Wednesday, September 29, 2010
National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment--Are We Doing Enough With Our Data?
An article in the Chronicle of Higher Education posed the question: Are colleges doing enough to use the data they collect to improve teaching and learning? http://chronicle.com/article/Many-Colleges-Assess-Learni/47892/
The National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment encourages higher education intitutions to consider more uses for their data. Visit their website:
http://learningoutcomeassessment.org/
The National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment encourages higher education intitutions to consider more uses for their data. Visit their website:
http://learningoutcomeassessment.org/
New Jersey and the Economy
The Asbury Park Press provided a New Jersey perspective on the latest national economic news. In an article on 9/28/10, they wrote:
"New Jersey's median household income dropped by nearly $1,600 between 2008 and 2009, according to a Census Bureau report issued Tuesday, though the state retained the nation's second-highest median income despite the 2.3 percent dip. With that decline in income comes increased financial stress from the state's high housing costs -- a median of $2,401 for New Jerseyans with a mortgage, tops in the nation and more than double the median in 15 states. There's little relief for renters, whose monthly median of $1,108 top all states but Hawaii and California. Nearly 47 percent of mortgaged owners in New Jersey spend 30 percent or more of their household income on housing costs, trailing only California, Florida, Hawaii and Nevada. That has climbed 6 percentage points since 2005. The same financial burden is carried by half of renters, also ranked fifth nationally. The report reinforces what was already known and underscores the need for a range of housing options that people can afford, said Nina Arce, media coordinator for the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. People otherwise will continue moving south to find jobs, she said. 'At this time of job loss, it is especially critical that towns have a mix of housing for all people across the income spectrum,' Arce said. 'Right now so many people are leaving our state, and it really hurts our economic competitiveness. New Jersey is going to be left behind'."
http://www.app.com/article/20100928/NEWS03/100928099/-1/nletter01?source=nletter-news
"New Jersey's median household income dropped by nearly $1,600 between 2008 and 2009, according to a Census Bureau report issued Tuesday, though the state retained the nation's second-highest median income despite the 2.3 percent dip. With that decline in income comes increased financial stress from the state's high housing costs -- a median of $2,401 for New Jerseyans with a mortgage, tops in the nation and more than double the median in 15 states. There's little relief for renters, whose monthly median of $1,108 top all states but Hawaii and California. Nearly 47 percent of mortgaged owners in New Jersey spend 30 percent or more of their household income on housing costs, trailing only California, Florida, Hawaii and Nevada. That has climbed 6 percentage points since 2005. The same financial burden is carried by half of renters, also ranked fifth nationally. The report reinforces what was already known and underscores the need for a range of housing options that people can afford, said Nina Arce, media coordinator for the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. People otherwise will continue moving south to find jobs, she said. 'At this time of job loss, it is especially critical that towns have a mix of housing for all people across the income spectrum,' Arce said. 'Right now so many people are leaving our state, and it really hurts our economic competitiveness. New Jersey is going to be left behind'."
http://www.app.com/article/20100928/NEWS03/100928099/-1/nletter01?source=nletter-news
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sobering National Economic News -- Household Incomes Down Again
A recent article from the Washington Post (9/27/10) summed up what many people have recently surmised. Household buying power was diminished for a second straight year.
“Nationwide, incomes went down for the second year in a row, as did the proportion of households earning more than $100,000. The ranks of people living in poverty and near-poverty grew, and more people went without health insurance. Nationally, the median income of $50,221 was down about 4 percent last year from the start of the recession in December 2007. In 2007, the median household income was $52,384. Last year alone was responsible for about $1,500 of that loss. From 2008 to 2009, real median household income fell by 2.9 percent nationwide, decreasing in 34 states and increasing in one (North Dakota), the data showed. Almost one in five households had an income of $100,000 or more last year, the census data showed. That was down almost a full percentage point from 2008. In contrast, almost one in four families earned less than $25,000, an increase of one percentage point. The number and percentage of people in poverty rose in 31 states from 2008 to 2009, with no state showing a statistically significant decline.”
What are the implications of this continued national economic downturn for Brookdale Community College? Will we see more students selecting us for their first two years over more expensive four-year college choices? Will we see fewer students who come from poorer families and can no longer afford community college tuition and textbooks? Is this situation an opportunity, a threat or both for Brookdale? What strategies make sense for the different departments and areas of the College?
“Nationwide, incomes went down for the second year in a row, as did the proportion of households earning more than $100,000. The ranks of people living in poverty and near-poverty grew, and more people went without health insurance. Nationally, the median income of $50,221 was down about 4 percent last year from the start of the recession in December 2007. In 2007, the median household income was $52,384. Last year alone was responsible for about $1,500 of that loss. From 2008 to 2009, real median household income fell by 2.9 percent nationwide, decreasing in 34 states and increasing in one (North Dakota), the data showed. Almost one in five households had an income of $100,000 or more last year, the census data showed. That was down almost a full percentage point from 2008. In contrast, almost one in four families earned less than $25,000, an increase of one percentage point. The number and percentage of people in poverty rose in 31 states from 2008 to 2009, with no state showing a statistically significant decline.”
What are the implications of this continued national economic downturn for Brookdale Community College? Will we see more students selecting us for their first two years over more expensive four-year college choices? Will we see fewer students who come from poorer families and can no longer afford community college tuition and textbooks? Is this situation an opportunity, a threat or both for Brookdale? What strategies make sense for the different departments and areas of the College?
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Economic Value of a College Education
College Board: Financial Return on Higher Education
The College Board's 2010 "Education Pays" Trends Report documents the impact of higher education on earnings and employment:
http://trends.collegeboard.org/files/Education_Pays_2010.pdf
The College Board's 2010 "Education Pays" Trends Report documents the impact of higher education on earnings and employment:
http://trends.collegeboard.org/files/Education_Pays_2010.pdf
Non-Profit Private Colleges and Universities Work to Improve Graduation Rates
Building Blocks to 2020
President Obama has set an ambitious goal of making the United States first in the world in college completion by 2020. Reaching that threshold requires immediate and bold national effort.
Private higher education welcomes this challenge and pledges an even greater commitment to help all Americans who can benefit from a higher education realize the opportunity to enroll in college and complete their degrees. Their website features hundreds of programs at private colleges and universities nationally to expand access to college and ensure degree completion.
This site was officially launched in September 2010. It will gather and post examples of private college initiatives to enhance access and success for students.
http://www.buildingblocks2020.org/
President Obama has set an ambitious goal of making the United States first in the world in college completion by 2020. Reaching that threshold requires immediate and bold national effort.
Private higher education welcomes this challenge and pledges an even greater commitment to help all Americans who can benefit from a higher education realize the opportunity to enroll in college and complete their degrees. Their website features hundreds of programs at private colleges and universities nationally to expand access to college and ensure degree completion.
This site was officially launched in September 2010. It will gather and post examples of private college initiatives to enhance access and success for students.
http://www.buildingblocks2020.org/
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Time Out: Gauging the Value of a Gap Year Before College
Increasing numbers of students are taking a year or more off before they start their college educations. Many are getting involved in volunteer or public service activities.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2015783,00.html
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2015783,00.html
Community College Student Success Stories--Transfers To Universities
The Washington Post interviewed John Casteen, the 20-year president of University of Virginia, a passionate supporter of community college transfers. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/college-inc/2010/06/u-vas_casteen_on_community_col.html
Read about what's going on as Virginia's community colleges sucessfully prepare students for continuing their baccalaureate studies.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/16/AR2010061605737.html
One of the ways community college students find help to succeed is through the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Community College Transfer Initiative. It provides more than a thousand exceptional low- to moderate-income community-college students across the country with the opportunity to attend the nation’s most selective four-year institutions. The program partners with eight highly-selective colleges and universities, as well as dozens of community colleges across the country.http://www.jkcf.org/grants/community-college-transfer/
Read about what's going on as Virginia's community colleges sucessfully prepare students for continuing their baccalaureate studies.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/16/AR2010061605737.html
One of the ways community college students find help to succeed is through the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Community College Transfer Initiative. It provides more than a thousand exceptional low- to moderate-income community-college students across the country with the opportunity to attend the nation’s most selective four-year institutions. The program partners with eight highly-selective colleges and universities, as well as dozens of community colleges across the country.http://www.jkcf.org/grants/community-college-transfer/
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A Stronger Nation Through Higher Education
The Lumina Foundation's new special report A Stronger Nation through Higher Education contains updated state data on attainment levels for all fifty states. See the discussion and download the full report here:
http://www.luminafoundation.org/newsroom/newsstories/topics/2010-09-21-a_stronger_nation.html?autoplay=1
http://www.luminafoundation.org/newsroom/newsstories/topics/2010-09-21-a_stronger_nation.html?autoplay=1
Thursday, September 16, 2010
On October 5, 2010, Dr. Jill Biden will chair the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges.
This is a great opportunity for community colleges across the nation to make connections with business and industry, the American public, and other educational institutions. See what's planned:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/CommunityCollege
http://www.whitehouse.gov/CommunityCollege
Why Johnny's College Isn't What It Used To Be
The state of American higher education is examined in the new book, Higher Education? How Colleges Are Wasting Our Money and Failing Our Kids — and What We Can Do About It. Read the review in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/books/19book.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/books/19book.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monmouth County Snapshot
The Central Regional Community Fact Book for Monmouth County was published in August 2010. Take a look to see current population, employment and industry trends with projections for the future.
http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/pub/factbook/monfct.pdf
http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/pub/factbook/monfct.pdf
To What End? What Matters In Two Year Education Programs?
Long time educator Terry O'Banion shares his thoughts about recent educational reform movements in community colleges. Can student completion rates be raised? How important is a "liberal education?" Does it matter that so many faculty and students are part-timers? Read about it in INSIDE HIGHERED.
http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2010/08/16/obanion
http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2010/08/16/obanion
Florida Community Colleges Have Strong Baccalaureate Programs
Florida community colleges now offer more than 100 four-year degrees, and the figure could increase significantly. Read about it in INSIDE HIGHERED.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/08/12/baccalaureate
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/08/12/baccalaureate
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