New administrator to be hired??

Anonymous commenter to an earlier threat posted the information that the chancellor is preparing to hire a new administrator. This person will be "a marketing communication person (a new position) underneath the foundation director and above the university relations director." (from the comment)

Can this really be true? In these times of cuts and faculty vacancies, can our leadership believe that we would benefit by hiring another paper-pusher?

Tthere needs to be some outrage and angry protest before we let our resources be squandered like this!!!!

We are "risk-averse, frequently self-satisfied, and unduly expensive"!

The national commission on higher education issued a draft report, slamming universities a few days ago. The writers describe us essentially as a failing business that needs radical restructuring to continue.

I haven't read the whole report, but it seems like a pretty nasty attack . . . .
Inside Higher Ed :: Prose and Politics

Accreditation: A Flawed Proposal

Here is an interesting commentary about the accreditation process. It raises the much broader issue of the problems of higher education.

Professionals want to use accreditation to increase institutions standards, but the general public wants those standards to be lowered. He argues that the public wants to see their children get in and through the university without too much struggle. Higher standards make that more difficult.

The author makes a very interesting point and one to take note of as we prepare ourselves for another round of accredition that is upcoming.


Inside Higher Ed :: Accreditation: A Flawed Proposal

Can't Complete High School? Go Right to College - New York Times

Here is a very interesting story from the NYTimes (reg. required). Read about how students who haven't graduated from high school make up 2% of all college students (not including home schoolers!)

It is a story about what is happening in New York. Are such things happening here in Wisconsin?


Can't Complete High School? Go Right to College - New York Times

High Tech Cheating discussion continues

Inside higher-ed has an essay with a similar argument to that of Dvorak's. The author suggests that it is the teachers fault that they don't better understand and utilize the internet. . .


Inside Higher Ed :: Stop Chasing High-Tech Cheaters

The Cheating Debate--A Tech writer's take

John Dvorack, computer guru, doesn't see what the big deal is about using calculators in class. He also doesn't understand why students need to learn to write.

It shows a shockingly ignorant understanding of what education is all about. He argues that computers have made the need to know (and think) irrellevant. All you need to know is how to search.

He also thinks writing should be replaced by Powerpointing. It is shocking that a writer would think that the there is nothing to the process except cutting and pasting other people's ideas.

It is a interesting insight into the thinking of the technological world--why learn anything anymore, he seems to suggest, it is all on-line anyway!
Knowing What to Know—The Cheating Debate

Free Tuition for Veterans

This seems like a subject worth mentioning here. Doyle is poised to sign a bill that will give 8 semesters of higher education free to veterans.

Unfortunately, there is no mechanism for funding this, so it remains to be seen whether this is a good or bad thing for the system. Will individual schools be forced to pick up the tab? Will everyone else's tuition go up, so that students will pay for this program?

As far as the legislature goes, I would imagine they just expect us to cut costs to pay for it. Veterans will get a lower quality education, just like everyone else gets these days. . .


The Sheboygan Press - Editorial: Don't make students pay for tuition waiver for state's veterans

Dan Hoyt, our most ardent right-winger has a blog

I was googling around and I have to link to this--Dan Hoyt, who is our most outspoken right-wing Christian character on campus, has a blog. Here you can read his attack on Zimmerman and his absurd claim that evolution is a religion.

Hoyt's Opinion February 8, 2006

The Footnote Police vs. Ward Churchill

For a little light reading this afternoon on the net, you might turn to this article that argues that some of the charges leveled against Churchill are quite dubious.

The usual acrimonious discussion is attached.

Inside Higher Ed :: The Footnote Police vs. Ward Churchill

Colleges Chase as Cheats Shift to Higher Tech - New York Times

The New York Times (registration required) reports on high-tech cheating by college students. Wireless internet connections and ipods give new facets to students trying to immorally get ahead.

It is another NYTimes story without any quantitative data, but does give some interesting anecdotes!

Colleges Chase as Cheats Shift to Higher Tech - New York Times

Summer is upon us!

Whoopie!!! Yea!!! Summer is finally here. Grades have been submitted and I can turn to the other side of my work and get some research done! It will be nice to have some solid blocks of time to think and write.

I was pretty productive this semester, but there is only so much you can do between teaching, preparing to teach, and grading during the school year.

I had a decent batch of students, so the semester did not feel too onerous and I think that a few people learned something significant in my courses. Perhaps they will retain a bit of it in the years to come!

The blogging frequency may slow down, but I hope to keep my eyes and ears open to important developments on campus and beyond.

Kreibich says something nice about the UW system

I was so shocked when I read this story, I had to link to it. Rob Kreibich, implacable attacker of UW, voted against the taxpayer amendment because it would hurt higher education.

I have to praise him for making this decision, but lets hope that his incidiary rhetoric will lessen and he will work on helping us improve the quality of education in the state!

The Spectator - Taxpayer amendment stops at Senate

The Other Side of Ignorance: Ward Churchill's misconduct

It seems only fair to note that Ward Churchill has been accused of a whole lot of academic misconduct. This, of course, follows on the heals of reports of all the misrepresentations in David Horowitz's work. I suppose all extremists do such things--when you put your ideology before the facts, what do the facts matter?

The report does not call for his dismissal, but suggests a long suspension. It makes interesting reading.

Inside Higher Ed :: Truth and Consequences

Winneblogo listed on state blog list

I just discovered myself listed on the website wispolitics.com. Someone outside of oshkosh seems to have noticed the blog! I have been categorized as a left-wing blogger, so check it out. . .

WisOpinion, Wisconsin's Premier Political News Service

Academic Freedom at a Christian College

This story makes interesting reading. Patrick Henry College had 5 faculty members quit after they were not allowed to teach non-Christian texts nor question the administrations particular interpretation of Christianity.



Raw Fisher

Wells plugs the liberal arts

Chancellor Wells sent out a letter, calling our attentioin to the campaign for liberal arts laid out at the website below. Oshkosh has been highlighted there for "exemplary program." I think they mean that they are glad to see the program praised in our alumni magazine.

I am not sure exactly what our commitment is, beyond lip service. The real spokesman for the liberal arts is leaving and the chancellor seems to be speaking only about expansion and "practical" programs in his growth plan.

You should go and watch the public service ads at the site, thought, they are terrific!


Solutions for our Future.org: Solutions for Our Future

Working Students

70-80 percent of students who are enrolled work at the same time. Those who do average 30 hours a week. About 1/4 work full time.

Wow! I always knew that my students worked, but I didn't realize how much. This is a striking problem for us. How can students who work that much have a chance to do the kind of clockwork necessary to graduate with a set of skills that are worthy of a bachelors?

This is directly related to our continuing discussions about standards and retention. What kinds of standards can these students attain when they have so little time for college? If I really expect my students to do 2 hours of work outside of class for one in, where would they conceivably find the time?

No wonder students are taking so long to graduate and so few of them do! For those who are dependent on their jobs for tuition, college must look something like a vicious cycle-- pay more, work more, go deeper into debt while education becomes less important.




Here is the study itself, which is a 22 page PDF.
ACE | Center for Policy Analysis

Horowitz gets sued

In the always enjoyable (in a disheartening sort of way) David Horowitz Saga, a new twist has emerged.

Joel Beinin has sued Horowitz for putting his picture on the front of the book. He argues that Horowitz shouldn't be able to use his picture for profit, especially when he disputes the claims made about him in the book.

I don't imagine he will have any luck -- it is exactly like Fox News trying to sue Al Franken over "fair and balanced." That one was laughed out of court, and this one probably will be too.


MercuryNews.com | 05/10/2006 | Professor fights portrayal as supporter of terrorism

Wells postpones Applied Studies

Chancellor Wells posted a message to the university community today where he acknowledged the major complaints by the faculty about the Growth initiative.

First, he apologized for announcing that "University 101" course would be translated into a mandatory one. He does not, however, acknowledge that the course will not be required, only that this decision by administrators "appeared to violate the principle of shared governance." It looks a bit too much like lawyerese to me--he didn't say there will be more discussion or that the faculty might stop it from coming into being.

The second point is much less ambiguous: BAS has been removed from the program approval process pending further discussion. Thank you, Chancellor Wells!

The question for both of these is whether he will simply wait until fall or some other time and send them through the opaque governance channels without serious reconsideration of either.


Here are the relevant passages from his letter:

I was informed at the open forums that the “growth agenda” proposal included a new initiative for a required course that appeared to violate the principle of shared governance, which gives faculty primary responsibility for the curriculum. I appreciate being made aware of the fact that this course is not approved as a required course. I accept full responsibility for overlooking this error, and I want to assure you I fully respect the primary authority of faculty for the curriculum.

Also brought to my attention at the open forums were concerns about the quality and faculty input for a new degree, the Bachelor of Applied Studies. In response to these concerns, the degree program has been removed from the docket for program approval until further faculty dialogue on the subject has occurred.

Time Magazine writes about Christianists

Tony Palmeri sent along this link, where Andrew Sullivan, pundit and blogger, takes up the term I have been championing for months. I feel like such a trend setter!

He describes Christianism as an ideology, politics. He suggests we should use the term for those who use Christianity to define a precise political agenda.

I am glad that he has found the value in this term--it is important to make a distinction between those who have differing interpretations of Christianity and those who try to force their interpretations into politics.

TIME.com: My Problem with Christianism -- May 15, 2006 -- Page 1


Here is a link to his blog, where he describes his problem with the Christianist legislative agenda.