The webinars continue

Once you start, you can't stop. My university's department is now up to AT LEAST two webinars a week. Ridiculous. The average cost is about $275 for a 1.5 hours of boredom and people doodling on their notebooks. Great use of private funds or public support.

In national news:
The University of Wisconsin has adopted an admissions policy that takes race and ethnicity into account, and Republican lawmakers have vowed to fight it.

Prepaid-Tuition Program in Texas Faces Long-Term $3.3-Billion Deficit, Audit Finds

Texas’ prepaid-tuition program may be in worse shape than previously thought. The Texas Tomorrow Fund, which allows families to pay for tomorrow’s higher education at today’s prices, could face a shortfall of as much as $3.3-billion over the next 20 years, five times as much as previously estimated, according to a report by the state’s comptroller.

The plan has been closed to new enrollees since 2003, after rapidly rising tuition rates at state colleges made it impossible for the board that oversees the program to set prices for new contracts. Other states also have considered altering or permanently closing their plans because of long-term deficits.

Texas officials recently proposed reopening the Tomorrow Fund, but the results of the “sobering” audit could keep it shuttered, the Dallas Morning News reported today.Prepaid-Tuition Program in Texas Faces Long-Term $3.3-Billion Deficit, Audit Finds
Texas’ prepaid-tuition program may be in worse shape than previously thought.

The Texas Tomorrow Fund, which allows families to pay for tomorrow’s higher education at today’s prices, could face a shortfall of as much as $3.3-billion over the next 20 years, five times as much as previously estimated, according to a report by the state’s comptroller.

The plan has been closed to new enrollees since 2003, after rapidly rising tuition rates at state colleges made it impossible for the board that oversees the program to set prices for new contracts. Other states also have considered altering or permanently closing their plans because of long-term deficits.

Texas officials recently proposed reopening the Tomorrow Fund, but the results of the “sobering” audit could keep it shuttered, the Dallas Morning News reported today.

Student Workers

Ah, to be a poor student worker. I'm not talking about monetarily, I'm talking about the semi-abusive bosses that they have to deal with. Lazy secretaries with no ambition or talent to train, the supervisor who leaves them working 'til 9pm mailing out his stuff when he takes off at 1pm for a "meeting" when a simple check of his day calendar indicates he'll be out golfing.

The mission of higher education is ultimately to provide students with the tools they will need to become successful later on in life. To graduate students who are set on making the world a better place. How can this happen, really, if their slight work experience is coming from within the university and these are the types of scenarios we're putting them in? I guess they'll graduate from school with degree in hand and knowing that if they work in a university system they can abuse the system like they were taught.

The Webinar

It's a terrible term, yes. Spellcheck hates it too. It's the webinar. Your institution doesn't care enough to pay for you to go to a conference, so instead you get a crappy powerpoint handout and a bad phone connection to someone in Minnesota who drones on for over an hour.

Campaigns in Colorado

Within Colorado alone, 3 major state universities are gearing up for Capital campaigns, 2 private universities are in the silent phase, as are 3 community colleges--not to mention non-profit organizations such as United Way, etc. What repercussions will this have on giving to non-profits and higher education on a local level from area corporations and foundations?

Should we be looking at a different model for fundraising? A more holistic approach to "the ask" could translate into a "bigger piece of the pie" or increased gifts across the board.

Campaigns

So, every institution in the country is basically going into campaign. How is this going to work people? Share your thoughts.