… I’m a little surprised. I mean, I tend to think that the schools around here get closed a little too easily– I have accused Southeast Michiganders of being “weather babies” in the past. But EMU was closed on February 10, I believe with less snow on the ground (though that’s just a guess based on looking out the window in my kitchen) and with not as much snow yet to come. I don’t know, but if we closed on February 10, why are we open today?
Well, drive careful, people.
This was forwarded to a mailing list I’m on in my field, but I thought it was really quite relevant here: “Public Agenda survey finds deep skepticism” is from the Washington Post blog “College Inc., ” which is an interesting blog about the business of higher education. The subtitle of the piece is “An annual survey on public attitudes toward higher education finds rising skepticism about the motives of college leaders.” Here’s the opening paragraphs:
The survey, titled “Squeeze Play 2010: Continued Public Anxiety on Cost, Harsher Judgments on How Colleges Are Run,” (PDF) finds that 60 percent of the public thinks colleges are like businesses and care mostly about the bottom line. A slightly lower share, 52 percent, agreed with that statement two years ago.
Two-thirds of respondents believe college costs are rising faster than other things. That’s true, in a literal sense, as we saw in a recent economic report. But it’s misleading, because the net price of college — what students actually pay, after discounts and grant aid — is not rising at all.
The report comes from the nonprofits Public Agenda and the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. It’s the latest in a series of surveys going back to the early 1990s.
It shows that a growing share of the public think colleges aren’t doing all they can to hold down costs. Three-fifths of respondents believe colleges could accept more students without raising prices or reducing quality. A majority believe colleges could spend less without sacrificing quality.
This makes perfect sense to me, and while I haven’t read study/survey yet, it makes sense to me that there is skepticism with college leaders (e.g. administrators) thinking of higher education in business terms. Heck, I share that skepticism. I realize that there are budget realities that administrators have to deal with, but I do think that sometimes the suits forget that we aren’t trying to turn a profit here.
Posted in Administrator Life, Budgets, In the media...
I came across this just now– Susan Martin was interviewed on WEMU this morning (this opens to the mp3 file).
She talked about a bunch of different things, though the thing that I was most struck by was the discussion about the budget for EMU (she basically said that if we don’t get cut, as the Governor has proposed, and if all else goes as expected, EMU ought to be in stable shape for next year) and how that ties in with the upcoming faculty contract negotiations. Martin of course didn’t want to commit to anything one way or the other, but she did point out that EMU recently settled with the unions that represent campus police and the lecturers with a 2% raise and not a pay-cut.
Personally, if that 2% raise also meant no increase in individual contribution to health care, I think I could live with that. My hope is that there are some issues negotiated with this contract that are not about money– some language to straighten out and/or curtail (eliminate?) the BoR ability to deny tenure at the last minute, some rethinking of the definition of office hours, etc., etc. But we’ve got months to worry about all that.
Oh, and she also gave a shout-out to one of my favorite places for lunch anywhere, Beezy’s, and how the Tap Room is a great place to hear live music. I’ve never been to the Tap Room actually (too smoky); I wonder of Martin has?
Anyway, take a listen!
Posted in Administrator Life, EMU President, EMU-AAUP, In the media...
I heard this on the radio this morning, but here’s the press release from EMU: “New Partnership Forms to Ensure Future of Michigan Historical Marker Program.” Here’s the opening paragraph:
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Director Rebecca Humphries today announced that Eastern Michigan University and the Michigan History Foundation have joined the Michigan Historical Commission in a new partnership to ensure the continuation of the Michigan Historical Marker Program. The partnership was in response to Executive Order 2009-36, which abolished the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.
Cool for EMU!
Posted in Academics, In the media..., Student Life
The Echo has an article on this and I have to give a shout-out to not only my English Department colleagues but also to their efforts to raise money for English major-types: “EMU prof to donate rock show proceeds to students.” That should probably be “profs,” along with administrator-type and a few other not directly connected with EMU types. Anyway, the opening paragraph:
Eastern Michigan University English professor Joe Csicsila takes his band Mayflys on stage for a benefit performance, and a release party for their new EP “Down and In,” this Saturday at the Corner Brewery.
In an incredible show of generosity, all of the proceeds from the show will go directly into a scholarship fund that would pay for the books needed for qualifying English majors.
I saw an earlier version of the band, and they were a lot of fun. So I am sure that this version will be as good and as fun. Check ‘em out: Saturday, 8-10 pm, Corner Brewery, with a $5 cover going to a good cause.
Posted in College Fun, In the media..., Ypsilanti
Also in the public service/college fun category of things: “EMU Women’s Basketball Helps Box Out Breast Cancer” on February 24. A bit from the press release:
EMU “Pink Zone” t-shirts will be available for $10 and a silent auction of EMU memorabilia and apparel will be held with all proceeds benefiting the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. Cash donations will also be accepted at a donation table located outside of section 101.
“Kay Yow began the “Pink Zone” initiative after her third reoccurrence of breast cancer,” said AnnMarie Gilbert, EMU Head Women’s Basketball Coach. “Sadly, she lost her battle with breast cancer last year and we feel it’s important that her foundation lives on to help and educate others in the fight against this disease.”
Kay Yow is the former women’s basketball coach at North Carolina State University, who passed away Jan. 24, 2009 after a long battle with breast cancer. In her 38 years as head coach at the college level, Yow coached over 1,000 games and was one of only six Division I women’s basketball head coaches to reach 700 wins in her career. She led her team to 20 NCAA Tournaments, 11 trips to the Sweet 16 and an appearance in the Elite Eight and Final Four in 1998. She was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.
For EMU’s “Pink Zone” game, the first 1,000 fans to enter the arena will receive a complimentary pink “Eagle Nation for a Cure” wristband.
Posted in College Fun, In the media..., Sports
My colleague and friend Jessica “Decky” Alexander sent me this yesterday, and I thought it was something good to post here:
Dear EMU Community,
EMU and You. Making it better. Continuously.
What are you making better? EMU is filled with stories where someone has improved the quality of life, and learning. Tell your story. Share how you or someone you know is making better the University, the community, students, classmates, colleagues, departments, disciplines, our spaces or places.
Know a colleague or friend who has a story? Please forward their name and email and we can contact them, or simply forward our site: www.emich.edu/better
The Continuous Story Project is part of EMU’s Continuous Improvement movement and is supported by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability’s (IEA) Continuous Improvement Program. You are going to hear more about IEA in the near future, but first we want to hear from you.
We will be using your stories in a variety of ways, (video, in art, in print) none without your permission. To share your story email us at making.better@emich.edu
You can also check out our webpage: www.emich.edu/better for constant updates and stories from our EMU community.
Posted in College Fun, EMU Branding
There’s a pretty good summary article in Inside Higher Ed about the murders committed by Amy Bishop at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, “Another Campus Grieves.” Here’s a quote:
The facts in the case are, as is often so in such situations, fluid. Early news reports suggested (incorrectly, it turned out) that Bishop had just learned that she had been denied tenure, leading to speculation that she had cracked under that pressure. But while university officials acknowledged Saturday that Bishop had been denied tenure, they said she had found that out 10 months ago and that her status was not on the agenda of Friday’s regularly scheduled meeting of the biology faculty. The effect of the tenure case on her state of mind, and its contribution to her alleged crime, is a matter of intense debate.
Very sad story, and I think it’s one of those things where it’s really hard to say with any certainty about what caused her to “snap.”
From the Echo comes this op-ed/sports story, “All can use sports complex: EMU sports teams and community members alike stand to benefit.” Personally, I’m not against this facility, and I can understand how it will benefit the athletic programs at EMU. But I am a little dubious about this claim:
This facility also serves as a great advantage to many in the local community. Outside recreational groups will be able to rent this facility to run their programs.
Also for those invloved in intramural sports at EMU, this facility will provide a place to engage in those activities.
For EMU, this is a win-win situation for our athletic programs to get a better the facility has the potential to generate a revenue stream through its portal components and provides additional space for year-round with relational activities.
Really? I have to say I’ll believe it when I see it….
Posted in In the media..., Sports, Student Life
Because I wasn’t on campus at 8 am this morning, I did not hear the EMU Public Alert System Malfunction. Did anyone?
