Bad behavior in college? Heavens no!

Today’s winners are:

“Student Arrested for Twitter Threat to Aid Office”

“A student at St. Louis Community College was arrested Wednesday for a "violent" threat against the financial aid office, authorities said, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The Twitter message said that she was so frustrated with the financial aid office that she wanted to kill someone. The tweet didn't name an individual. College officials discovered the post through regular monitoring of social media about the college”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/30/student-arrested-twitter-threat-aid-office

 

“Cheerleading Squad Suspended for Hazing at Towson U.”

“Towson University has suspended its cheerleading squad from competing for the full academic year, citing an alleged incident of hazing, The Baltimore Sun reported. The Maryland university provided no details about the incident involving the team, which won a national championship award last year. But Towson's vice president for student affairs, Deb Moriarty, said in a statement that "hazing in any form will not be tolerated at Towson University. We hold high expectations for all of our students and their conduct as leaders, both on and off campus."”

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/30/cheerleading-squad-suspended-hazing-towson-u

Looking forward to that positive news one of these days…

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Sharing 8/29/13

“Making Campuses Safer From Rape”

“I have had a very satisfying career as a university professor for more than 15 years now. Back in 1988, however, I couldn't have imagined such a future for myself. I was a junior in college and had just survived a sexual assault. It was a stranger rape. It was brutal. It happened in my off-campus apartment, just blocks away from the university. I learned later that the perpetrator was a relative of the president of the Board of Trustees at my university”.

 

“At the time there were few university resources available for survivors like myself. I had to contact each of my professors to see if I could get extensions on my papers and exams. I was left to navigate the legal system without guidance or support. I sought medical services on my own. I arranged to have friends escort me to and from classes. And, there were no organized counseling programs for survivors on campus. As a result, along with several others, I helped to create one of the nation's first survivor-run support groups at a university”.

Read the rest here: http://chronicle.com/article/Making-Campuses-Safer-From/141219/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

A well shared story

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Gone fishing today

Young boys need to feel safe as well

We often dismiss boys’ concerns and feelings in school due to wrong reason; but the fact of the matter is, school is becoming more difficult and hostile to young boys (thank you Eric Kline for the article). Read the whole article here: http://ideas.time.com/2013/08/19/school-has-become-too-hostile-to-boys/#ixzz2cRZUjDd1, watch this short clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpXhbdl1MKo .  Zero tolerance has done a number on boys, and is especially skewed  negatively towards boys of color.

 

 

Dozier School for boys

“The Florida School for Boys, also known as the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys (AGDS), was a reform school operated by the state of Florida in the panhandle town of Marianna from January 1, 1900, to June 30, 2011”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_School_for_Boys)

“Investigators have been given permission to exhume remains found at the notorious Arthur G Dozier School for Boys in Florida, which closed in 2011 following pupils' revelations of widespread physical and sexual abuse”.

“Governor Rick Scott and the rest of Florida's cabinet voted unanimously on Tuesday to allow dozens of unmarked graves found in woods near the school to be opened up. The decision comes after a team of researchers found evidence of almost 100 deaths at the institution”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/07/florida-exhume-remains-dozier-school

“Following revelations from former inmates who had been incarcerated at the school in the 1950s and 1960s, who described themselves as "The White House Boys," the school was the subject of an extensive special report, For Their Own Good, published by the St. Petersburg Times in 2009.  Allegations focusing on the 1960s included claims that one room was used for whipping white boys and another for black boys. The whippings were carried out with a 3-feet-long belt made of leather and metal and were thorough enough that the recipients' underwear became embedded in their skin. One inmate said that the punishments were severe but justified. But another claimed that he had seen a boy trapped in a running laundry dryer at the school and suspected the boy was killed”.

“One former inmate claimed that he was punished in the white house eleven times, receiving a total of over 250 lashes. Others alleged that they were whipped until they lost consciousness and that the punishments were made harsher for boys that cried.  Some former inmates also claimed that there was a "rape room" at the school where they were sexually abused. The complainants said that some of the victims were as young as nine years old”.

Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_School_for_Boys

This is not ancient history; this school was finally closed in 2011, just two short years ago.

When did our young men become the enemy?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Happy August 26, 2013!

I have two articles to share today, the first is serious enough that I hope schools start looking at the issue more seriously, and the second is more comedic in nature since I find subject of the article to a be a clown.

“Siblings' Disabilities Linked to Academic Troubles for Brothers, Sisters”

“While schools are required to provide academic support for students with disabilities, a new study suggests the nondisabled siblings of disabled students may also be academically at risk”.

“Those brothers and sisters are 60 percent more likely to drop out of school than students without disabled siblings, according to a University of California, Riverside, study, presented at the annual American Sociological Association conference here. Moreover, sisters of disabled students are particularly disadvantaged. They complete one-plus years less schooling than girls with nondisabled siblings”.

"This is a pretty large percentage of our children, and they have pretty large impacts on their families," said Anna Penner, the study's author and a sociology researcher at the University of California, Irvine. "Disabled children tend to require more resources," she said. "So the family's resources could be centered on that child and the... “

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/08/21/01sociology.h33.html?cmp=ENL-EU-SUBCNT

Unfortunately, important articles like, this are often locked down in silos if you do not have a subscription to the magazine.

 

“Trump University Made False Claims, Lawsuit Says”

“The New York State attorney general’s office filed a civil lawsuit on Saturday accusing Trump University, Donald J. Trump’s for-profit investment school, of engaging in illegal business practices”.

“The lawsuit, which seeks restitution of at least $40 million, accused Mr. Trump, the Trump Organization and others involved with the school of running it as an unlicensed educational institution from 2005 to 2011 and making false claims about its classes in what was described as “an elaborate bait-and-switch.””

“George Sorial, another lawyer for Mr. Trump, called the lawsuit politically motivated. He said that Mr. Schneiderman had asked Mr. Trump and his family for campaign contributions and grew angry when denied”.

Read the whole thing here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/nyregion/trump-university-made-false-claims-lawsuit-says.html?_r=0

Politically motivated? I thought Trump was a business man turned television personality. Have they been thinking about the students at all?

 

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Eyeball Worthy Stories

As we know, things that happen elsewhere sometimes affect us at home. Some of these are continuing sagas, but the first one is new and very interesting and  is important in the fight to eliminate sexual assault on campus.

 

“Academic Approach to Alcohol”

“Beginning this year, University of Idaho freshmen will face immediate expulsion if their grade-point average is below 1.0 at the end of fall semester -- and whether or not alcohol is to blame, it's part of an effort to curb underage drinking”.

Read the rest: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/08/23/idaho-will-expel-low-performing-students-part-alcohol-prevention-plan

 

 

“California Campuses to Face Sexual Assault Audit”

“After hearing testimony from University of California students who say their institutions ignored or mishandled their complaints of sexual assault, state lawmakers on Wednesday authorized an audit with "priority status" to examine how UC and California State University campuses address sexual assault. The audit will include the University of California at Berkeley, as well as another UC campus and two in the CSU system, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. In May, students filed a federal complaint with the U.S. Department of Education alleging that Berkeley inadequately investigated and reported sexual assault”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/23/california-campuses-face-sexual-assault-audit

“City of San Francisco Sues Accreditor”

“The City of San Francisco announced Thursday that it is suing the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, charging it with using inappropriate measures in evaluating City College of San Francisco, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. The commission has announced plans to revoke the college's accreditation next year. The suit argues, among other things, that the commission was punishing the college for its opposition to budget cuts at a time that commission leaders agreed with state officials that cuts were appropriate. Commission officials could not be reached for comment, but they have denied that they treated the college unfairly”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/23/city-san-francisco-sues-accreditor

Have you seen any interesting stories out there recently? Please share.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

College readiness

What does it mean to be college ready? Does it mean you got a good score on a test? Does it mean you can adequately navigate the system and skate through? Or should it mean that your basic educational foundation is strong as well as your critical thinking skills?

 

“Most students aren’t ready for college, ACT data show”

“Most students are not adequately prepared to face the rigor of college, according to the latest ACT scores, which also show that the average composite score on the college-entrance exam fell from last year”.
“That composite score dropped to 20.9 among high school students in 2013, the lowest in eight years. Since 2006, scores had been relatively flat at about 21.1, on a scale where 36 is perfect”.
“The report released today by the Iowa City, Iowa-based organization found just 39 percent of test-takers in the class of 2013 met three or more of the ACT college-readiness benchmarks in English, reading, science, and math. Nearly one-third did not meet any”.
Read the rest: http://hechingerreport.org/content/most-students-arent-ready-for-college-act-data-show_12951/

Not everyone is going to, or wants to go to college, that makes sense because college as a whole is not easy or convenient. However, being college ready should be something for everyone because no matter what your career path, you will need to be receptive to training. Being in the military involves training, being a welder involves training, being a mechanic involves training, etc.

Obviously, the college readiness issue starts before high school, and so the question should be: how are we handling this in the best interest of students? Are we politicizing the issue or are we taking action? Are we working together or working apart?

 

It is all about the student, so let us think of life readiness rather than college readiness because it should be the same thing.

 

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

A couple of Higher Ed stories to share

From the saga of City College San Francisco:

 

“Different Tactics to Help City College of San Francisco”

“City College of San Francisco on Tuesday formally asked its accreditor to reverse the decision that, a year from now, would strip the college of its accreditation, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. But to the disappointment of many students and faculty members, the college's request to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges did not mention a recent report by the U.S. Education Department faulting the accreditor for being out of compliance with several rules that relate to its review of the college. Robert Agrella, a state-appointed trustee who has been running the college since shortly after the accreditor's decision to revoke recognition, defended the decision not to focus on the commission's own problems. "I believe that if the college changes direction and begins to attack the commission, rather than working with it to correct the problems in the institution, it will jeopardize our ability to maintain accreditation," he said”.

“About 150 students, meanwhile, demanding Agrella's ouster, staged a sit-in at San Francisco City Hall, KTVU News reported”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/21/different-tactics-help-city-college-san-Francisco

 

This story bothered me because I still think schools are too complacent when it comes to safety of our girls on campus.

“Student Account of Sex Harassment Abroad Strikes Chord”

“A University of Chicago student’s essay about her experience of sexual harassment while studying abroad in India had attracted about 350,000 page views by Tuesday morning, CNN reported. Many Indian readers sympathized with the story – some men offered their personal apologies -- but others warned against making generalizations about India or Indians”.

“The student, a South Asian studies major named Michaela Cross, said she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is on a leave of absence from Chicago. (A spokesman for the university contacted by CNN confirmed that Cross is a student there but did not confirm details of her leave.) In the essay, posted under a pseudonym, Cross described spending three months “in a traveler's heaven and a woman's hell. I was stalked, groped, masturbated at; and yet I had adventures beyond my imagination. I hoped that my nightmare would end at the tarmac, but that was just the beginning."”

(http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/21/student-account-sex-harassment-abroad-strikes-chord)

Read the essay here: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/20/world/american-student-india-sexual-harassment-irpt/

 

I look forward to some good and inspiring news.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

K12 and Higher Ed News Today

So I thought I would split today’s offerings between K12 and College. I need to preface that I am not offering an opinion, but I do look forward to hearing what everyone has to say on these issues.

“Draconian Policy for Weak Teachers”

“It had to happen eventually. Tennessee will revoke the licenses of teachers whose students fail to post progress on standardized tests ("Teachers Face License Loss," The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 17). Evidently it isn't enough to fire these teachers. They have to be punished, and what better way to do so than preventing them from ever teaching again”.

“Although Rhode Island, Louisiana and Delaware are also considering pulling the licenses of teachers whose students consistently fail to improve test scores, Tennessee is the predictable center of the strategy. It was at the University of Tennessee in 1992 that William Sanders constructed the controversial value-added model being used to evaluate teachers. The state has already abolished collective bargaining for teachers and made it harder for them to earn tenure”.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/walt_gardners_reality_check/2013/08/draconian_measure_for_teacher_underperformance.html?cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS2

One of the big players in higher education took some steps to settle something:

“Career Education Corp. Settles Inquiry for $10 Million”
“Career Education Corp. has agreed to a $10.25 million settlement with New York's attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman. The for-profit chain, which owns Colorado Technical University and Sanford Brown, had been the subject of an inquiry by Schneiderman over allegedly inflating its graduates' job placement rates. The settlement includes $9.25 in restitution to former students and a $1 million penalty to the state, according to a news release from the attorney general's office. The company has also agreed to "substantial changes" in how it calculates job placement rates”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/20/career-education-corp-settles-inquiry-10-million

 

 

Worth  a read because of the potential far reaching consequences.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

In the news today

New York is one of the largest states, so issues in education often have a far-reaching affect:

“N.Y. Test-Score Plunge Adds Fuel to Common-Core Debate”

“The release of New York state test scores showing steep plunges in mathematics and English/language arts proficiency from last year has state officials and educators grappling with the growing influence of the common core on standardized-test performance”.

“Education officials in the Empire State say this year’s scores, released Aug. 7, on tests aligned for the first time to the Common Core State Standards, give schools a more accurate and honest picture of whether students are being adequately prepared for both postsecondary studies and the labor market”.

“But others in the K-12 community believe that as common-core-aligned tests roll out over the next several years, such scores will be used to attack educators, and ultimately hamper students’ development. The process, they say, shows that there is a focus on standardized testing that is hollow and pernicious”.

Read the rest: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/08/21/01newyork.h33.html?tkn=ZVWFXKK9dfVHam%2FPox0%2B6LHWQQ8UUq%2F5UgSr&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

 

This is an example of politics (on both sides) getting in the way of helping students. Here is a novel idea; think of the students first not the politics:

“GOP Delivers on Activist K-12 Agenda in N.C.”

“After taking simultaneous control of both chambers of the legislature and the governorship for the first time in 140 years, North Carolina Republicans have moved aggressively on K-12 policy this year, with swift—and divisive—action on school choice and teacher policy against a backdrop of continued statewide budget woes”.

“In addition to creating a new $10 million statewide voucher program, GOP lawmakers and Gov. Pat McCrory ended teacher tenure, cut teacher bonuses for master’s degrees, and expanded Teach For America funding by just over $5 million”.

“Explaining the state’s changes in teacher policy, for example, Senate President Phil Berger, a Republican, told the state chamber of commerce in an Aug. 1 speech: “Our focus shouldn’t be on ensuring that bad teachers keep their jobs. Rather, it must be on making sure students can get a job after they graduate””.

Read the rest: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/08/21/01northcarolina_ep.h33.html?tkn=XLVFKLyfaPzq9verOFfIdv3M7FL1TeRM7Vrh&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS1

 

Lastly, have we learned nothing about diversity and racial sensitivity? Is there a reason why some of the nation’s “top schools” keep having issues of moronic acts? What are you trying  to prove? Do you really think it was appropriate?

“Frat's 'Ghetto' Party Sets Off Debate at Dartmouth”

“Dartmouth College is debating an appropriate response to a fraternity's "Bloods and Crips Party," at which the names of those gangs were the kickoff for a "ghetto" party at which participants (overwhelmingly white) mocked ghetto life in racial ways, The Boston Globe reported. College officials said that they were working with Greek leaders so that theme parties in the future would reflect "the Greek community’s commitment to hosting inclusive events." The party took place two weeks ago but the controversy didn't grow until campus blogs published invitations and information about the event in the last week. One blog, Big Green Micro-Agressions, noted that Dartmouth has been debating offensively themed fraternity parties for years. The blog featured a 1998 New York Times article about a ghetto party at at Dartmouth fraternity. In the article, a Dartmouth student from New York City was quoted as saying: " 'I live in a ghetto... For Dartmouth students in general to mock a situation that I was lucky enough to get out of by the grace of God just seems to me very snotty and very ignorant, because my next-door neighbor couldn't dream of being here right now. The party touched a nerve in me.' ””

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/19/frats-ghetto-party-sets-debate-Dartmouth

 

Education industry , educators, and people; we need to think critically, not react, and we need to have better judgment.  Remember it is about the student.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

Competency based degrees

“Experimental College's First Graduate”

“A groundbreaking form of competency-based education now has its Patient Zero. Zach Sherman, a 21-year-old sanitation worker in Ohio, earned a self-paced associate degree from College for America in early June -- just shy of 100 days after he enrolled in the online program”.

“Sherman is the first completer among a group of five College for America students who have successfully earned its competency-based general studies degrees. Southern New Hampshire University launched the college in January. It is one of three institutions now offering “direct assessment” academic tracks, which are not based on the credit hour standard”.

“That means students can control how fast they move through the program’s task-oriented homework, assignments and assessments. There are no formal instructors at the college -- only academic coaches and reviewers who determine if students have mastered each task by checking each assignment and sending them back to students for more work until they demonstrate competency”.

“In three months Sherman earned the equivalent of 60 credits, even though the 120 competencies he mastered do not track directly to credits”.

Read the rest here: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/08/16/new-form-competency-based-learnings-first-batch-graduates

I thought this was interesting, what are your thoughts?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Attacking the poor

I have been writing recently about being poor, because my eyes were recently opened to situations that almost any American can find themselves in faster than we know. There is much opportunity in this country, but sometimes that opportunity can be taken away for so many reasons beyond our control; look at the recent financial crisis for example. What this country does have is a good safety net for those who are poor, and while it is not perfect, it is something that a large part of the world does not have. The problem with the safety net is that it comes with a stigma so great that some of those who truly need it refuse to access it because they get shamed.

“GOP Congressman Displays Contempt and Ignorance While Blasting Food Stamp Recipients”

“Congressman Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma (R) displayed a contemptuous attitude towards food stamp recipients and complete ignorance of how the program works when he blasted a couple who was “physically fit” as fraudulent criminals because they bought groceries with an EBT card in Crystal City, Virginia.  His only evidence of fraud was that the couple looked “physically fit”. The story may be entirely apocryphal since Congressman Mullin said “everybody” in the store was using EBT cards. Unless he was going into each checkout lane and peering over each customer’s shoulder like a creepy stalker, it is not clear how Mullin came to this conclusion, except that it fits the narrative that he wants to convey”.

“In his self-righteous diatribe against this alleged food stamp fraud Mullin remarks that he saw a couple and:said: “they were both physically fit. And they go up in front of me and they pay with that card. Fraud. Absolute 100% all it is is fraud…it’s all over the place. And there you go, to the fact that we shouldn’t be supporting those who won’t work. They’re spending their money someplace””.

“Apparently even though Mr. Mullin is a Congressman he believes that all people receiving food stamps do not work. Yet, many adults on food stamps do work  for a living and in Virginia a couple can qualify for food assistance if their gross income is under 1640 dollars a month. If this couple has two children they could qualify even if they made up to 2498 a month”.

“Based on no evidence to support his belief, Mullin just assumes that the couple does not work, but since he does not know their circumstances it is entirely possible that this couple not only works but that they are also supporting children. If they have two children and each parent works 30 hours a week at nine dollars an hour, they would still qualify for food stamps, because 540 dollars a week in Northern Virginia is not enough to pay for rent, day care and transportation”.

Read the rest: http://www.politicususa.com/2013/08/09/gop-congressman-displays-contempt-ignorance-blasting-food-stamp-recipients.html

I am not playing politics here, this is about having compassion for our fellow citizens who are having a hard time, to accuse someone of something based upon no evidence shows a severe gap in someone’s critical thinking skills, therefore, their education. People who represent us in congress should educate themselves better about the realities of life for all kinds of reasons, chief among them is because of the constitution’s “we the people”.

 

Do not shame people for being “physically fit” while being poor because they might be the working poor, and they definitely do not want to be in the situation they are in. Educate yourself first before you judge.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

City College of San Francisco saga continues

It turns out that there are issues affecting City College of San Francisco’s accrediting body itself, so this seems like a story worthy of continued scrutiny.

“Game Changer for CCSF?”

“City College of San Francisco’s regional accreditor is now in the same existential bind as the college, having been told by its overseer to fix several problems, pronto, or risk being stripped of power”.

“The U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday notified the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges that it is out of compliance in several areas related to its sanctioning of City College. The commission must take “immediate steps” to avert the suspension or termination of its federal recognition as an accrediting body, according to a letter from the department”.

Read the rest: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/08/14/education-department-reprimands-accreditor-san-franciscos-community-college

 

Wow! How many other students beyond the current 80000 could this affect?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Attention worthy stories

They are short stories but with potentially far reaching implications.

“Capella Gets Federal Approval for Competency-Based Degrees”

“Capella University announced that the U.S. Department of Education has granted approval to two new, competency-based degree programs. The university's "FlexPath" online bachelor's of science in business and master of business administration degrees are so-called "direct assessment" tracks, which are not based on the credit hour standard. Students in the two programs can now access federal financial aid thanks to the department's green light. Southern New Hampshire's College for America is the only other institution to receive such approval, but Northern Arizona University is also seeking it. Regional accreditors have signed off on the direct assessment degrees at all three institutions”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/13/capella-gets-federal-approval-competency-based-degrees

“Oakland U. Pays Bonus Its Ex-President Didn't Earn”

“The board of Oakland University, in Michigan, has authorized a $230,000 deferred compensation bonus to Gary Russi even though the former president didn't meet the specific criteria established for the payment, The Detroit Free Press reported. The funds were only to be paid if Russi served through June 30, 2014. He quit unexpectedly this year when the university fired his wife, the basketball coach at Oakland. The board chair said that the payment was appropriate, given Russi's contributions to the university. But the chair also said he didn't know about the provision requiring that Russi work until next year to qualify for the deferred compensation”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/13/oakland-u-pays-bonus-its-ex-president-didnt-earn

Take a read and please join the conversation.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Are Colleges learning from their mistakes?

“4 Ex-Football Players at Vanderbilt Arrested for Rape”

“Four former members of the Vanderbilt University football team were charged Friday with raping an unconscious woman -- also a Vanderbilt student -- in a dormitory, The Tennessean reported. The university, which had already suspended the former athletes and barred them from campus, issued a statement that said: "We are proud of the collective accomplishments of our student athletes over many years and we expect the highest standard of conduct from them. It is a privilege, not a right, to represent Vanderbilt as a student athlete, and when our standards of conduct are not met, we will hold our student athletes accountable. The charges brought today against the four former Vanderbilt football players allege conduct which is abhorrent and will never be tolerated. We will review our athletics program to be sure that it, like all other programs at the university, reflects our culture of community and respect for others and that our student athletes are held to the same high standards of conduct as all our students"”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/12/4-ex-football-players-vanderbilt-arrested-rape

I do not hear sympathy for the victim in this statement, just a pat on the school’s back that they did what they were supposed to do.

Quiet No Longer, Rape Survivors Put Pressure on Colleges

Activists go public in a concerted effort to compel colleges to prevent sexual assaults.

http://chronicle.com/article/Quiet-No-Longer-Rape/141049/?cid=wb&utm_source=wb&utm_medium=en

The fact that activism is needed to prevent sexual assault in the United States is shameful!

 

It is about the students people!

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Non-Traditional Doctoral Students

I chose an on ground but non-traditional school for my doctoral program for a couple of reasons. Chief among the reasons were:

·         I needed to continue working

·         I wanted to finish on time

·         I did not want to be someone’s slave

There are horror stories on all these things within the “traditional” doctoral programs, even in the so-called more “prestigious” institutions. My personal thought with more named universities is that you are buying access, not necessarily a better education (leave it at that for today). Whenever I hear stories like the one I am about to share, I feel confident I made the right decision.

“Former Intern Wins Back Wages From University”

“A former doctoral student who worked as a psychology intern at the University of California at San Francisco was awarded more than $14,000 in back wages after filing a complaint with the California labor commissioner over uncompensated work, the International Business Times reported. While the internship was paid, Johanna Workman was only allowed to log 17 of 40 hours per week, she said, and although she had expected a stipend, she was paid hourly and did not make minimum wage. Workman was not a student during the six months for which she sought back wages – August 2012 through January 2013 – having graduated in 2011. But the case is unusual in that interns who have sued over violation of labor laws in recent months have worked in the private sector. In ruling against the university, the California Labor Commissioner cited the U.S. Department of Labor’s guidelines for unpaid internships, the same guidelines that were applied in the recent court victory of unpaid interns – also non-students – over Fox Searchlight Pictures”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/09/former-intern-wins-back-wages-university

 

 

What are your thoughts and feelings about stories like this?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

University Romances

Most romances and affairs tend to happen where you spend this most time and with the type of people that you spend most of your day with. This makes sense because; when do you have time to meet other kinds of people? Academia is no exception, we know of the stories of the distinguished professor dating a series a Teaching Assistants or Research Assistants, seems to be usually the professor is male.

The question here is: has this ever been legal as far as university rules? Surely it is not the ethical thing to do considering the multiple possibilities of conflict of interest, but this story I read today caught my eye.

“UConn Bans Student-Professor Romance”

“Romantic undergraduate student-professor and undergraduate-staff relationships are now banned at the University of Connecticut. The university’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the new policy this week, The Hartford Courant reported. Graduate students also are prohibited from dating faculty in some cases where the relationship could be “exploitative,” such as when the student is a teaching assistant for the professor. Violation of the policy could result in termination of employment”.

“UConn had been working on drafting a policy for about a year, but its absence of a stance against such relationships came into focus in July following allegations that Robert Miller, professor of music at the Storrs campus, visited dorms and had sex with students. The allegations emerged during investigations by several law enforcement agencies and the university into separate allegations that Miller was a pedophile. Miller is on paid leave but barred from the university pending the ongoing investigations. No charges have been filed”.

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2013/08/08/uconn-bans-student-professor-romance

 

 

What are your thoughts?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam