Education

Sep
29
2010

Written by:
dperel

Up to Standard? Tests and American Education

For the little that is widely known about the monopoly triumvirate of American college entry exam companies, students, parents, educators, and legislators certainly put a lot of faith in them. The College Board, ACT, Inc., and ETS (a company that often does contract work for the College Board), three names infamous to most high schoolers, dominate the college entry exam market. Their exhausting, expensive, and discouraging trials are accepted as the de facto reality in American education, but a quick inquiry into the conditions under which this system is forced upon Americans presents a curious study in the effects of corporate control of the business of the People. Under a scrutinizing look, it seems that the American educational system, both public and private, has become the victim of shoddy products in an uncompetitive market. This monopolization has led to educational priorities being decreed from corporate campuses rather than academic ones.

Aug
23
2010

Written by:
j_laughridge

The True Cost of Online Education

If you walk into any grocery store, you’ll see the same thing in almost every aisle: you’ll find “name-brand” choices, you’ll find generic products, and you’ll find multiple size options for nearly every product available. If you want a small bag of fruit, you can get it. If you want (or need) a large bag, you can get that, too. While it costs more on the front end, once you do the math you’ll see that the price per piece is actually better on the larger bag - - so if you need that much fruit, it’s really the only way to go! I’d like to suggest to you that your education works the same way - - the more education you have, the higher your potential earning power tends to be, and so while it costs more on the front end, the pay-off in the end is more than worth it!

Aug
22
2010

Written by:
Jordan Harris

U.S. Colleges and Universities Say No to Illegal Students

In the midst of the U.S. Immigration Reform, a larger public debate has surfaced. The nation's people are outraged by the vast number of illegal students attending U.S. state colleges and universities. The dispute was ignited by the arrest of the Kennesaw State University student Jessica Colotl in late March. Colotl was an illegal immigrant attending KSU on in-state tuition costs. KSU later reclassified Colotl as a non-Georgia resident, while immigration authorities deferred action on Colotl's status for one year, granting her time to complete her degree.

Illegal students occupying seats at American post-secondary institutions is a growing trend. An untold number of undocumented immigrants attend schools in the Ivy League, especially.

Aug
5
2010

Written by:
Jordan Harris

Liberal Arts Education: the real education reform in America

The decline of a model of liberal education based on the arts and humanities in the U.S. raises the concern for the future of the nation's democracy and the condition of American citizens. As a supporter of liberal arts education, I strongly believe that a curriculum of the arts and humanities is imperative for the U.S. to form citizens of character and empathy for the nation's democracy. A liberal arts education does not promise to shape all people into emotionally aware citizens, willing to devote their lives to combating the wrongs in the world. In fact, some people may not promote the ideas and policies of liberal arts teaching. However, an education of the arts and humanities guarantees to give citizens a chance to explore and experience the world without limitation.

Apr
30
2010

Written by:
Shali Zhu

The Gap in States’ Education Budgets

Are you using state grants to help pay for your college education? If so, you may want to start searching for other ways to cover your tuition next year. With many states facing tough budget cuts, a number of them are pulling back on funding for education – and for state grants in particular. The Arizona state legislature announced in March that it has ceased funding for two grant programs, namely the Postsecondary Education Grant and the Private Postsecondary Student Financial Assistance Program, for the 2010-11 school year. Just this past week, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), administrator for the state’s Monetary Award Program grant, stated that it is suspending awards for students who have yet to submit their Free Application for FAFSA for the upcoming academic year. In addition, the California Student Aid Commission may be cutting back on state grant funding for undergraduate students, pending a decision by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Apr
21
2010

Written by:
Thomas Loeffler

Differentiating America

While technical (IT) skills will now and forever be in high demand, global business is on pace to see these skills become a standard. Job seekers planning to differentiate themselves strictly through their technical background have their days limited. The facts: First, the majority of workers with technical backgrounds in India and China are much more advanced than those of the United States. Second, those countries like India and China will sometimes suffer from effects of brainwash as their skilled citizens are leaving to take jobs in countries like the United States. Third, the market for jobs in the United States is not becoming any less competitive as these skilled immigrants enter the United States. Following these assertions and our current lack in ownership of our debt, America should be concerned with how we, as job seekers, can differentiate ourselves in the next decade.

Apr
16
2010

Written by:
Shali Zhu

The (Tax) Benefits of Higher Education

Now that the tax season has ended, do you know how much education tax credit you accrued in the past year? While many college students do not have to file tax forms separate from those submitted by their parents, the fact that they are in college may help their parents save hundreds of dollars in taxes. The federal government offers a number of tax credits to help alleviate the rising cost of higher education, the two most prominent of which are the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit.

Apr
2
2010

Written by:
Raymond Addai

US students protest cuts to higher education

It has long been speculated that the United States educational system is lacking behind compared to that of other foreign nations such as Japan and China. To make matters worse tuition prices at U.S. colleges are steadily increasing in an economy where numerous students find it extremely difficult to find jobs, internships, or any substantial way to generate income. Furthermore, there have been numerous budget cuts to not only U.S. colleges but also K-12 schools due to the economic recession our nation is facing. As a result, many educational institutions have had to make cuts in the number of instructors they hire among other things which is only going to set the U.S. educational system further back.

Mar
4
2010

Written by:
Matthew Koren

What's a Degree Really Worth?

It has long been accepted that bachelor’s degree are a safe bet for personal and financial success. Some estimates put the difference in lifetime earnings of college grads over high school grads to be between $700,000 and $1 million. Yet, researchers are beginning to disagree with the validity of these previous findings. New studies show tuition increases, employment gaps, and student loans may have cut the earnings difference in half.

Dec
19
2009

Written by:
Tiantian Zha

Mendoza expands nonprofit program

The words “business school” is almost synonymous with glamorous executive positions and high-return entrepreneurship. Mendoza, Notre Dame University’s business school, is working on adding a third definition.

Mendoza is currently expanding its non-degree Nonprofit Executives Program, which differs from an MBA in terms of time commitment and money. These low-cost programs are geared towards professionals already working in the non-profit sector, allowing them to gain crucial skills while continuing their work. They are therefore affordable to non-profit organizations, which, unlike for-profit companies, have insufficient funds to send their employees back to school.