directly affecting the undergraduate education) can turn these rankings upside down. Follow the link to find out more. http://tinyurl.com/l4wzcs
Class sizes grow as school budgets shrink
USA Today (Libby Quaid)
The downturn in the economy has hit parents pretty hard (the wage-earners). What effect has it had on the rest of the family? Students at all level in our educational system will soon begin to feel the pinch. School districts across the country are decreasing staff due to budget shortfalls. The result is larger numbers of students in each classroom. Whether the outcome is positive or negative, one thing is guaranteed, it will change the experience for each and every student involved. Follow the link below to find out more.
Does Being at the Top of the Rankings Help Colleges?
U.S. News & World Report (Bob Morse Blog)
How much attention do you pay to the college rankings in US News? Researchers decided to measure the impact of the rankings on colleges and universities. You may be surprised at how little impact they actually have.