New Jersey Department of Labor Reports on Diversity in the State

The latest issue of NJ Labor Market Views reports that the population of Hispanics (or Latinos) increased by 39.2 percent in New Jersey between 2000 and 2010.   They also note that the fastest growing racial group in the State was Asian, which increased by 51.1 percent during the past decade.  In culturally diverse New Jersey, just over 23% of Monmouth County's total population were members of a minority group.  In neighboring Middlesex County the proportion of minorities in the population is 50% -- more than double that amount.
http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/pub/lmv/LMV_2.pdf

Who Should Decide What Students Learn?

Who should determine what defines and drives curriculum and what students learn? To what extent should the federal government have a hand in directing the curriculum of our schools?  Read the article, "'Curriculum' Definition Raises Red Flags" by Education Week's Catherine Gewertz to learn more about this increasingly complex issue.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/03/23/26curriculum.h30.html?tkn=XQZF8Ew7XPeRb9TDOhxfZzkTiWf%2FZYw5ZU9f&cmp=clp-edweek

White House Continues Community College Summit Meetings

 On March 9, 2011 Lone Star Community College, Texas hosted a Community College Summit which focused on the relationships between 2-year and 4-year higher education institutions and transfer issues.  The following link will play a 4 hour streaming video of this meeting.
http://hosted.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=c51e0738a57c4f0096b0c24a35e6db6a1d

Freeholders Approve Monmouth County Budget

The Asbury Park Press for March 25, 2011 reports that the Monmouth County Freeholders approved the budget and maintained a flat tax rate for residents by dipping into surplus funds.  Hopes are high that an economic revitalization will stabilize local funding sources.  Future budget plans will examine further options for cutting spending.

"Freeholders hold line on Monmouth County tax rate

Written by NINA RIZZO STAFF WRITER
11:38 PM, Mar. 24, 2011

SHREWSBURY — The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders adopted on Thursday a $491.5 million budget for 2011 that maintains a flat tax rate without sacrificing any county programs or services.  Craig Marshall, the county's chief financeofficer, said the final budget figure is $1.9 million, or 0.39 percent, lower than the2010 spending plan. The amount to be raised by taxation is $302,475,000, the same as last year's tax levy.  The board voted 4-1 to approve the budget, with Freeholder John P. Curley disapproving on the grounds that the board was relying too heavily on surplus funds to balance the budget.  "You do not balance budgets on nonrecurring funds without making corresponding cuts," he said.  Freeholder Director Robert Clifton acknowledged the board made a "risky move" by taking $43.8 million from the surplus account, but argued that the county's revenue forecast is looking brighter. Moreover, county residents who are struggling financially cannot endure a greater tax burden at this time.  "I felt trying to get the tax levy down was worth the risk," Clifton said.  The freeholders introduced a $496 million budget Feb. 24 that called for the elimination of 90 positions and a small tax hike. The board said back then it would continue to find additional savings to shave expenses wherever possible.  The board announced at a March 3 budget hearing that Sheriff Shaun Golden agreed to cut $3.7 million from his original budget.  And, at the afternoon workshop, Marshall said the freeholders decided to use more surplus funds and dig deeper into several areas to achieve a flat tax. Those areas are: $500,000 from the vocational school district (an equal amount of state aid had recently been restored); $230,000 from the mosquito commission; and $70,000 from the Superintendent of Election.  Marshall said the board took an additional $6,025,000 from surplus, bringing the total amount to be used at $43,863,000. That leaves approximately $34 million in the rainy day account."

Changing Education Paradigms

This animate was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA's Benjamin Franklin award.  The 11 or so minutes will be worth your while, even just to remind you why you got into education to begin with or perhaps to make you think about education in ways you may never have before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

Ten Federal Issues Affecting Colleges

Read the 2011 Legislative Primer's Legislative Update to learn about ten issues the 112th Congress has deemed as having the most impact on colleges over the next year.  They focus on a series of bills that will favorably influence the role community colleges will play in the education of their students.

 

N. J. Labor Market Views--New State Publication

A new online publication by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development will  "cover a wide range of labor market issues and demographic insights.  N.J. Labor Market Views will look at issues such as New Jersey through the lens of the 2010 Census; the latest demographic pictures; state, regional and local employment and unemployment situations and snapshots of the state’s key industries, to name a few. N.J. Labor Market Views will help you keep New Jersey’s labor market situation in focus."  Take a look at it to see what's happening in the state.  You'll notice that there's little mention of Monmouth County.  Perhaps we'll receive more attention in a future issue:

http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/forms_pdfs/LMI/LaborMarketViews/LMV_1.pdf

America's Rude Democracy Needs Political Civility

Susan Herbst, author of Rude Democracy: Civility and Incivility in American Politics, offers a historical overview about troubled political discourse in the United States and her suggestions for improved communication processes. According to Herbst we need to create a "culture of listening," learn how to gather critical and appropriate evidence, and educate students about effective techniques of argumentation.  To read her article from The Key Reporter:
http://www.pbk.org/home/FocusNews.aspx?id=685

U.S. Department of Education OVACE Virtual Symposium for Community Colleges

OVACE, The Office of Vocational and Adult Education is sponsoring a virtual Community College Regional Summit the week of April 25, to bring together community college leaders, faculty, students, business leaders, philanthropic organizations, and other workforce development experts to discuss the role that community colleges play in efforts to increase the number of college graduates and prepare graduates to lead the 21st century workforce.  To find out more and become part of the activity:

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html?src=oc

An Unlikely Alliance -- Chris Christie and Corey Booker

An article in the recent issue of Newsweek tells about the strong working relationship between New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Corey Booker.  Despite being on different sides of the political fence they often can find agreement on the major issues affecting New Jersey.  Booker's approach is to stress the "politics of opportunity over that of grievance and entitlement."
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/03/06/best-frenemies.html

As Faculty Members Age, Tough Decisions Lie Ahead

Inside Higher Ed has a posting about the looming retirement of vast numbers from the professorate.  As the "gray wave" decides whether to remain or retire from colleges and universities across the nation, their status will provide a new set of challenges in higher education.  Should there be a mandatory retirement age for college professors?  How will a new generation of junior faculty define their roles?  How will all this affect college finances?  The article goes on to note that, "what distinguishes higher education in general and professors in particular is how they relate to their institutions...these relationships can run very deep, particularly at small liberal arts colleges, and they can make professors even more leery of leaving.  James H. Mullen, president of Allegheny College said, "For so many of our faculty, their identity is wrapped up in the life of our institution."  The faculty of Brookdale can clearly relate to Dr. Mullen's observation.  To read the full article:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/03/08/large_numbers_of_retiring_professors_pose_problems_for_colleges

The Prodigal: A Charter School and High-Stakes Test Conversion

In this article, a New York University research professor and former secretary of education shares why she no longer favors charter schools or "school choice" and high-stakes testing.  Why she experienced this change of heart has all to do with the need for "a national conversation" about what we really need to address when we consider students' needs and how they can succeed.

http://bcm.bc.edu/issues/winter_2011/endnotes/the-prodigal.html

CUNY Adjusts Amidst Tide of Remedial Students

This recent New York Times Article presents the dilemma one major college school system faces having what equates to a perfect storm.  On the one hand, more and more students are in need of remediation, and on the other, CUNY, likes most schools, are experiencing a severe decrease in state aid.  The article discusses how CUNY professors are having to rethink how they teach as a result of the the need to do more with less.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/nyregion/04remedial.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

University of Phoenix Evolves in Response to a Changing Economic and Academic Climate

 The Chronicle of Higher Education recently reported on changes taking place at the United States' largest higher education institution, the University of Phoenix.  The continued national economic downturn is affecting  their student enrollment numbers as well as the repayment of existing student loans at the institution.  A considerable numbers of under-prepared students enrolled in their programs of study brought new academic challenges to the University.  In response, the University of Phoenix decided to examine and redesign its operations.  Among the changes made it, "ended a compensation schedule tied to enrollment, began a required orientation program for inexperienced students, and instituted a host of other reforms in marketing and nearly every other important facet of this 438,000-student institution."
http://0-chronicle.com.library.brookdalecc.edu/article/Fast-Growing-U-of-Phoenix/126260/
(Access to this article from off-campus will require authentication)

Complete College America Launches $10 Million Grant Program for States

Governors from all fifty states are eligible to apply for a new grant iniative, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  States that demonstrate a commitment to develop and deploy innovative, state-wide strategies to substantially increase college completion are eligible to earn one of ten $1 million, 18-month implementation grants.

http://view.s4.exacttarget.com/?j=fe94157173620c7f76&m=fea915707565077c75&ls=fef61670736c0d&l=ff62167472&s=ff291d737c65&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe901d707363067f70&r=0