ACUHO-I News Blog

This week’s news from InsideHigherEd.com has stories on community colleges, Title IX, and the iPad on college campuses.

THE COMPLETION AGENDA: At national gathering of community college leaders, the emphasis is on how to get more students to finish their programs.

HOW TO JUDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGES: First details released on plans for national accountability system. At meeting of 2-year college leaders, most support idea, but some worry that metrics could become too
influential.

REVERSING BUSH ON TITLE IX: Education Department withdraws 2005 policy allowing colleges and schools to use survey alone to show they have met students’ athletics interests and abilities.

MINOR BUMPS FOR IPAD: Despite some high-profile snafus, CIOs say Apple’s initial bruises in higher education are superficial.

Today’s Doonesbury strip mentions retention issues among college students: family, work, children…and the circus?

Some community colleges are reporting an marked increase in their male enrollments. This is the first time in years such an increase has been observed. Women have outnumbered men at community colleges and four-year institutions, and the growth of their population has been higher too. This year marks the first in a long time that men’s enrollment at community colleges grew at a quicker pace than that of women. Could this be the beginning of a trend, or a recession-era blip?

This week’s headlines are filled with rich information on the topics of students studying overseas, engagement on community college campuses, and a campus requiring a fitness test before graduation.

MIXED OUTLOOK FOR FOREIGN ENROLLMENTS: 2008-9 academic year saw record number of international students in U.S. and 2007-8 saw record numbers of Americans studying abroad. But more recent data suggest the years of big increases may be ending.

ALL EYES ON PITTSBURGH: Mayor pushes 1 percent tax on tuition, stirring up anger at the city’s colleges and worries elsewhere that
other localities might try similar approaches.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF TEST: One college takes “sound mind, sound body” to a new level, requiring students to lose weight or take a fitness class to graduate.

THE PART-TIME IMPACT: Annual survey of community college engagement identifies obstacles posed by having both students and faculty members who are not around full time.

THREAT TO BLACK COLLEGES: Mississippi governor proposes merging three historically black institutions into one. Will the recession lead to more such proposals?

This week’s items from InsideHigherEd.com discuss what “college ready” really means, budget cut protests in California, and what the libraries of the future will look like.

’60s TACTICS, NEW CAUSE: With an approach reminiscent of the protest movement, University of California students, faculty and staff plan walkouts and teach-ins today in response to budget cuts.

THE LAST STOP: Among last to start classes in California, community colleges on quarter system struggle — amid severe budget cuts and overcrowding — to serve students being turned away elsewhere.

DEFINING ‘COLLEGE READY,’ NATIONALLY: State school officers and governors, with higher education’s help, develop “common standards”designed to align high school and college curriculums.

WHEN LESS IS MORE: Changes in essay requirements to apply to MIT and Penn reflect sense among admissions officers that students don’t need to write a book (or even 1,000 words).

LIBRARIES OF THE FUTURE: What will they look like? Prediction about vanishing physical infrastructure intrigues some college librarians and frustrates others.

The September + October 2009 issue of the Talking Stick magazine should be on your desk (or in your hands). For those who don’t receive the print version, however, we offer the digital option.

In this issue ACUHO-I again recognizes September as National Campus Safety Awareness Month, this time focusing on new educational approaches to fire safety as well as stressing the important role actual real-life people play in the security process, even as technology continues to improve. Luke LaCroix from The College of New Jersey and Bruce Griffin from the University of North Carolina are our authors for these feature stories.

Also, Stephanie Carter-Smith from the University of South Carolina takes a look at the sensitive subject and difficult process of employee furloughs. In this story she shows how campuses are managing morale and maintaining customer service even as staff schedules are juggled.

Other topics in this issue include a look at the future of automated maintenance management, the capital planning process, and the growing number of community colleges that have residence halls.

(more…)

The most recent Talking Stick has an article on community college housing, and Community College Times has an article on the same subject, quoting ACUHO-I Communications Director James Baumann.

There are 1200 community colleges in the United States; about a quarter have housing, and that number is growing. In the late 90s, there were only about 60 community colleges with housing. Institutions’ reasons for building housing include a need for a more cohesive student life and campus vibrancy; expensive or limited local housing options or a widespread student body. Some community colleges draw students from many miles away, and commuting isn’t practical for them.  Are there any community colleges reading this blog? Do you have housing? If so, why? If not, do you plan on building?

Some community colleges, finding the paperwork and lines of orientation overwhelmed and irritated students, changed their venue for the annual event to the students’ homes. Now students complete some paperwork and reading from home before going to campus for the face-to-face part. See the story in Inside HigherEd.

DODGING THE BULLET: Many feared private colleges would lose students amid the recession, but on average they’ve slightly increased enrollment, according to a new survey:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/20/naicu

“NEW CONVERSATION” ON BLACK COLLEGES: Obama administration’s pick to lead White House initiative says it is time to emphasize excellence, and move beyond the “against great odds” narrative:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/21/wilson

NO VACANCY: California’s community colleges are being told to enroll more and more students — even as they cannot find ways to educate and graduate those already there:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/21/california

AID BILL MOVES, AMID MISGIVINGS: House panel approves sweeping changes in college grant and loan programs, despite strenuous objections of Republicans and significant discomfort of most college groups:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/22/house

A selection of college housing and student affairs headlines from InsideHigherEd.com. This week, campuses plan for the upcoming flu season, in addition to other Higher Ed. news.

THE FLU WAITING GAME: No one is quite sure what form the H1N1 virus will take once flu seasons hits, so colleges are preparing the best they can for the fall:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/14/h1n1virus

THE OBAMA PLAN: Community college leaders praise its unprecedented attention and many campus leaders say the $12 billion could be crucial. Others warn not to view the president’s agenda as a panacea:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/15/obama

DEFINING MOMENT: California State is in for dramatic budget cuts no matter what. The extent of layoffs, however, will be determined by a union vote that could pit full professors against part timers:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/17/california2

REACHING BLACK MEN: Philander Smith — without much money — finds ways to raise graduation and retention rates:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/14/blackmale

FINANCIAL AID IN FLUX: With big changes looming, a flurry of news developments — action and promises from Congress, reports on Perkins Loans and guarantee agencies — add to the uncertainty:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/13/finaid

Community colleges are quite popular lately, as more conventional-age (17-24) students seek them out for a bachelor’s degree–or the first two years toward that goal–and older applicants are using the down economy as an opportunity to bulk up their job skills. (Unfortunately, as the article linked above attests, popularity doesn’t necessarily translate to increased funding.)

Some institutions have noticed a greater percentage of their applicants are in the younger age group. These students often want more of the “student life” opportunities that they would get at a four-year institution, and some community colleges are responding, according to an article in Inside HigherEd. We already have heard about community colleges building residence halls; now there’s at least one building a student center, to better facilitate student group meetings, study groups and the like. The construction was inspired by the administration’s conversations with students regarding what would improve their experience at the school. Student centers are not unheard of at community colleges, but they aren’t common, either.

A selection of college housing and student affairs headlines from InsideHigherEd.com. Look for these on a weekly basis in the ACUHO-I news blog.

REACHING STUDENTS WHO DON’T REPORT DEPRESSION: Study at 20 colleges suggests that screening those seeking primary medical care, combined with new type of case manager, can yield huge gains in treating those who might never get help:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/29/depression

PAYING FOR CAMPUS HEALTH CARE: At college health gathering, a packed house hears encouragement for the idea of requiring all students to be enrolled in a single insurance plan:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/28/health

IN GLOBAL RECESSION, GLOBAL ED STILL GROWING: At international educators’ conference, panelists discuss the impact of the financial crisis on student mobility.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/29/international

CLIMATE REPORT: About three-fourths of colleges are meeting their reporting deadlines under a national pledge to reduce carbon emissions:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/28/climate

THE DISTANCE ED TIPPING POINT: Community colleges consider: What happens when your online enrollments hit 50 percent (or some other level that changes nature of the institution)?
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/26/distance

A selection of college housing and student affairs headlines from InsideHigherEd.com. Look for these on a weekly basis in the ACUHO-I news blog.

NEXT BUDGET VICTIM? JOY: Faculty find economic downturn does more than just kill programs and jobs; it chips away at quality of life and fills campus with anxiety:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/14/morale

COLLEGE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED: President Obama pushes changes to help ex-workers keep insurance benefits even as they seek more education or training, and promises new look at role of community colleges:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/11/unemployed

‘SHOW ME THE MONEY’: As colleges sort out which admitted applicants are pledging to enroll, it’s clear that there is no one trend on “yield” — but many. Most revolve around dollars:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/11/enroll

ATHLETIC REVIVAL: After a two decade absence from intercollegiate competition, Roosevelt U. decides to restore sports programs despite tough economic times. Officials believe the benefits outweigh the risks:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/15/roosevelt

A selection of college housing and student affairs headlines from InsideHigherEd.com. Look for these on a weekly basis in the ACUHO-I news blog.

ORIENTATION FOR WHITES: Mount Holyoke tries possibly unique approach to the controversy over programs for incoming minority students by adding section for those who are in the majority:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/04/13/holyoke

WHY REVERSE TRANSFER? Students from low-income families are more likely to leave four-year institutions to attend community colleges, but money is not always the main reason, new study finds:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/04/17/transfer

COOPERATION BREAKDOWN: In a faltering economy, universities that put cooperative education programs front and center struggle to place students in jobs:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/04/14/coop

COLLEGE COUNSELORS FOR ALL: Aiding traditional high school guidance officers, Virginia Community College System employs “coaches” to help pre-college students create academic plans to reach their career goals:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/04/16/vccs

The Survey of Entering Student Engagement, (SENSE) the first-year student, community college counterpart to the National Survey of Student Engagement is still in its formative stages. However, SENSE results have already suggested issues for further study.

SENSE’s findings, released last week, suggest that first-year community college students don’t take advantage of the campus resources because they don’t know about them. Most students were able to register for classes and get other necessary paperwork completed, but didn’t know about remedial courses, tutoring, or their adviser’s ability to assist with schedule planning and prioritizing.