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Inauguration Ignites Passion for Politics

CaseyLeblang — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:11:29 -0500

On Monday, January 19, schools closed nationwide to honor the birth of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., a champion of the American Civil Rights Movement. Interestingly enough, the national holiday celebrating the progression toward racial equality was directly followed by the inauguration of the nation’s first African-American president, Barack Obama. An unprecedented amount of students therefore were given two consecutive days off from school to honor these two occasions: one day to pay homage to history past, and another to rejoice in history-in-the-making.

Presidential inauguration days once only translated to school closures primarily in the Washington D.C. area, since the hordes of visitors tend to debilitate school bus operations. However, according to the New York Times, numerous school districts in northern Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey also closed their doors on Tuesday. Whereas previous inauguration ceremonies might not have ignited such an abundance of enthusiasm on the part of students and parents alike, there is a uniquely heightened significance of this particular presidential inauguration.

Economics 101: Witnessing History

CaseyLeblang — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:12:33 -0500

Students have the tendency to appreciate courses that hold relevancy to their own lives. On many college campuses, courses on Hip Hop Music or Sex and the City's affect on gender relations are often immediately filled on the first day of registration. For many students, courses such as economics or statistics or biology are somewhat of a means to an end - requirements to be completed in order to obtain a particular degree.

But as the nation experiences a massive economic downturn, economics courses are suddenly more appealing to both high school and college students. Students now realize that they are living through a pivotal moment in history, in which the economy is plummeting at a rate previously unwitnessed by members of this generation. While economics instructors were once forced to use hypothetical scenarios to explain economic situations, they can now incorporate real world events into classroom lessons. As reported in USA Today, teachers are noticing that students are growing extremely curious about stock performance, economic policy, and Wall Street on-goings. One New York City high school teacher named Arisedes Lourdas said that previously apathetic high school teenagers now understand the weight of the economic situation and the importance of "the dealings a few blocks a way on Wall Street."

University Presidents Don't Necessarily Feel the Pinch

CaseyLeblang — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:13:40 -0500

Americans are having more and more trouble with paying for college. Salaries are being cut and people are losing jobs, while student loan lenders are shutting down shop and tuition continues to rise.

To curb increases in tuition, many colleges have implemented hiring freezes or halted expensive construction projects. And yet, interestingly enough, a new study released by the Chronicle of Higher Education found that university presidents' salaries have continued to rise. According to the report, the median pay and benefits for presidents of public universities rose by 7.6 percent in 2007-2008; the rate of public university presidents' salary increases exceeds those at private universities. While the position of university president is extremely important - and large salaries and benefits help attract the brightest and most competent individuals to take on such positions -annual salaries that well exceed $1,000,000 can be seen as rather excessive. The survey found that the highest paid public university president received about $2.4 million, and the highest paid private university president received $1,742,560 in compensation in 2007.

Continuing Studies Courses Help You Get Ahead

CaseyLeblang — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:11:55 -0500

A new trend sociocultural trend appears to be emerging: as the unemployment rate increases, so does enrollment in community colleges with associate's degrees programs. As adults find themselves ousted from their careers, obtaining a higher level degree helps bolster their resumes and makes them more marketable to employers.

In addition to associate's degree programs, various types of colleges are reporting more enrollments in non-credit courses. This is a true testament to the mentality that improving one's self is forever possible and that massive employee layoffs will not dampen America's work ethic. Continuing education studies are administered for the sole purpose of enabling individuals to acquire more knowledge in a highly specific area - no certificate or diploma is obtained upon completion. Community college enrollment has increased considerably in the poor employment landscape since adults appreciate the low costs and convenient locations of these schools. So in order to meet demands, community colleges have expanded their continuing studies course offerings. As one director at Middlesex Community College in New Jersey told the New York Times: "I check with industry experts, census figures on demographics, watch the classes that have increased enrollment and maybe add a section of something similar."

When it Comes to Gender Equality, We've Still Got Work

CaseyLeblang — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:26:10 -0500

Women have made considerable progress since the days of the 19th amendment passage. Young women don't bat an eye at holding professions in business and medical fields, as more and more households have female breadwinners and more glass ceilings are being shattered. In regards to education, gone are the days where girls would shy away from math and science, as women now make up half of the medical school population and progress to make the same amount of money as their male counterparts.

And even with all of the advancements women have made - like females holding public office, and a woman having run for Vice President of the United States - it seems that when all is said and done, women do not call the shots in the same capacity as men.

Education Cuts

CaseyLeblang — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:34:24 -0500

In recent months, it appears that legislators are pulling back on education funding and refusing to put emphasis on education reform as an urgent priority.

A powerful east coast governor and a powerful west coast governor both recently made proposals that drastically cut higher education funding. Arnold Schwarzenegger is cutting millions of dollars in funding to California state schools: $66.3 million from California State University, and a $65.5 million cut for the University of California. And Governor David Paterson of New York proposed a plan that would cut $348 million from the State University of New York and City University of New York, according to insidehighered.com. Considering the large populations of these two states, this means that thousands of students, faculty, and parents will be affected by these cuts.

Generation Philanthrophy

CaseyLeblang — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:26:31 -0500

In the wake of the economic crisis, there is mounting concern about the ability of nonprofit organizations to meet increased demands of the American public. More and more American families are without food and shelter, and not-for-profit companies cannot necessarily expand their resources to meet growing needs.

However, while Generation Y has been known for its uncanny i-banking and internet startup abilities, another occupational trend has emerged: working in the nonprofit sector. More and more college-age kids are expressing strong desires to give back to their communities. The harsh world realities that the post 9-11 generation have witnessed has led to a surge in desire to help others in need.

Fortunately, many colleges have catered to this burgeoning desire to give back by offering degree programs in philanthropy. A Seton Hall study found that more than 230 United States colleges universities offer courses in nonprofit administration and services. Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona has an American Humanics program that's entirely devoted to preparing undergraduates for careers in community work. Last year, according to the New York Times, ASU continued to trail blaze on the nonprofit front by creating the first named undergraduate degree in nonprofit management. The sheer existence of such a degree program can encourage more young adults to work in the nonprofit sector, by providing a concrete path to go about doing so. According to the ASU Lodestar Center's website, "completion of the American Humanics core competencies and graduation with a bachelor's degree [enables students to] possess the skills and knowledge they need for employment as nonprofit professionals."

When The Going Gets Tough, Go Back to School

CaseyLeblang — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:43:38 -0500

The national employment rate is not looking too pretty or promising. From January of 2008 to September of 2008, 14,811 U.S. employers initiated mass layoffs at their respective businesses, and non-farm payroll employment declined by 159,000 in September alone, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. People from different locations around the country, from different industries, and of different age demographics have all found themselves without a job and steady source of income.

But perseverance and the idea that self-improvement will ultimately lead to prosperity is embedded in the fabric of America, and this realm of thought has translated to increased enrollment in colleges around the country. Adults who are well past the 18-22 year old age group are now taking courses that can help improve their trade skills. Adults who have already received bachelor's degrees can further bolster their chances of getting hired by taking industry-specific courses and acquiring valuable new knowledge to bring to the work place.

Our Next President On Education

CaseyLeblang — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:51:04 -0500

So the 2008 election has come and gone, and Barack Obama will be the 44th President of the United States of America! Whether or not you are a supporter of Obama, you might be wondering about how the Obama/Biden administration will tackle education issues.

While both presidential campaigns focused mainly on larger economic issues and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Barack Obama did make it a point to let voters know that he very recently just finished paying off his student debts from college and graduate school. Access to higher education is something the new Presidential elect feels is very important, and the Obama camp has proposed several ways of ensuring that more students can obtain the college degrees they deserve.

The student loan system is both flawed and corrupt, and revelations of various scandal incidents have led Americans to grow apprehensive about taking out student loans from private companies. One way that Obama wishes to reform the system is by stopping government subsidies to private lenders and making sure all student loans come directly from the government. This is a drastic measure and one that could prove very costly if passed, but one that could potentially democratize the future of higher education. Other proposals Obama has made is a $4,000 tax credit to students from low-income families upon the completion of community service hours, which would potentially increase public service while providing students in need with access to college educations.

The Role of College Students on Election Day

CaseyLeblang — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:07:10 -0500

The eighteen to twenty-five year old age demographic is receiving unprecedented attention in this presidential election. During the presidential primaries, college kids made it their business to head to the polls and make their opinions heard in the halls of Congress and the Oval Office. And the nation noticed.

Now it is election day, and the college student vote is of high importance to both presidential candidates. But for many college students, registering to vote was more than likely not a seamless process. In 1979, the Supreme Court passed legislation enabling students to register in the state where they attend college - however, many students have encountered barriers to voting in the states where they attend school.

Numerous states have passed legislation in recent years that can cause confusion for student voters and make it more difficult them to vote. When presenting identification at the polls, for instance, addresses on licenses and passports are often students' home addresses. Under some states' legislation, these students would not be allowed to vote.