Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Confessions of a Community College Dean: How Do You Know a Good College When You See One?
Another great discussion at CCCD; my comment follows:
Confessions of a Community College Dean: How Do You Know a Good College When You See One?: "As you pointed out, there are a varied number of indicators. Many students and their families chose primarily by cost and, in the case of colleges like yours and mine (regional state university), they are usually pleasantly surprised and only later realize the actual teaching and personal interest given to them as individuals. They weren't merely something that kept someone from researching and/or were not primarily taught by someone other than the 'big names' touted by R1s.
The reputation of our particular program is well-received in the field although students toward the end of the program (as they enter more 'professional practice' related classes) complain that we are expecting way too much. Only later when they themselves graduate do they thank us for preparing them for the real world. And since those evaluations come after the university's official student measurement instrument, the numbers don't correlate with any of this.
There's also a fine line between providing someone with an education and vocational training. Both have value but serious discussions need to take place and revisited to keep the official goals and outcomes as well as the students in mind.
# posted by Kelly : 6:07 AM"
Confessions of a Community College Dean: How Do You Know a Good College When You See One?: "As you pointed out, there are a varied number of indicators. Many students and their families chose primarily by cost and, in the case of colleges like yours and mine (regional state university), they are usually pleasantly surprised and only later realize the actual teaching and personal interest given to them as individuals. They weren't merely something that kept someone from researching and/or were not primarily taught by someone other than the 'big names' touted by R1s.
The reputation of our particular program is well-received in the field although students toward the end of the program (as they enter more 'professional practice' related classes) complain that we are expecting way too much. Only later when they themselves graduate do they thank us for preparing them for the real world. And since those evaluations come after the university's official student measurement instrument, the numbers don't correlate with any of this.
There's also a fine line between providing someone with an education and vocational training. Both have value but serious discussions need to take place and revisited to keep the official goals and outcomes as well as the students in mind.
# posted by Kelly : 6:07 AM"
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]