HBCUs Question Equity of Research Partnerships: "In an effort to meet critical research goals, a familiar trend among historically Black colleges and universities is to link up with larger research-intensive institutions. However, some officials are concerned that a Virginia-based HBCU is getting the short end of a research agreement.
A grant project between a historically Black school, Virginia Union University (VUU), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was formally awarded in 2006, officials say. VUU and VCU are part of an affiliation referred to as the Virginia-Nebraska Alliance. The coalition involving the University of Nebraska Medical Center and local colleges is designed to encourage more minority students to enter the health care field.
During a recent Alliance meeting at VUU, some university representatives expressed frustration that VCU receives the vast majority of a research grant provided by the National Institutes of Health to study health care disparities. Of the $6.6 million grant, VUU received just $100,000 of it, officials say."
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Native Americans Proud of Bradford's Heisman
Native Americans Proud of Bradford's Heisman: "Since Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious individual honor in college football, earlier this month, Native Americans have been basking in the glow.
They see the talented quarterback, a registered Cherokee and finance major with a 3.95 GPA, as a significant role model for aspiring young athletes who share his heritage.
Bradford, who is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a sophomore quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and only the second sophomore ever to win the trophy that goes to the Most Outstanding College Football Player in the United States.
"Having an intelligent, well-spoken, poised Cherokee citizen play quarterback for the Sooners means a lot to Cherokee people all over the country, not just the ones here in Oklahoma," says Chad Smith, the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. "It means that people see a different image of Cherokees than the ones they may have had before, but it's also a reflection to our community of the success we can achieve for ourselves and our families, our children and grandchildren."
They see the talented quarterback, a registered Cherokee and finance major with a 3.95 GPA, as a significant role model for aspiring young athletes who share his heritage.
Bradford, who is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a sophomore quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and only the second sophomore ever to win the trophy that goes to the Most Outstanding College Football Player in the United States.
"Having an intelligent, well-spoken, poised Cherokee citizen play quarterback for the Sooners means a lot to Cherokee people all over the country, not just the ones here in Oklahoma," says Chad Smith, the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. "It means that people see a different image of Cherokees than the ones they may have had before, but it's also a reflection to our community of the success we can achieve for ourselves and our families, our children and grandchildren."
Reading Skills, Language Nuances of Black Youth Among Issues Examined at MLA
Barack Obama's forthcoming ascent to the presidency will hopefully help improve access to African-American children's and young adult literature, a scholar said Tuesday.
Dr. Wendy Rountree, an assistant professor of English at North Carolina Central University, said Obama's well-known affinity for reading and education can help encourage Black youth to read as much as possible, especially stories portraying Blacks in a positive light. She noted TV news stories about Black boys describing themselves as "little Obamas" by working hard at school and planning to attend college.
Rountree grew up an avid reader with books by famous authors such as Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. But she would have appreciated an opportunity to also read Mildred Pitts Walker, Rosa Guy and authors whom she did not learn of until adulthood. The dissemination problem, Rountree said, may lie in social gaps. For instance, she grew up in a part of North Carolina that didn't desegregate until the mid-1970s, despite the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education court ruling.
"The possibilities become limitless in the world of a book," she said. "As scholars, we need to build the intellectual, social and psychological foundation for children through not only textbooks but also non-fiction and fiction.
Her remarks came during a session of the Modern Language Association's annual convention, which drew 8,544 scholars. The MLA's 800 sessions this week included several examining reading skills and language nuances of Black youth.
Dr. Wendy Rountree, an assistant professor of English at North Carolina Central University, said Obama's well-known affinity for reading and education can help encourage Black youth to read as much as possible, especially stories portraying Blacks in a positive light. She noted TV news stories about Black boys describing themselves as "little Obamas" by working hard at school and planning to attend college.
Rountree grew up an avid reader with books by famous authors such as Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. But she would have appreciated an opportunity to also read Mildred Pitts Walker, Rosa Guy and authors whom she did not learn of until adulthood. The dissemination problem, Rountree said, may lie in social gaps. For instance, she grew up in a part of North Carolina that didn't desegregate until the mid-1970s, despite the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education court ruling.
"The possibilities become limitless in the world of a book," she said. "As scholars, we need to build the intellectual, social and psychological foundation for children through not only textbooks but also non-fiction and fiction.
Her remarks came during a session of the Modern Language Association's annual convention, which drew 8,544 scholars. The MLA's 800 sessions this week included several examining reading skills and language nuances of Black youth.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Child Neglect Cases Multiply As Economic Woes Spread - washingtonpost.com
Child Neglect Cases Multiply As Economic Woes Spread - washingtonpost.com: As the economic downturn takes its toll on struggling families, child welfare workers across the region are seeing a marked rise in child abuse and neglect cases, with increases of more than 20 percent in some suburban counties.
Neglect investigations appear to have increased most, many resulting from families living without heat or electricity or failing to get children medical care. In Fairfax County, for example, such cases jumped 152 percent, from 44 to 111, comparing July through October with the same four-month period in 2007.
"It's very concerning and certainly is reflective of what's happening in the economic environment," said Kathy Froyd, director of the Children, Youth and Families Division of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services.
Overall, there was a 23 percent jump in abuse and neglect investigations in Fairfax. Similarly, cases in Montgomery County increased by 29 percent, and Arlington County, with smaller numbers, was up 38 percent.
In the District, there was an 18 percent increase in child neglect and abuse investigations, but officials said the case of Banita Jacks, the Southeast mother accused early this year of killing her four daughters, had a large effect on hotline calls.
The well-established nexus between poverty and child abuse is reason for many child experts to be concerned that the country might see more neglect and abuse as the recession deepens.
Neglect investigations appear to have increased most, many resulting from families living without heat or electricity or failing to get children medical care. In Fairfax County, for example, such cases jumped 152 percent, from 44 to 111, comparing July through October with the same four-month period in 2007.
"It's very concerning and certainly is reflective of what's happening in the economic environment," said Kathy Froyd, director of the Children, Youth and Families Division of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services.
Overall, there was a 23 percent jump in abuse and neglect investigations in Fairfax. Similarly, cases in Montgomery County increased by 29 percent, and Arlington County, with smaller numbers, was up 38 percent.
In the District, there was an 18 percent increase in child neglect and abuse investigations, but officials said the case of Banita Jacks, the Southeast mother accused early this year of killing her four daughters, had a large effect on hotline calls.
The well-established nexus between poverty and child abuse is reason for many child experts to be concerned that the country might see more neglect and abuse as the recession deepens.
Study: Murders Among Black Youths on Rise - washingtonpost.com
Study: Murders Among Black Youths on Rise - washingtonpost.com: WASHINGTON -- The number of young black men and teenagers who either killed or were killed in shootings has risen at an alarming rate since 2000, a new study shows.
The study, to be released Monday by criminologists at Northeastern University in Boston, comes as FBI data is showing that murders have leveled off nationwide.
Not so for black teens, the youngest of whom saw dramatic increases in shooting deaths, the Northeastern report concluded.
Last year, for example, 426 black males between the ages of 14 and 17 were killed in gun crimes, the study shows. That marked a 40 percent increase from 2000.
Similarly, an estimated 964 in the same age group committed fatal shootings in 2007 _ a 38 percent increase from seven years earlier. The number of offenders is estimated because not all crimes are reported, said Northeastern criminologist James Alan Fox, who co-authored the study.
"Although the overall rate of homicide in the United States remains relatively low, the landscape is quite different for countless Americans living, and some dying, in violence-infested neighborhoods," Fox said.
The study, to be released Monday by criminologists at Northeastern University in Boston, comes as FBI data is showing that murders have leveled off nationwide.
Not so for black teens, the youngest of whom saw dramatic increases in shooting deaths, the Northeastern report concluded.
Last year, for example, 426 black males between the ages of 14 and 17 were killed in gun crimes, the study shows. That marked a 40 percent increase from 2000.
Similarly, an estimated 964 in the same age group committed fatal shootings in 2007 _ a 38 percent increase from seven years earlier. The number of offenders is estimated because not all crimes are reported, said Northeastern criminologist James Alan Fox, who co-authored the study.
"Although the overall rate of homicide in the United States remains relatively low, the landscape is quite different for countless Americans living, and some dying, in violence-infested neighborhoods," Fox said.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Ohio schools keep cafeterias open for holidays - washingtonpost.com
Ohio schools keep cafeterias open for holidays - washingtonpost.com: CINCINNATI -- A school district in Ohio says the economy is so tight it has kept its cafeterias open during Christmas break to provide hot lunches for needy students.
It's the first time North College Hill School district outside Cincinnati has kept its lunch lines going through the holiday break.
Officials say two-thirds of the district's 1,600 students are economically disadvantaged, up from fewer than one in 10 a decade ago.
The national School Nutrition Association says almost 80 percent of the schools it surveyed are reporting an increase in the number of free lunches served this year.
It's the first time North College Hill School district outside Cincinnati has kept its lunch lines going through the holiday break.
Officials say two-thirds of the district's 1,600 students are economically disadvantaged, up from fewer than one in 10 a decade ago.
The national School Nutrition Association says almost 80 percent of the schools it surveyed are reporting an increase in the number of free lunches served this year.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Churches in USA more diverse, informal than a decade ago - USATODAY.com
Churches in USA more diverse, informal than a decade ago - USATODAY.com: Worship services may still be the USA's most segregated hour, but fewer congregations are now completely white, finds a study comparing churches, synagogues and mosques last year with a decade ago.
The National Congregations Study says 14% of primarily white congregations reported no minorities in their midst last year, compared with 20% in 1998.
Such steep change in a short period is noteworthy because 'religious traditions and organizations are widely considered to be remarkably resistant to change,' says sociology professor Mark Chaves of Duke University School of Divinity, the lead researcher. 'There's movement in the right direction.'
The study, in the journal Sociology of Religion, compared 1,505 congregations in 2006-07 with 1,234 in 1998. It was based on surveys by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Margin of error was plus or minus 2.5 percentage points for the 2006-07 data and 3 percentage points for 1998 data.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Iowa Educators Address College Success for Latinos
Schools and colleges can make attending college and succeeding at it a realizable goal for Latino students, but educators and policy makers need to do more to help them, according to a collaborative report from Iowa scholars and a national group of Hispanic educators.
Iowa State University's educational leadership and policy studies (ELPS) program, has collaborated with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on a policy brief that provides recommendations for schools and colleges, the university announced last week.
According to the Iowa Department of Education, the state has seen a 109.3 percent increase in Latino enrollment from the 1999-2000 to the 2007-08 school years.
'We've got the (Latino) demography and we've got the people coming in, but we now need to make sure that this population is well-educated,' said Laura Rendon, chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
'We do not want to have a new citizenry comprised of uneducated individuals who are not able to contribute to the American society -- those who are not able to be leaders,” she said. “We want to educate all of these individuals so they can participate fully in all that America has to offer. That means we have to start exposing Latino families to all the educational opportunities that are available.'"
Iowa State University's educational leadership and policy studies (ELPS) program, has collaborated with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on a policy brief that provides recommendations for schools and colleges, the university announced last week.
According to the Iowa Department of Education, the state has seen a 109.3 percent increase in Latino enrollment from the 1999-2000 to the 2007-08 school years.
'We've got the (Latino) demography and we've got the people coming in, but we now need to make sure that this population is well-educated,' said Laura Rendon, chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
'We do not want to have a new citizenry comprised of uneducated individuals who are not able to contribute to the American society -- those who are not able to be leaders,” she said. “We want to educate all of these individuals so they can participate fully in all that America has to offer. That means we have to start exposing Latino families to all the educational opportunities that are available.'"
Advocates: Economic Stimulus Needed for Education Too
Advocates: Economic Stimulus Needed for Education Too: With the nation’s financial system in turmoil, many education leaders are calling for Congress and President- elect Barack Obama to earmark funding for schools and college students in a new economic stimulus package to help prop up the economy.
The Student Aid Alliance, an umbrella advocacy organization that includes historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions, is asking Congress for an immediate $500 increase in the maximum Pell Grant. Help for students and families paying for college should be “an integral part” of a new stimulus bill, the group says.
“History shows that during economic downturns and periods of job loss, Americans turn to postsecondary education,” according to a letter jointly written by alliance co-chairs Molly Corbett Broad, president of the American Council on Education, and Dr. David Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. A Pell Grant increase would provide a maximum grant of $5,300, or enough to cover 80 percent of average tuition and fees at a four-year public college or university.
The Student Aid Alliance, an umbrella advocacy organization that includes historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions, is asking Congress for an immediate $500 increase in the maximum Pell Grant. Help for students and families paying for college should be “an integral part” of a new stimulus bill, the group says.
“History shows that during economic downturns and periods of job loss, Americans turn to postsecondary education,” according to a letter jointly written by alliance co-chairs Molly Corbett Broad, president of the American Council on Education, and Dr. David Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. A Pell Grant increase would provide a maximum grant of $5,300, or enough to cover 80 percent of average tuition and fees at a four-year public college or university.
Asian Americans Make Progress in Fight for Bilingual Ballot
Asian Americans Make Progress in Fight for Bilingual Ballot: BOSTON - The struggle to make elections accessible to all residents of Boston, Massachusetts moved forward after the Boston City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to extend fully bilingual ballots to Asian American voters in the city.
The council approved a new home rule petition introduced by Boston City Councilor Sam Yoon. It must now be signed by the mayor and approved by the state legislature.
'The community has won the first round,' Councilor Yoon said. 'There is still more to do. The state legislature must act to ensure elderly Asian American citizens will be able to participate in our elections,' he said.
The measure approved Wednesday addresses objections raised by Secretary of State William Galvin to an earlier measure.
Earlier this year, Councilor Sam Yoon sponsored a similar home-rule petition to allow bilingual ballots in the City of Boston. After unanimous approval by the City Council and Mayor Menino, the petition stalled in the State House. The session ended before the legislature could act on it.
The council approved a new home rule petition introduced by Boston City Councilor Sam Yoon. It must now be signed by the mayor and approved by the state legislature.
'The community has won the first round,' Councilor Yoon said. 'There is still more to do. The state legislature must act to ensure elderly Asian American citizens will be able to participate in our elections,' he said.
The measure approved Wednesday addresses objections raised by Secretary of State William Galvin to an earlier measure.
Earlier this year, Councilor Sam Yoon sponsored a similar home-rule petition to allow bilingual ballots in the City of Boston. After unanimous approval by the City Council and Mayor Menino, the petition stalled in the State House. The session ended before the legislature could act on it.
Spel-Bounding: All-Female Spelman College Ranks No. 2 in Sending Black Graduates On to Ph.D.s in Science and Math
Spel-Bounding: All-Female Spelman College Ranks No. 2 in Sending Black Graduates On to Ph.D.s in Science and Math: Coming in second usually isn’t a big deal. But, when it is a tiny, historically Black women’s college placing No. 2 to a fellow HBCU with a student body just more than three times its size in a national science- and math-related survey, it seems that it is something to celebrate.
Atlanta’s Spelman College, an all-female liberal arts college with a student body of about 2,200, sent 150 Black students on to Ph.D. degrees in the traditionally male disciplines of science and engineering from 1997 to 2006, according to a survey released by the National Science Foundation. That’s more than any other undergraduate program in the country besides the considerably larger, coed Howard University. Howard, which has about 7,000 undergraduates, sent 224 on to advanced degrees.
Atlanta’s Spelman College, an all-female liberal arts college with a student body of about 2,200, sent 150 Black students on to Ph.D. degrees in the traditionally male disciplines of science and engineering from 1997 to 2006, according to a survey released by the National Science Foundation. That’s more than any other undergraduate program in the country besides the considerably larger, coed Howard University. Howard, which has about 7,000 undergraduates, sent 224 on to advanced degrees.
A SPACE OF THEIR OWN
Ethnic-themed dorms offer a supportive environment for minorities, but critics say they stunt personal growth by promoting self-segregation.
A SPACE OF THEIR OWN: "As soon as he learned of his Cornell University housing options, Darin Jones knew he wanted to live in the African-American-themed dorm. Having grown up in Black neighborhoods, he didn’t want to risk being the only Black student in a hall or entire floor elsewhere on campus.
Now a junior majoring in policy analysis and management, Jones is living in the same dorm for a third year. He credits its familylike atmosphere in helping him earn a 3.0 grade point average. “This dorm is Cornell’s best retention tool for Blacks. I couldn’t achieve as much academically if I wasn’t in a place where I felt so easily accepted.”
Jones is among a growing number of college students around the country flocking to residence halls dedicated to ethnic themes and historically marginalized populations. Ethnic-themed dorms offer minorities a safe space to discuss race, among other things, educators and students say. Activities there include performances and celebrations tied to cultural holidays as well as guest speakers and faculty mentors.
Cornell, for example, boasts a campus house celebrating Native American heritage, one of the first of its kind in the country when it opened in 1991. Amherst College, to name another, sets aside a specific floor of one of its dorms as an Asian culture wing, among other theme offerings."
A SPACE OF THEIR OWN: "As soon as he learned of his Cornell University housing options, Darin Jones knew he wanted to live in the African-American-themed dorm. Having grown up in Black neighborhoods, he didn’t want to risk being the only Black student in a hall or entire floor elsewhere on campus.
Now a junior majoring in policy analysis and management, Jones is living in the same dorm for a third year. He credits its familylike atmosphere in helping him earn a 3.0 grade point average. “This dorm is Cornell’s best retention tool for Blacks. I couldn’t achieve as much academically if I wasn’t in a place where I felt so easily accepted.”
Jones is among a growing number of college students around the country flocking to residence halls dedicated to ethnic themes and historically marginalized populations. Ethnic-themed dorms offer minorities a safe space to discuss race, among other things, educators and students say. Activities there include performances and celebrations tied to cultural holidays as well as guest speakers and faculty mentors.
Cornell, for example, boasts a campus house celebrating Native American heritage, one of the first of its kind in the country when it opened in 1991. Amherst College, to name another, sets aside a specific floor of one of its dorms as an Asian culture wing, among other theme offerings."
Women feed the jump in college enrollment - USATODAY.com
Women feed the jump in college enrollment - USATODAY.com: Colleges and universities these days are seeing a surge in enrollment — and it's increasingly driven by young women, according to U.S. Census data out today.
The numbers confirm years of enrollment data showing that women have not only closed the college enrollment gap — they have far surpassed men on campuses. For every four men enrolled in graduate school in 2006, there were nearly six women.
While the number of both male and female students rose between 2000 and 2006, the survey found, women outpaced men in both undergraduate and graduate programs. In that period, the nation's undergraduate enrollment swelled by nearly 2.7 million students, 18.7%, but the percentage who were male fell 1.2 points, to 44%. Women in 2006 made up 56% of undergrads, up from 54.8% in 2000.
The numbers confirm years of enrollment data showing that women have not only closed the college enrollment gap — they have far surpassed men on campuses. For every four men enrolled in graduate school in 2006, there were nearly six women.
While the number of both male and female students rose between 2000 and 2006, the survey found, women outpaced men in both undergraduate and graduate programs. In that period, the nation's undergraduate enrollment swelled by nearly 2.7 million students, 18.7%, but the percentage who were male fell 1.2 points, to 44%. Women in 2006 made up 56% of undergrads, up from 54.8% in 2000.
College degree vital, top educators say - USATODAY.com
College degree vital, top educators say - USATODAY.com: A group of college presidents and other top education officials says the USA's 'economic, democratic and social health' could worsen over the next several decades if more Americans don't earn a college degree. The group is pushing to increase the percentage of young people who earn a degree from 40% to 55% by 2025.
In a report issued Wednesday on Capitol Hill, the Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education says a 'torrent' of talent entering the nation's schools in kindergarten is 'reduced to a trickle 16 years later' as many students drop out of high school or fail to earn a four-year college degree.
The group is sponsored by the College Board, the non-profit group that owns the SAT, Advanced Placement and other college-related programs.
Among its 10 recommendations, the group says the United States should provide universally available but voluntary preschool education to children from low-income families, because a good start can improve their chances of getting to college.
In a report issued Wednesday on Capitol Hill, the Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education says a 'torrent' of talent entering the nation's schools in kindergarten is 'reduced to a trickle 16 years later' as many students drop out of high school or fail to earn a four-year college degree.
The group is sponsored by the College Board, the non-profit group that owns the SAT, Advanced Placement and other college-related programs.
Among its 10 recommendations, the group says the United States should provide universally available but voluntary preschool education to children from low-income families, because a good start can improve their chances of getting to college.
More low-income families need food aid - USATODAY.com
More low-income families need food aid - USATODAY.com: The economic downturn has left many low-income Americans struggling with hunger for the first time, a survey out Thursday by Feeding America shows.
The hunger relief group, formerly known as America's Second Harvest, found that 36% of low-income households say they ate less or skipped meals because they didn't have enough money for food, and 40% say they chose between food or paying for utilities in the past year.
'We've never seen anything like this,' says Vicki Escarra, the group's president. 'We're seeing more people come (to food banks) who've never come before.'
The group surveyed 450 low-income households. The findings are part of a growing body of research that suggest hunger is worsening in the USA:
• The number of people receiving food stamps jumped from 26.9 million in September 2007 to a record 31.6 million in September 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture."
The hunger relief group, formerly known as America's Second Harvest, found that 36% of low-income households say they ate less or skipped meals because they didn't have enough money for food, and 40% say they chose between food or paying for utilities in the past year.
'We've never seen anything like this,' says Vicki Escarra, the group's president. 'We're seeing more people come (to food banks) who've never come before.'
The group surveyed 450 low-income households. The findings are part of a growing body of research that suggest hunger is worsening in the USA:
• The number of people receiving food stamps jumped from 26.9 million in September 2007 to a record 31.6 million in September 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture."
• The U.S. Conference of Mayors said this month that each of the 21 cities it surveyed on emergency food aid saw an increase in people requesting help for the first time, particularly working families. Cities reported an average 18% increase in requests from 2007 to 2008.
• The USDA's annual report on food security found an increased number of households with children, 323,000 in 2007, who didn't have enough to eat, compared with 221,000 in 2006.
In tough times, ranks of homeless students rising - washingtonpost.com
In tough times, ranks of homeless students rising - washingtonpost.com: SAN FRANCISCO -- As foreclosures and layoffs force families out of their homes, school districts across the nation are struggling to deal with a dramatic influx of homeless children.
Some districts are seeing increases of 50 to 100 percent or more and are so understaffed that it is taking weeks to help the homeless students and families who need it, according to a new survey on homeless children. Educators say students without a stable home are at greater risk of becoming truants, developing behavioral problems and failing in school.
Some districts are seeing increases of 50 to 100 percent or more and are so understaffed that it is taking weeks to help the homeless students and families who need it, according to a new survey on homeless children. Educators say students without a stable home are at greater risk of becoming truants, developing behavioral problems and failing in school.
An estimated 2 million children are at risk of homelessness because of the foreclosure crisis and economic downturn, according to First Focus, a child advocacy organization that examined Census and economic data.
The number of homeless students in foreclosure-ridden Oakland, with 38,000 students, has doubled to 1,200 since last year, said Mathew Uretsky, the district's homeless coordinator. And he thinks the number of school-age homeless children is four times as high.
"We find children in shelters who are just sitting there," he said. "Sometimes we find kids who aren't in school right now because they don't have bus passes. A lot of children of day laborers are not going to school because their parents don't think they have a right to go."
Some families end up in shelters, or bunking with relatives or friends. Others stay in run-down motels, or their cars. In cities where rents are high, such as San Francisco, a family that loses its home may spend months, even years, trying to find another.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
DRASTIC MEASURES FOR DIFFICULT TIMES
DRASTIC MEASURES FOR DIFFICULT TIMES: Hit hard by the global financial crisis, colleges are cutting their budgets in ways that prompt fears about access and retention for minority students.
Call it the perfect storm for university funding. Just as economic downturns are squeezing state revenues for education, a financial meltdown on Wall Street is moving ahead with unprecedented size and speed. In mere weeks, college endowments have lost much of their value, interest on loans of all types has spiked and credit is much harder to acquire.
Call it the perfect storm for university funding. Just as economic downturns are squeezing state revenues for education, a financial meltdown on Wall Street is moving ahead with unprecedented size and speed. In mere weeks, college endowments have lost much of their value, interest on loans of all types has spiked and credit is much harder to acquire.
Already schools from Howard University to Harvard University are calling for emergency spending cuts. Schools are considering layoffs, unpaid furloughs for faculty and staff, hiring freezes and elimination of courses. Some are trying to generate resources — Clemson even asked its football team to kick in some of its earnings to help out. Financial aid is in for a big hit, which might make it impossible for many students to continue their education.
Minority-serving institutions, including historically Black schools that have long struggled financially, can expect to be especially hard hit. “I think there is a lag between this meltdown and the real outcome that will be produced,” says Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). “This is moving at warp speed, and we will see this play out much more forcefully in the spring semester.”
Monday, December 15, 2008
Charter Schools Make Gains On Tests - washingtonpost.com
Charter Schools Make Gains On Tests - washingtonpost.com: Students in the District's charter schools have opened a solid academic lead over those in its traditional public schools, adding momentum to a movement that is recasting public education in the city.
The gains show up on national standardized tests and the city's own tests in reading and math, according to an analysis by The Washington Post. Charters have been particularly successful with low-income children, who make up two-thirds of D.C. public school students.
A dozen years after it was created by Congress, the city's charter system has taken shape as a fast-growing network of schools, whose ability to tap into private donors, bankers and developers has made it possible to fund impressive facilities, expand programs and reduce class sizes.
With freedom to experiment, the independent, nonprofit charters have emphasized strategies known to help poor children learn -- longer school days, summer and Saturday classes, parent involvement and a cohesive, disciplined culture among staff members and students.
The emergence of a thriving charter system has altered the dynamics of education in a city struggling to repair its reputation as one of the country's most troubled school districts. Since taking control of the traditional public schools 18 months ago, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) and Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee have pushed for major reforms. But enrollment has continued to shrink, falling 42 percent since 1996. The growth of charters has accounted for almost all of that decline.
The city's charter system is now one of the largest in the country, fueled largely by word of mouth among parents looking for better public schools. Charters have grown to 60 schools on 92 campuses with 26,000 students, more than a third of the city's public school enrollment. In a few years, charters could become the dominant form of public education in the District.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
After-school cuts stir fears of kids home alone - USATODAY.com
After-school cuts stir fears of kids home alone - USATODAY.com: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Directors of after-school programs around the nation fear the deepening recession will force more children to spend afternoons home alone or on the street as cash-strapped governments slash funding and donations shrink.
Several Boys & Girls Clubs in South Carolina announced plans to close Friday and many of the group's 4,300 programs are trimming hours, consolidating locations and cutting field trips to get by, said Kirk Dominick, an executive vice president with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
'We'd be crazy to not project a decrease next year. We're trying to identify the most vulnerable clubs out there,' he said, adding he doesn't have precise numbers yet. 'Some organizations have been struggling for a while.'
After-school programs of all kinds are hurting nationwide, especially in rural areas, at a time when parents need affordable care more than ever, said Jodi Grant, executive director of Washington-based Afterschool Alliance, which is pushing for federal support.
'Parents are struggling to keep their jobs. They're taking on second and third jobs. They need a place after school that's a safe place to go,' Grant said. 'What I find most troubling is, programs are doing everything they can, cutting to the bone.'
'We've Completed Our Mission' - washingtonpost.com
'We've Completed Our Mission' - washingtonpost.com: In their youth, they helped build the road to freedom, through white mobs at a segregated high school in Little Rock and across the deadly skies above war-torn Europe.
Next month, the now-aging civil-rights pioneers of the Little Rock Nine and the Tuskegee Airmen will have the opportunity to stand at a high place on that road: the swearing-in of Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States and the country's first black commander in chief.
Officials said yesterday that invitations were being extended to the nine people who as teenagers desegregated Little Rock's Central High School in 1957. Invitations to the Tuskegee Airmen, the famed African American pilots and crews who fought during World War II, were announced earlier in the week.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Iowa Educators Address College Success for Latinos
Schools and colleges can make attending college and succeeding at it a realizable goal for Latino students, but educators and policy makers need to do more to help them, according to a collaborative report from Iowa scholars and a national group of Hispanic educators.
Iowa State University's educational leadership and policy studies (ELPS) program, has collaborated with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on a policy brief that provides recommendations for schools and colleges, the university announced last week.
According to the Iowa Department of Education, the state has seen a 109.3 percent increase in Latino enrollment from the 1999-2000 to the 2007-08 school years.
'We've got the (Latino) demography and we've got the people coming in, but we now need to make sure that this population is well-educated,' said Laura Rendon, chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
Iowa State University's educational leadership and policy studies (ELPS) program, has collaborated with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on a policy brief that provides recommendations for schools and colleges, the university announced last week.
According to the Iowa Department of Education, the state has seen a 109.3 percent increase in Latino enrollment from the 1999-2000 to the 2007-08 school years.
'We've got the (Latino) demography and we've got the people coming in, but we now need to make sure that this population is well-educated,' said Laura Rendon, chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
NAACP Chairman Julian Bond Changes Mind, Will Seek Another Term
NAACP Chairman Julian Bond Changes Mind, Will Seek Another Term: Just weeks after announcing he would not seek another term as chairman of the NAACP, longtime civil rights activist Julian Bond changed his mind.
“I will be a candidate for Chairman when the Board convenes in February,” said Bond in a written statement. “This decision was made by the flood of written, telephoned, mailed and e-mailed appeals I received asking me to reconsider. I am eternally grateful to all those who contacted me.”
Bond was elected as the Chairman of the Board of NAACP in 1998. An active member of the civil rights movement, Bond helped to found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a group responsible for organizing sit-ins, freedom rides and rallies during the 1960s. As SNCC’s communications director, Bond was active in protests and voter registration campaigns throughout the South.
“I will be a candidate for Chairman when the Board convenes in February,” said Bond in a written statement. “This decision was made by the flood of written, telephoned, mailed and e-mailed appeals I received asking me to reconsider. I am eternally grateful to all those who contacted me.”
Bond was elected as the Chairman of the Board of NAACP in 1998. An active member of the civil rights movement, Bond helped to found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a group responsible for organizing sit-ins, freedom rides and rallies during the 1960s. As SNCC’s communications director, Bond was active in protests and voter registration campaigns throughout the South.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Working Together to Combat Education Issues in Native Communities
Education equality is a birthright for all Native children, and their instruction should be consistent with their cultural, linguistic, family and tribal communities. It is an ideal that unfortunately is not being realized for every Native child. That is why thousands of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian educators gathered to discuss problems, possible solutions and best practices during the National Indian Education Association's Annual Convention in Honolulu.
NEA President Reg Weaver addressed the group during the Second General Assembly. 'Today, there is a deep divide in public education, and it threatens our nation. These children aren't just falling through the cracks. They are falling into a crater that threatens the future of their tribes, their communities and the future of our nation.'
Weaver pointed out disturbing dropout numbers. According to the Harvard Civil Rights Project, only 51 percent of Native American ninth-graders graduate on time with their classmates. Weaver was also troubled by the gradual extinction of Native languages.
NEA President Reg Weaver addressed the group during the Second General Assembly. 'Today, there is a deep divide in public education, and it threatens our nation. These children aren't just falling through the cracks. They are falling into a crater that threatens the future of their tribes, their communities and the future of our nation.'
Weaver pointed out disturbing dropout numbers. According to the Harvard Civil Rights Project, only 51 percent of Native American ninth-graders graduate on time with their classmates. Weaver was also troubled by the gradual extinction of Native languages.
Museum Shows Work of “Indian/Not Indian” Artist
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian will present a career retrospective of works by what it calls one of the most transformative American artists of the last half century, Fritz Scholder (1937-2005), officials announced.
More than 130 paintings, prints, drawings and bronze sculptures will be drawn from 40 public and private collections for the exhibition. The early works are from the late 1950s, when Scholder studied with American pop painter Wayne Thiebaud at Sacramento City College in California, and the mid 1960s, when he began to be influenced by portraits of Native Americans created by his students at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M., according to the Smithsonian.
In a National Museum of the American Indian first, two 'Fritz Scholder: Indian/Not Indian' exhibitions open Nov. 1 at the museum's Washington and New York City sites.
In Washington, the National Mall museum said it would present a broad overview of Scholder's works, including many of the revolutionary paintings of Native Americans for which the artist is best known, through Aug. 16, 2009.
More than 130 paintings, prints, drawings and bronze sculptures will be drawn from 40 public and private collections for the exhibition. The early works are from the late 1950s, when Scholder studied with American pop painter Wayne Thiebaud at Sacramento City College in California, and the mid 1960s, when he began to be influenced by portraits of Native Americans created by his students at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M., according to the Smithsonian.
In a National Museum of the American Indian first, two 'Fritz Scholder: Indian/Not Indian' exhibitions open Nov. 1 at the museum's Washington and New York City sites.
In Washington, the National Mall museum said it would present a broad overview of Scholder's works, including many of the revolutionary paintings of Native Americans for which the artist is best known, through Aug. 16, 2009.
Report: Black Football Players Improve Grades But Still Trail White Counterparts
The study shows overall academic progress continues to climb, but the gap between White and African-American players when it comes to academic performance also continues to widen.
“So many of the African-American student-athletes come from public school systems that are bankrupt educationally,” said Dr. Richard Lapchick, director of TIDES and primary author of Keeping Score When It Counts: Assessing the 2008-09 Bowl-bound College Football Teams — Academic Performance Improves but Race Still Matters.
“They don’t have the technology that some of the suburban or rural schools have,” Lapchick added. “They don’t have the best teachers.”
Lapchick also noted there may also be cultural expectations, which hopefully will shift significantly when President-Elect Barack Obama takes office. “He emphasized academics and was successful,” he says.
There is a 76 percent graduation rate for White football student-athletes at the 120 FBS schools versus 59 percent for African-American football student-athletes. Although this is a significant increase from 50 percent in 2007, the gap between White and Black players has widened from 14 percent to 17 percent, the report shows.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Making Time for a Little Democracy - washingtonpost.com
Making Time for a Little Democracy - washingtonpost.com: A Guatemalan immigrant who arrived alone in Arlington County a few years ago, Ramiro Cortez longs for many things: a high school diploma, the ability to speak English with ease and the means to earn more money than his job as a waiter will ever pay.
For now, though, he will settle for one simple title: student council president.
As the nation's attention was tuned to a historic election, an unexpected display of democracy was playing out among an unlikely group of students at a Northern Virginia school. At the Arlington Mill High School Continuation Program, where many students are immigrants, there had never been a student council. But in the past few months, three students from different Latin American countries worked to change that.
On Tuesday, the student council met formally at the school for the first time.
About 85 percent of students at the school are Latino, and most are older than the average high school student; there is no upper age limit for enrollment. For many of the students, work shifts slam into class schedules, with little time to study and sleep, let alone participate in extracurricular activities."
U.S. Makes Modest Progress in College Affordability and Accessibility
U.S. Makes Modest Progress in College Affordability and Accessibility: College accessibility has improved modestly over the last decade as the proportion of 18 to 24 years enrolled in college has risen from 39 percent to 42 percent since 1997.
But despite tepid gains in college accessibility, significant disparities still exist in higher education performance by race, income and state, and these gaps pose serious threats to the nation’s global competitiveness, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education announced today in their biennial assessment, Measuring Up: the 2008 National Report Card.
The 2008 report card, like its four previous editions, evaluates the progress of all 50 states in providing citizens with education and training from high school through the baccalaureate degree. State performance is evaluated on six criteria: how well students are prepared for college, participation in terms of how many students have access to opportunities for higher education, affordability, completion, benefits and learning.
Disparities in college access are closely tied to race and income, said Patrick Callan, president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. While college attendance has increased for all groups over the past three decades, gaps in enrollment among racial groups have not diminished, he said.
But despite tepid gains in college accessibility, significant disparities still exist in higher education performance by race, income and state, and these gaps pose serious threats to the nation’s global competitiveness, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education announced today in their biennial assessment, Measuring Up: the 2008 National Report Card.
The 2008 report card, like its four previous editions, evaluates the progress of all 50 states in providing citizens with education and training from high school through the baccalaureate degree. State performance is evaluated on six criteria: how well students are prepared for college, participation in terms of how many students have access to opportunities for higher education, affordability, completion, benefits and learning.
Disparities in college access are closely tied to race and income, said Patrick Callan, president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. While college attendance has increased for all groups over the past three decades, gaps in enrollment among racial groups have not diminished, he said.
Women of Color Emerge as New Face of Small Business
Women of color emerge as new face of small business: ... Today 26 percent of all women business owners are women of color, up from 20 percent just a few years ago, according to a new study released last week by the Center for Women’s Business Research.
Despite little institutional support, women of color entrepreneurs are still finding ways to run successful businesses. Firms owned by women of color are growing three times faster than all U.S. firms, the study found.
Minority women’s rapid business growth is part of a trend that started in the 1990s, says Gwen Martin, director of research at the Center for Women’s Business Research.
“There’s a couple of things going on. The demographic change in the country has had an impact,” according to Martin. “I think there are more opportunities available for women for starting their own businesses, which often provides them with things they can’t get in other environments. If you have your own business you have more control over how things are done and what it is that you do.”
Despite little institutional support, women of color entrepreneurs are still finding ways to run successful businesses. Firms owned by women of color are growing three times faster than all U.S. firms, the study found.
Minority women’s rapid business growth is part of a trend that started in the 1990s, says Gwen Martin, director of research at the Center for Women’s Business Research.
“There’s a couple of things going on. The demographic change in the country has had an impact,” according to Martin. “I think there are more opportunities available for women for starting their own businesses, which often provides them with things they can’t get in other environments. If you have your own business you have more control over how things are done and what it is that you do.”
Arizona Tribe’s Suit Over Research Revived
Arizona Tribe’s Suit Over Research Revived: An Arizona appeals court panel ruled that the Havasupai American Indian tribe can proceed with a lawsuit that claims university researchers misused blood samples taken from tribal members.
Overturning a judge’s 2007 dismissal of the case, a split Arizona Court of Appeals panel said last month that Havasupai Native Americans and other plaintiffs had provided enough information to go to trial or at least enough to go forward in trial court pending further proceedings.
The northern Arizona tribe, whose isolated village lies deep in a gorge off the Grand Canyon, claims Arizona State University and University of Arizona researchers misused blood samples taken from more than 200 tribal members for diabetes research in the 1990s by also using it for research into schizophrenia, inbreeding and ancient population migration.
Overturning a judge’s 2007 dismissal of the case, a split Arizona Court of Appeals panel said last month that Havasupai Native Americans and other plaintiffs had provided enough information to go to trial or at least enough to go forward in trial court pending further proceedings.
The northern Arizona tribe, whose isolated village lies deep in a gorge off the Grand Canyon, claims Arizona State University and University of Arizona researchers misused blood samples taken from more than 200 tribal members for diabetes research in the 1990s by also using it for research into schizophrenia, inbreeding and ancient population migration.
The tribe claims the additional research was conducted without its permission and constituted an invasion of privacy. As a result, the tribe says, some members now fear seeking medical attention.
Attorneys for the university system and individual researchers have argued that tribal members supplied the blood samples voluntarily and that there is legitimate public interest in data that can advance disease research.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Joe Davidson - Another Obstacle for Affirmative Action, And Congress Is Prepared to Fight - washingtonpost.com
Joe Davidson - Another Obstacle for Affirmative Action, And Congress Is Prepared to Fight - washingtonpost.com: On Nov. 4, amid all the excitement surrounding Barack Obama's election, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit struck down a Pentagon program that included a 5 percent set-aside for companies run by African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans.
The impact of the decision is unclear; the court's focus on an old Pentagon rule to decide the case created uncertainty about whether the set-aside remains. But if the panel's ruling stands, the implications for minority-owned companies that received almost $15 billion in fiscal year 2006 in Defense Department contracts could alter a long-standing program that allowed under-represented groups access to lucrative government contracts.
Last month, the panel ruled that the Defense Department erred when it failed to use a 'price evaluation adjustment' tool, which allowed the Pentagon to increase bids from white-owned companies by 10 percent before comparing them to firms owned by people of color.
U.S. Lags In Providing College Access, Study Finds - washingtonpost.com
U.S. Lags In Providing College Access, Study Finds - washingtonpost.com: Other countries are outpacing the United States in providing access to college, eroding an educational advantage the nation has enjoyed for decades, according to a study released today by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
The nonprofit research group contends that if left unaddressed, the development will harm U.S. competitiveness in the near future.
'I don't know what it's going to take to get our nation to wake up to what's happening with regard to the education deficit we're building,' said William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland, who will present a similar study by the College Board on improving access to higher education next week.
'We're standing pat while the rest of the world is passing us by. If we continue on this path, our chances of being the leader in the knowledge economy in the decades to come are between slim and none.'
Odetta, 77; Sang the Soundtrack for the Civil Rights Movement - washingtonpost.com
Afflicted for years with heart and lung ailments, she died at Lenox Hill Hospital, which she had entered at the end of October for treatment of kidney failure, according to her manager, Douglas Yeager.
Her hope to sing at the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama had helped keep her alive for weeks when medical experts had despaired of her prospects for survival, Yeager said.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
White community adapts to Obama reality | U.S. | Reuters
White community adapts to Obama reality | U.S. | Reuters
WESTMINSTER, Maryland (Reuters) - Worried by racial tensions churned up by the U.S. presidential election, teachers at one U.S. high school braced for the worst in their majority white community the morning after Barack Obama was elected the country's first black president.
To counter what she called "unsettling bigotry" in Maryland's Carroll County, Westminster High English teacher Laura Doolan wrote a 30-minute lesson for all students to give them a chance to discuss the election and correct misconceptions, such as the widespread rumor that Obama is Muslim.
"Several teachers came to me astounded by what they were hearing. They just didn't realize that students would be so openly racist, that students would ... say, 'I don't want a black president. I don't trust black people,'" Doolan said.
Courtney Case, a white 17-year-old at the school, was unnerved by racist text messages circulating before the November 4 election. "I was completely shocked because they were from friends of mine who I didn't even know had those feelings."
In the end, there were no racial incidents at Westminster High School after Democrat Obama beat Republican John McCain, but minor physical and verbal fights did occur at several other county schools.
Marine Archaeologists Find Remains of Slave Ship
Marine Archaeologists Find Remains of Slave Ship: Marine archaeologists have found the remains of a slave ship wrecked off the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1841, an accident that set free the ancestors of many current residents of those islands. Some 192 Africans survived the sinking of the Spanish ship Trouvadore off the British-ruled islands, where the slave trade was banned.
Over the years the ship had been forgotten, said researcher Don Keith, so when the discovery connected the ship to current residents the first response 'was a kind of shock, a lack of comprehension,' he explained in a briefing organized by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
But after word got out 'people really got on board with it,' he said, and the local museum has assisted the researchers. He said this is the only known wreck of a ship engaged in the illegal slave trade.
Adapting to the Era of Information
Adapting to the Era of Information: When professors at Northwest Indian College began giving more and more assignments requiring the use of the Internet for study and research, a harsh reality began to set in: More than a few students at the tribal college couldn’t make good use of this increasingly important electronic path to knowledge of the world.
Despite having wireless connectivity to the Internet on campus, the students could not afford a laptop computer of their own to access the Internet. Using the school’s three computer labs was also problematic, as many students were working parents who traveled long distances and had little time to stay on campus after classes to use school computers to go online. There was also the problem of not being able to afford increasingly expensive Internet access at home.
Rather than write the students off or risk seeing them lose interest in a college education for lack of the modern tools, the Bellingham, Wash.-based college that serves students throughout the state and in Idaho came up with a simple solution: use funds from a small federal grant to purchase 15 laptop computers and have a laptop loan program for students, one that runs much like borrowing a book from a library.
Despite having wireless connectivity to the Internet on campus, the students could not afford a laptop computer of their own to access the Internet. Using the school’s three computer labs was also problematic, as many students were working parents who traveled long distances and had little time to stay on campus after classes to use school computers to go online. There was also the problem of not being able to afford increasingly expensive Internet access at home.
Rather than write the students off or risk seeing them lose interest in a college education for lack of the modern tools, the Bellingham, Wash.-based college that serves students throughout the state and in Idaho came up with a simple solution: use funds from a small federal grant to purchase 15 laptop computers and have a laptop loan program for students, one that runs much like borrowing a book from a library.
Study: Minorities have higher rates of entrepreneurship than Whites
Study: Minorities have higher rates of entrepreneurship than Whites: With a first-time report on minority entrepreneurs, an influential research project on U.S. entrepreneurship detected declining activity among American entrepreneurs from 2005 to 2007, reflecting a likely sign of the U.S. economy’s broader decline in 2008.
Babson College and Baruch College just released the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2006-2007 National Entrepreneurial Assessment for the United States of America, and it reports that new entrepreneurs declined from 12.4 percent in 2005 to 9.6 percent in 2007 in the 18- to 64-year old U.S. age cohort.
From 2005 to 2006, new or early-stage entrepreneurs declined from 12.4 percent to 10 percent of 18- to 64-year olds in the U.S. “This means that an estimated 2.4 percent less of the U.S. population for that age group pursued entrepreneurial careers,” the report states.
It also means the economy had 550,000 fewer new business owners in 2006 than in 2005, the study shows.
Babson College and Baruch College just released the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2006-2007 National Entrepreneurial Assessment for the United States of America, and it reports that new entrepreneurs declined from 12.4 percent in 2005 to 9.6 percent in 2007 in the 18- to 64-year old U.S. age cohort.
From 2005 to 2006, new or early-stage entrepreneurs declined from 12.4 percent to 10 percent of 18- to 64-year olds in the U.S. “This means that an estimated 2.4 percent less of the U.S. population for that age group pursued entrepreneurial careers,” the report states.
It also means the economy had 550,000 fewer new business owners in 2006 than in 2005, the study shows.
Media Bombardment Is Linked To Ill Effects During Childhood
In a detailed look at nearly 30 years of research on how television, music, movies and other media affect the lives of children and adolescents, a new study released today found an array of negative health effects linked to greater use.
The report found strong connections between media exposure and problems of childhood obesity and tobacco use. Nearly as strong was the link to early sexual behavior.
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Yale University said they were surprised that so many studies pointed in the same direction. In all, 173 research efforts, going back to 1980, were analyzed, rated and brought together in what the researchers said was the first comprehensive view of the topic. About 80 percent of the studies showed a link between a negative health outcome and media hours or content.
"We need to factor that in as we consider our social policies and as parents think about how they raise their kids," said lead researcher Ezekiel J. Emanuel, director of the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health, which took on the project with the nonprofit organization Common Sense Media. "We tend not to think of this as a health issue, and it is a health issue."
The average modern child spends nearly 45 hours a week with television, movies, magazines, music, the Internet, cellphones and video games, the study reported. By comparison, children spend 17 hours a week with their parents on average and 30 hours a week in school, the study said.
Joe Davidson - Room at the Top for More Diversity - washingtonpost.com
Joe Davidson - Room at the Top for More Diversity - washingtonpost.com: Diversity within the group of men -- and still only men -- who have been president of the United States will change significantly when Barack Obama is sworn in next month.
But when he looks across the highest level of civil servants managing the government, he'll see a mixed bag when it comes to improving the diversity of the federal Senior Executive Service. A new report by the Government Accountability Office says representation of women and people of color in the senior corps grew overall between October 2000 and September 2007, but not at all agencies. Representation at the departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services fell in certain categories, and sometimes those dives were steep.
At Education, for example, the percentage of African American men dropped sharply, from 13.3 percent to 4.5 percent. Hispanic men disappeared altogether, from a nearly invisible 1.7 percent in 2000 to zero last year. There were no Latinas among the executives at either point. Black women, however, did experience a significant increase, from 1.7 percent to 7.6 percent.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Denver Police Bring In UCLA Expert on Racism
The Denver Police Department is relying on a social psychologist associated with theories on “racism without racists” for advice on whether it is doing everything possible to rid itself of racial and gender bias.
The city’s police have been accused in the past of using excessive force against minority people, notably in the wake of a shooting death of a mentally disabled African American youth in 2003. The city agreed last month to pay $885,000 to a 16-year-old Latino youth who complained that a white officer repeatedly jumped on his back. An officer was suspended without pay after the incident and charged with a felony of first-degree assault causing serious bodily injury but has denied the allegations.
Police Chief Gerry Whitman commissioned the study by Phillip Goff, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, who is known as an expert in what some scholars are calling “racism without racists."
The city’s police have been accused in the past of using excessive force against minority people, notably in the wake of a shooting death of a mentally disabled African American youth in 2003. The city agreed last month to pay $885,000 to a 16-year-old Latino youth who complained that a white officer repeatedly jumped on his back. An officer was suspended without pay after the incident and charged with a felony of first-degree assault causing serious bodily injury but has denied the allegations.
Police Chief Gerry Whitman commissioned the study by Phillip Goff, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, who is known as an expert in what some scholars are calling “racism without racists."
Law School Admission Council Launches Diversity Campaign
Law School Admission Council Launches Diversity Campaign: The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) today announced that it is launching a $1.5 million integrated campaign designed to encourage racially and ethnically diverse first- and second-year college students to discover career opportunities in law and to choose a path in undergraduate school that helps them get there.
The campaign – DiscoverLaw.org – is the most recent addition to LSAC’s continuing effort to increase racial and ethnic diversity in law schools and the legal profession.
“Right now, the legal profession does not reflect the expanding diversity of our society,” said LSAC President Daniel O. Bernstine.
“Only 10 percent of the lawyers in America are African American, Latino, Asian American, or Native American. Considering that those same racial and ethnic groups comprise 33 percent of the US population, it is obvious that we need to do more to encourage diversity in the legal profession.”
The campaign – DiscoverLaw.org – is the most recent addition to LSAC’s continuing effort to increase racial and ethnic diversity in law schools and the legal profession.
“Right now, the legal profession does not reflect the expanding diversity of our society,” said LSAC President Daniel O. Bernstine.
“Only 10 percent of the lawyers in America are African American, Latino, Asian American, or Native American. Considering that those same racial and ethnic groups comprise 33 percent of the US population, it is obvious that we need to do more to encourage diversity in the legal profession.”
University Presidents Call for Lifting Educational Exchange Restrictions: AASCU Members Seek U.S. Policy Change to Cuba-Related Travel
University Presidents Call for Lifting Educational Exchange Restrictions: AASCU Members Seek U.S. Policy Change to Cuba-Related Travel: Members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) have called for lifting all restrictions on educational exchanges with foreign countries, including exchanges with Cuba that are currently limited by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Members ratified this policy position today at the Association's Annual Meeting as they endorsed the Association's 2009 Public Policy Agenda, the document that spells out the policy principles and positions that guide AASCU's advocacy on current and developing issues at the federal and state levels.
'One of the best ways to overcome the ill will and mistrust built between Cuba and the United States over the past 40 years is to fully develop educational exchange programs; that is impossible with the current travel restrictions. During even the coldest days of the cold war years, we did not have the onerous restrictions on travel to the former Soviet Union as those which currently exist on travel to Cuba,' said Constantine W. Curris, president of AASCU.
Members ratified this policy position today at the Association's Annual Meeting as they endorsed the Association's 2009 Public Policy Agenda, the document that spells out the policy principles and positions that guide AASCU's advocacy on current and developing issues at the federal and state levels.
'One of the best ways to overcome the ill will and mistrust built between Cuba and the United States over the past 40 years is to fully develop educational exchange programs; that is impossible with the current travel restrictions. During even the coldest days of the cold war years, we did not have the onerous restrictions on travel to the former Soviet Union as those which currently exist on travel to Cuba,' said Constantine W. Curris, president of AASCU.
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