Dr Flavius Akerele III's The E Team Education blog

 I thought this would be a fun Monday story to share because it is an amusing look at how new technology can create new problems. “Bryant Bans Selfies From Commencement” Bryant University has told graduating seniors that they should refrain from taking selfies during commencement, USA Today reported. The president of Bryant, Ronald Machtley, is a social media fan and regularly participates in selfies with students. But officials worry that if many graduates stop for a selfie, the length of the ceremony could get too long. Read it here: http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2014/04/21/bryant-bans-selfies-commencement#sthash.dZH3e0xH.dpbs Who would have thought?! Dr Flavius A B Akerele III The ETeam

“Education Dept. Proposes New PLUS Loan Standards” The U.S. Department of Education is proposing new eligibility requirements for Parent PLUS loans. Under draft regulatory language sent this week to members of the department’s negotiated rule making panel, parents would generally be barred from taking out PLUS loans if they have any type of debt exceeding $2,085 that is 90 or more days delinquent or that has been sent to a collection agency or charged off. The proposal also changes the look-back period for that “adverse credit” history from five years to two years. Under a separate policy change that goes into effect July 1, families that are denied a Parent PLUS loan because of an adverse credit history may appeal to the Education Department, which can then provide the loan if there are "extenuating circumstances." Read it here: http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2014/04/18/education-dept-proposes-new-plus-loan-standards#sthash.JbbeyfeW.dpbs ...

 “Dartmouth President Seeks End to 'Extreme' Behaviors” “Phil Hanlon, president of Dartmouth College, Wednesday night told student leaders that it was time for the institution to end certain behaviors that he said are undermining the college's outstanding undergraduate education and experience.” “"Dartmouth's promise is being hijacked, hijacked by extreme and harmful behaviors, masked by their perpetrators as acceptable fun," Hanlson said. "The list of offenses is familiar. From sexual assaults on campus … to dangerous drinking that has become more the rule than the exception … to a general disregard for human dignity as exemplified by hazing, events with racist and sexist undertones, disgusting and sometimes threatening insults hurled on the Internet … a social scene that is too often at odds with the practices of inclusion that students are right to expect on a college campus in 2014."” “Hanlon said that these behaviors are hurting t...

 This is just a reminder that sexual assault on college campuses and the way they are handled is still a problem. “A Star Player Accused, and a Flawed Rape Investigation” “Tallahassee, Fla. — Early on the morning of Dec. 7, 2012, a freshman at Florida State University reported that she had been raped by a stranger somewhere off campus after a night of drinking at a popular Tallahassee bar called Potbelly’s.” “As she gave her account to the police, several bruises began to appear, indicating recent trauma. Tests would later find semen on her underwear.” “For nearly a year, the events of that evening remained a well-kept secret until the woman’s allegations burst into the open, roiling the university and threatening a prized asset: Jameis Winston, one of the marquee names of college football.” “The case has unfolded as colleges and universities across the country are facing rising criticism over how they deal with sexual assault, as well as questions about whether ...

 When we think about textbooks as a student, we often think “my gosh they are so expensive” or “darn these are heavy”. I remember as a K12 teacher seeing rows of brand new books gathering dust because the ‘budget money had to be spent’(use it or lose it money). I understand that textbooks are truly necessary, especially good ones. Also, I do personally prefer hard copy texts to eBooks, but that might be just a generational thing J After reading this article today, I do realize that somewhere along the line something has to change about textbooks; I am just not sure exactly what though. “The hidden costs of unsolicited textbooks — a view from the mailroom” “Ugh, I HATE those! Nobody wants them, nobody asks for them, and they take up valuable space in our truck and our holding area.” “As far as the cost it passes onto us, it’s definitely hard to quantify, but I can tell you all the different ways we waste time on those packages.” “First, we get the packages from UP...

I am a first generation American; my parents are from countries in West and Central Africa. However, higher educational achievement has been a staple in my family for many generations (yes you heard me correctly and I am generation number seven), so stories of success are expected, they are not just prayed for. What is wrong with expecting high educational achievement from ourselves, and our kids, regardless of our cultures? What is wrong with people actually achieving it? The first article I am going to share demonstrates how we still have a long way to go when it comes to culture and education. I use the word culture not race, because we are all the human race and skin color does not make a culture: “This Is What Racial Inequality Looks Like” “Recently two black male high-school students made news when they each earned impressive numbers of acceptances to Ivy League Universities. Kwasi Enin is a first-generation American from Long Island, whose parents, who are n...