After the Storm: The University of Alabama
WSAV (Savannah, Ga.) – Dec. 20
As a student of The University of Alabama, I did my best to embrace the complete academic experience. I studied hard, made the honor roll, lived by my planner…and even timed myself walking from class to class. Yes, I timed myself! I would do this before the first day of school so that I would never be late. This is how I first met Dr. Mark Nelson. He stopped me in the hallway, asking if he could help me. When I told him what I was doing, he gave me quite a surprised look. Four years later, I would serve as president of the College of Communication and Information Sciences under Dr. Nelson. I learned so much about leadership and about myself, and I grew tremendously because of it. It’s actually impossible not to grow when under the guidance of Dr. Nelson. So it came as no surprise today when I received the latest issue of the Capstone Magazine from The University of Alabama, and inside was a message from Dr. Nelson, who is now the Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Provost. The fall 2011 issue is titled “After the Storm: UA Students Respond with Heart and Passion.”
Community colleges struggle to train workers with limited funds
Chronicle of Higher Education – Dec. 21
Business leaders depend on community colleges to offer work-force training, but high unemployment and state budget cuts have made it harder for the sector to do that work. That’s the message of a report released on Wednesday by the Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama. The report, “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: Challenges Community Colleges Face to Reach the Unemployed,” is the third in a series based on results from the latest annual survey, conducted over the summer, of the 51 members of the National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges (Georgia has two).
Occupy Movement will resonate during 2012 presidential race, says UA professor (Q&A)
AL.com – Dec. 21
As the Occupy Wall Street and related movements across the nation begin to wane heading into 2012, one University of Alabama economics professor actually thinks the message will find new life in the new year. UA economics Professor Gary Hoover says that while the movement appears to have gone dormant in some larger U.S. cities such as Boston and New York as protest encampments have been broken up by police, he feels it will re-emerge on the political and economic landscape in 2012, especially as the presidential race kicks into gear.
Commentary: Andrea Neal: Changing school board is first step to reform
NWI.com – Dec. 21
Changing the selection process for the Indianapolis Public Schools board is no silver bullet, but it is an essential step toward transformation of the state’s largest school system…Critics were quick to say that appointed boards are no better than elected ones. Research is mixed. A 2007 study by Economist Gary A. Hoover at the University of Alabama concluded, “There are no differences in student performance when the school superintendent or the school board is appointed rather than elected.”