Final blog - Slike

Introduction:

I, as many others, had never blogged before this class. I had participated in informal internet forums to discuss what is going on at home and abroad with friends who are separated by distance however developing a piece of work designed to illicit discussion was not in my repertoire. Needless to say as this being my first semester in a classroom environment after a long hiatus and being new to the student affairs field I found the prospect of contributing in a meaningful way somewhat daunting. Other aspects of the course, writing a letter to the editor and a memo to a supervisor, I was somewhat surprised to see in the syllabi however as I read the assignment I understood why they were included in the course work as the assignments were an extension of the blogging experience and brought a real world application to what we were expected to learn through the course. I also found setting up the blog on the first day very helpful as I am not technologically savvy.

What impressed and encouraged me was the wide range of experience and backgrounds many of the students in the class brought with them. I found myself eager to see what was going to be posted and, through the blogging experience, be able to engage in discourse with the professionals I found myself peers with. I did have some trepidation though. With much of the reading assignments at insidehighered.com and The Chronicle of Higher Education I felt this will be the only sources people pull from and while the topics are wide ranging I was asking myself how would diverse views be expressed if we are all pulling from the same sources. However I was pleasantly surprised to find how much is in the media regarding higher education if only one took the time to look for it. By developing this awareness it became apparent how ingrained and important higher education is in this country.

What I found to be an unexpected challenge was keeping up with all the blogs while trying to bring together something pertinent and worthy of group discussion. I would often read a blog and find myself having to sit back and reflect prior to writing a response (another first for me). There were times I would read a blog several times and then comeback to it later as I wanted to grasp the information and perspective to be able to better discuss the issue presented. As a result time became an issue and time management an essential tool in meeting the requirements of the course along with my other responsibilities.

Top three blogs:

My rational for choosing the following blogs is due to their emerging or continual impact they will have on higher education.

Defining Veterans and other potential issues: http://currentevents695a.blogspot.com/2011/10/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-zh-cn.html

I admit veterans is one of the groups I am passionate about however as less and less of the general population are serving in the military there are fewer people who understand veterans, their needs and the variety of sub-cultures inherent in the veteran community.

Arab Spring and Unintended Consequences: http://currentevents695i.blogspot.com/2011/11/arab-spring-and-unintended-consequences.html

I chose to speak of the Arab Spring as international events have far reaching consequences which can be felt by higher education. Since higher education is an emerging global market and more institutions are courting international students as a separate funding stream; knowledge and awareness of international events are going to become more pertinent for higher education institutions.

North Dakota “Fighting Sioux”: http://currentevents695d.blogspot.com/2011/11/north-dakato-fighting-sioux.html

I saw this article and immediately thought of the various diversity and cultural issues faced by higher education on a regular basis. Whether there are misunderstandings due to cultural differences or concepts of acceptable use of terms; issues regarding the perceptions of diverse groups will continue in the higher education community.

Reflection on the blogging experience and how it contributed to the class:

I have enjoyed blogging more than I thought I would have. I found the classroom portion of the course exceptionally helpful and discussing the presented issues in further depth. I also found the mutual respect shown by my peers in the discussion group enlightening as it furthered the discussion experience. In addition, I enjoyed being able to sit down with fellow commenters and ask for further clarification which spawned more discussion and learning.

I really appreciated how the blogs, readings and small group discussions were tied together to form a whole package. In my perspective, when this type of synergy is present in curriculum; actual learning and understanding is maximized to the benefit of the student.

Furthermore, I found the open discussion particularly helpful. As I participated in the open discussion, whether I was wrong or showed some glimmer of insight, I found the correction or confirmation helpful in my continued development. In addition, I also appreciated an environment of open discussion were people need not be afraid to speak up. I have found I learn more when I or someone else is mistaken and then we examine why the reasoning is flawed.

My biggest disappointment was from (and I am guilty of this too) when a blog topic would be started and then there was only commentary on the blog and a genuine discussion did not form. I understand it is difficult to develop a topic and go back to further discuss the issue given the number of blogs we each are required to post and the ever present outside commitments however, frankly, I value the insight and perspective my peers present. I wish we could continue the blog discussion after the class is over as I value the discussion and challenge presented.

Summary on what I have learned:

As I alluded to previously, I enjoyed reading the various perspectives and ideologies. I enjoyed having to give thought and apply introspection to the various subjects and how they would affect me if my life story was different. That being said, I feel it is fair to say this class has promoted not just knowledge and awareness but personal growth as well. For instance, after we had the class discussion regarding the Occupy Wall Street movement I went down to the Greeley version of OWS on three separate occasions and spoke with different people each time to gain some further insight as to what is going on and why they are camping out in the park by the court house. Some of my preconceived notions were confirmed while others were challenged to the point of causing introspection, consideration and a need to research the social ramifications further.

As was noted in class, “there are no easy answers” to the topics we have been discussing. While I attempt to look at as many aspects to a topic as possible in order to craft a solid foundation for why I believe what I believe I became aware my vaunted position was actually somewhat limited in scope. I also noticed how higher education is actually a microcosm of society and provides a relatively safe place for controversial topics to be addressed in a professional and intellectual manner.

As I go through our reading assignments, even those which are somewhat dated, I can see how these issues we are having to deal with now will be ones we need to deal with in the future as professionals in the student affairs discipline. For me this happens to be one of the most important things in this course; the discussion of relevant and applicable issues in higher education. I. for one, will continue to keep insidehighered.com and The Chronicle of Higher Education book marked on my laptop so I can easily return to the pages and continue to read on issues and their impact on higher education.

All in all I really enjoyed the class and am disappointed at its ending. I found despite the long hours in the classroom I was ultimately disappointed when it was time to turn out the lights. I am heartened to think I will be continuing this journey with some very interesting and knowledgeable people as a peer group.

Blog reflection

Blog reflection

First impression

While looking over the available classes to pursue my degree over the summer, the format of a weekend class appealed to me. Commuting from Denver to Greeley has proven to be quite a burden. Limiting my number of trips seemed ideal. As a somewhat newer member to the field of student affairs, I was hopeful that exposure to current events would bring me more up to date. Living in Steamboat Springs, CO for the past four years I feel as though I have been isolated from life outside my community college on the mountain. While we definitely had current issues of our own, I was unsure how they fit into the grand scheme of things. Were other institutes of higher education struggling to get their students to attend class when it snowed over a foot the night before? I was eager to find out!

Upon entering the class our first meeting time in Loveland I was not sure what to expect. At first, the sheer number of people in the classroom was a bit overwhelming. When I discovered that a large component of our time was going to be spent blogging I was a bit uneasy. Although I am familiar with some of the newer technologies out there, blogging was not one of them. Over the past year I have taken two classes online. One was a great success, and the other, well, was not.

When I was told that a blog would take about an hour to an hour and a half, I thought piece of cake. I can do this with no problem. I even got a little excited about entering the blogging world I have heard so much about.

While further reading into the syllabus I found several other assignments that I was unfamiliar with. A letter to the editor? A memo to your supervisor? Although I have seen the editorial column in the newspaper I had no idea what a letter to the editor actually was. A memo to your supervisor, I was totally lost with that. But I guess this falls into the topic of current issues. Not everything you write needs to be a research paper in APA format.

As with most endeavors that are unfamiliar I did expect to encounter some problems with blogging. At first I had no idea what these problems would be. I was most concerned with actually learning how to post a blog. My writing style is more to the point, and I don’t consider my self to be very creative. With this said, another concern of mine was creating a post that was both informative and engaging.

Top Blogs:

While all my blogs were a valuable learning experience, some stood out.

My blog on Slutwalks was one I thoroughly enjoyed. Reading about a movement that has been coined the most successful feminist action in the past 20 years was something I consider to be very important. Sexual assault is a prevalent issue on college campuses today and should demand attention.

A second blog on Iranian students was fascinating. The Obama administration is planning on creating a virtual embassy in Iran to rebuild our relationship with this country. The aim is to target college age Iranians and make it easier for them to study in the US. I enjoyed learning about our turbulent history with Iran in the process of writing this blog.

Like many others I posted a blog in regards to Obama’s plan to assist with student loans. I am proud of this blog mostly because I have learned so much about this topic that directly effects me. My opinions were challenged to say the least. This gave me an opportunity to reexamine my stance on the issue.

Learning Reflection

Looking back through the hundreds of posts throughout the semester I am certain that I have learned a lot. To begin, I have learned that there is a lot to learn. Reading the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed has been proven to be a valuable experience, which I plan on continuing. Although our blogs have covered a wide range of topics, there is still so much not covered. The blogging process has reiterated the significance of life long learning and being familiar with hot topics.

I have appreciated learning from my colleagues during this experience. I have found that my peers have a wealth of knowledge and opinions to share. Hearing perspectives from students at other institutions and how there experiences vary from mine at UNC has been eye opening.

In addition to writing and reading blogs, I appreciate the commenting component as well. Throughout this process there have been several blogs expressing views that are significantly different from mine. Although I hesitate to admit, at first these opinions made me a bit angry. Comments questioning my views were a bit though to read. It took a while, but I have learned to value these strong opposing opinions. In fact, they have led me to question my own beliefs. Breaking up into small groups during our class sessions enhanced the blogging experience. During these discussions I was able to hear what people had to say once again and ask questions. During most discussions we never “found the answer” and the topic only become more controversial and complicated. I did learn that if the solutions were easy we would have one by now.

I value the diversity in this class as well as the other two classes I am currently enrolled in. People with different ethnicities, genders, political views and socio economic statuses have challenged me to think from different perspectives. How would I respond if I stood in their shoes?

Was this class what I expected? My answer to this is yes and no. I have learned a great deal about current issues, in fact more than I anticipated. I loved the change of pace in regards to reading information from different sources. An alternative to textbooks and journal articles was welcomed. At times I enjoyed the format of the class and at others I did not. While in class I feel as though I benefited a great deal from the engaging discussions and controversial topics. On the other hand, the lack of meeting times led me to feel a bit disengaged. My other two, more traditional classes, have given me the opportunities to get to know my classmates primarily due to the time we spend together in class. Consistent with classes in the past, I struggled with the online component. I chose to leave an online degree program knowing a classroom environment works best for me. It would have helped me if this class was advertised as a hybrid section. Difficulties I have run into during my blogging journey were what I expected. I have had comments and post simply disappear. At times I have been at a loss of words. The time commitment involved with blogging was a lot more than I anticipated. While I do not think it was an unfair amount of time to invest, it well surpassed the hour and a half time allotment I originally set aside. Most assignments take me a lot longer than others. From my experience, it took me an hour to even find a topic to write about. A little excessive I know. In conclusion, although I ran into some difficulties, I now know how to blog! I have learned a tremendous amount about current issues in the field, have had some great discussions and am walking away more knowledgeable than before.

Blog Portfolio and Reflection

I had no previous experience with blogs, so I was not entirely sure of what to expect from this course. While reading the syllabi weeks prior to the first day of class, I figured online blogging would be a relatively easy task to manage. I did not quite realize the amount of time that went into online journaling. However, I was intrigued by the opportunity we would have to share our thoughts and engage in dialogue with peers using a social media outlet. I was excited to utilize an online tool, which I had not previously used before, to enhance my learning.

I was eager to delve into the material for this course. I feel I have always had a strong interest in current issues, so I was excited about exploring issues as they related to the field of higher education and student affairs. I figured we would discuss prevalent matters such as funding and access, but surprisingly there were many issues I had not yet thought about, which were brought up in our class discussion and online blogs. Throughout the semester, I was overwhelmed at the amount of blogs being posted, as I was not able to read through all of them. With no previous experience in blogging, I had expected getting through all posts would be no problem but I quickly realized that was not as easy as I had anticipated.

In regards to individual posts, I had not expected the in-depth thought and research one had to conduct prior to submitting a post. As stated above, when first learning of these online assignments I figured they would not be as time consuming, and we would just be sharing our general perspective on a particular matter. I did appreciate the research and learning that took place, prior to submitting a blog.

My ‘best’ blogs are listed below;

“It’s never too early to begin recruiting.” – This was my first blog, ever. I was particularly proud of that. More importantly, I felt I was able to relate to the issue I was discussing, and that is what made this blog one of my favorites. The article I cited focused on the efforts of a college in south Texas, focused on getting young Latina/o kids to begin thinking about college. Since many Latina/o kids are prospective first-generation students, I think it is imperative to help expose them to a post-secondary education at an early age.

“No place to park.” – As one classmate alluded to, we often think of higher education issues as those associated with funding, embezzlement, unethical behavior, etc. I had fun writing about parking services on college campuses, as this is an issue I feel does not receive much attention. I was also able to share my frustrations with this area through an article in the Chronicle. I especially appreciated the comments and perspectives of other classmates that were shared on this issue.

“A further discussion on HSIs.” – I have done research on “Hispanic-serving Institutions” prior to this course, and I appreciated the opportunity to help further our class discussion on this topic. After our Saturday class, I felt there was important information that I could share, so I felt compelled to create a post. I also feel it is important for individuals at UNC and AIMS to consider the possibility, and benefits, of an institution receiving such status.

I had a great experience participating in our blogs. I was fortunate to not have experienced any technical difficulties, so I feel I was able to get much out of these required assignments. I remember spending several hours on a few of my blogs, this was helpful in enhancing my knowledge on a particular topic. I had to search for articles that were interesting enough to write about, analyze the content and offer my perspective, and gather data related to the issue using other sources. I paid extra attention to the detail of my blogs prior to making them public.

I also appreciated the required comments we had to leave on others’ blog posts. These comments also required critical thinking, as they could not be a simple, “good post” response. We had to read our classmates’ posts in their entirety, while also reading the links to articles and other websites that were provided. This helped me learn about issues I would not usually explore. It was also good to read comments from others that were left on my posts. It is imperative to look at an issue through various perspectives, and many of the individuals in class helped make that possible.

I feel this course was helpful in allowing us to explore issues related to higher education. Through the assigned readings and class discussion, I realized many of the issues addressed are not new to this field. Many of the issues we feel are currently relevant, were also discussed a hundred years ago, and prior. This is important to understand as legislation and budget cuts often make people panic. Higher education always seems to manage to adjust in a changing environment. However, it is interesting to think that the issues we discuss today, may also be relevant in the future.

Learning how to utilize technology in academia was also a great experience. It is imperative for us to understand the various forms the students we work with understand and grasp material. I do believe it is necessary for individuals in this field to become technologically competent, in order to effectively work with todays’ students.

Lastly, I learned that no department, program, or functional area in an institution of higher learning, is immune from encountering any challenges. Administrators, faculty, staff, and students all face pressing issues. Understanding this reality will prepare us in dealing with these situations in the future. It is also imperative to recognize that issues and challenges will always exist. The various perspectives offered in this class allowed me to understand that issues are not one-dimensional, but rather multifaceted, which require critical thought.

I appreciate that opportunity to have learned from all of you. Thank you for making this course an enjoyable experience.

Blog Portfolio and Reflection

Introduction to Blogging

I have appreciated the opportunity to consider topics that we may not think about had they not fit into one of our blog headings. Because Student Affairs is so specialized, I think that we come to the table with perspectives that are largely based on our work experience. It was nice to see the perspectives of those who
work in other areas within the educational community, both at the college and high school levels. While some perspectives were new for me, others required me to think more deeply about perspectives that I thought I had.

Blogging provided me the opportunity to hone my skills as it relates to presenting a logical and well thought out perspective on an issue. Because of the ability to comment on others work, we were forced to consider our writing and how it influences the reader. While I generally would have liked to include more references in my blog posts, I realize that the best blogs require a variety of resources and consider a variety of perspectives. As I progressed through my blog posts I continually tried to check my propensity to write based upon emotion and be more careful to consider all sides of an issue.

The commenting piece of the blogging exercise was interesting as well. It was interesting to see the various responses to blog topics, and I must admit it was most fun when there was a little contention. The first round of blogs were easier for me to comment on than the second round. I believe this was simply because of my interest level as it pertains to the second round. I was not thrilled with the topics, but tried to make as many comments as possible, realizing that this was an exercise in considering topics that we may not be interested in.

Generally, I enjoyed the blog experience. Although, I realize I could have been more timely in my postings.

My Best Blogs:

1) http://currentevents695c.blogspot.com/2011/09/access-v-success.html
2) http://currentevents695e.blogspot.com/2011/10/online-v-face-to-face-slow- down-think.html
3) http://currentevents695d.blogspot.com/2011/10/funding-for-athletics-higher-than.html

Blog’s Contribution to Class

As I mentioned, blogging allowed us to consider a variety of issues that we perhaps would never discuss had they not been part of the blog. It also made clear to me the variety of perspectives that my classmates hold. I think blogging has helped us understand that there are a variety of issues effecting education that we may be unaware of, and there are other issues that we have pre-conceived perceptions on that may not be grounded in fact.

I did not agree with all of the posts and this exercise was fantastic because it allowed the class a forum to discuss pertinent issues in an environment of understanding and shared learning. While many disagreed, it was done so in a respectful manner. This has helped me to realize that we are all members of a learning community and it is our responsibility to both challenge and support each other as we develop as Student Affairs Professionals. Follow-up conversation on blog posts makes up a large part of our conversation both in and out of class. In this regard, this class has helped our cohort stay connected as we are reading and commenting on each other’s thoughts throughout the semester. In every class, both current events and scholarly writing, someone referred to a blog at some point or another. The blogs were a great tool for facilitating conversation amongst myself and my classmates.

I believe that I learned the most in our discussions at each class session. Reading comments and blogs is one thing, but to bring the conversation to the classroom provided us the opportunity to consider the topics more comprehensively.

What did I learn?

As I begin school once again, I have learned quite a bit this semester, both personally and academically. As blogging required us to keep track of our participation
and assure that we were doing so in a timely manner, this course taught me that I need to get back into the swing of school. I turned in some blogs late and I now realize that my organizational and time management skills will dictate my success in the future.

Academically I have learned a lot about the various topics that we discussed in class. I have learned that while some issues are not new and seem to arise over and over again, I also realize that the current trend toward neo-liberalism has put higher education in a position where we need to be more responsive to the consumer and provide evidence that our efforts are successful. While I will not call it a crisis, I do fear that some of the same old problems that higher education has faced, and triumphed over, may be addressed with more scrutiny in the future as are necessity to be accountable to our constituents increases.

I have learned though, that there is a propensity to make a mountain out of a mole hill as we encounter problems in our work. Furthermore, the problems that I identify as important may vary greatly from those that my classmates identify as important. This is a result of the fact that we come from a variety of backgrounds and hold a variety of life experiences.

The most important thing that I learned this semester, as a result of my experience within my cohort in general as much as it is about my participation in blogging, is that we are all in this together, but that we arrive here with varying opinions and outlooks on life. I have realized that we are an academic community that represents a microcosm of the environments that we find ourselves in during our regular work day. The variety of opinions, beliefs, and types of people has required me to start to think very deeply about how I interact with those around me and the effect that my interactions have on my ability to do my job successfully in the future.

I have also learned that if I put in the effort, I am just as capable of receiving my Ph.D. as any of my classmates. I believe the same is true of all of those in the cohort. I have appreciated getting know them and have learned quite a bit about each. I appreciate the support that I know we will provide each other in the future.

Blog Portfolio and Reflection

When I learned that we would be blogging for class credit, I was excited about adventuring into blogdom. I had never blogged before and it seems blogging has really become popular over the Internet and I would say it is a sign of the times. So much so that people blog as a means of income.  For example, there are employers looking to hire people to blog about their products and some have made a career about blogging their own personal experiences with goods and services. Apparently, there are people who depend on bloggers to provide them with recommendations from where to visit, where to stay, and how to get the best deals. And for some, it is way to stay informed on issues such as politics, education, sports, or whatever topic one is interested in delving into. In a way blogging is like a social research tool—you read the blog and either be enlightened by it or totally disagree and post your response and inform the original blogger that they may be incorrect. As this conversation is being posted over the web, others can contribute or just read to satisfy their interest. Nonetheless, blogging allows Internet users to submit there informed opinions or in some cases uninformed opinions free of charge for the Internet world to read.

I feel that some of my classmates were overwhelmed when they were told we had to blog for class. Perhaps it is because most have grown accustomed to reading articles and participating in class discussions and blogs was something foreign to them. But as the literature has stated time and time again, student affairs professionals should embrace change and learn how to utilize technology so that we are familiar of new avenues of learning and we can teach others the educational value of blogging.

I remember the first night. There were immediately technology issues to sort through, but not too serious in my opinion. I do not consider myself a technological expert, however, I was able to set up a Gmail account and submit blogs and comments rather easily. I am one who is always ready to learn something new, so I appreciated this new method of learning. It was interesting to read my colleagues personal opinions about the blog topics. Some were just reporting on the article whereas some had great work experience from which to draw and gave invaluable insight. It is my pleasure to share some of my favorite blogs and provide reflection of the semester blogging experience.     

My first blog titled “ADMIT WEALTHY AND INTERNATIONAL AND FORGET ABOUT AVERAGE JOE” informed me how admissions counselors are intentionally recruiting out-of-state and international students for the fact that these students will have to pay higher tuition to attend an institution than in-state students or students who are in need of financial aid. It enlightened me that this is what institutions have resorted to in part because of reduced funding from the state. I cannot say that I fully blame the admission counselors for what they are doing; I mean, if they want to keep their job, they have to do what they are told. On the other hand, what about the students who are low-income and first generation? According to the article, it is these students who are being overlooked because of their social-economic-status. In student affairs, we are taught that it is our job to see that access to higher education is available to all regardless of income. The article gave information of how down and dirty admissions practices can be. According to the article, at public doctoral and master’s institutions admissions directors admit that recruitment of full-pay students is a key strategy rather than providing aid for low-income students.  To the extent, that at doctoral institutions the gap was 47 percent to 40 percent, and at master’s institutions, the gap was 45 percent to 38 percent. What’s more is that 10 percent of four-year colleges admit that the full-pay recruits have lower grades and test scores than other applicants. 

Admissions directors cite that they have been under pressure by their colleges to fill classes for economic reasons rather than educational. Inside Higher Ed has also reported that flagship universities have been recruiting out-of-state applicants for years. Again, the main reason is public universities can charge them more plus lowers the chances of raising in-state rates since the well of the state has run dry. Robert Birgeneau, chancellor for the University of California at Berkeley, hopes to send a message to the state by admitting more out-of-state applicants. He hopes that he will anger California residents and the state will once again contribute to paying for the University of California.

Admissions directors worry that recruiting out-of-state students who can pay high tuition rates will marginalize others; therefore, access to higher education will again only benefit white wealthy students. Patrick M. Callan, president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, agrees that if universities like California only focus on non-resident students then the student population will be less diverse. Similarly, issues concerning international students are companies complaining that they will not hire international students due to visa issues, also the concern of whether the international students will contribute back to their alma maters as much as other alums, and an increase in communication challenges with faculty and staff.

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/survey/admissions2011

My second favorite blog was one that pertained to students identifying themselves as multiracial. Beginning last year, the Department of Education has required colleges and universities to comply with a federal edict to collect more information of students regarding multiracial identity. Students now have the option to select more than one type of race or ethnicity identification. Consequently, it has become easier for students to identify as multiracial and the number of multiracial applicants has increased significantly. To the extent that institutions are dealing with issues such as whom are they more inclined to accept to diversify their campus. So in terms of adding diversity, which student is more preferable, the student that is applying as a black and Latino or the student applying as white and Vietnamese?

Other issues that have risen are would the growth of multiracial applicants assist in dissolving affirmative action? Which for one reason was created to help people of color enter institutions of higher education that have historically discriminated against them. For example, a student with one black parent and one white parent is considered to be more affluent than the student with two black parents, so colleges could be more inclined to admit the multiracial student because he or she would need less financial aid, but still be abiding by affirmative action guidelines. There are many more questions still to be answered such as how do institutions include multiracial students, but to the extent of not excluding other disadvantaged groups for establishing an egalitarian society? And, should students be limited to checking the box of their parents’ ethnicity or can they extend it to their grandparents? Meanwhile, admissions directors need to be on the look out for those applicants who increase their status of one ethnicity to multiple ethnicities just for sake of college acceptance.

Admissions officers note the value students of color bring to the campus environment with their rich cultural heritage and various backgrounds—their peers have an opportunity to gain a global perspective. Rice University, who ended its segregation in the late 1960s, has been on a mission to comprise itself as a diverse institution. Rice University has been offering the multiracial category for sometime now, that in the past five years the number of applicants who identify themselves as multiracial has gone from 8 to 564. The article noted that nationally about 3 percent of Americans identify as mixed-race.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/14/us/14admissions.html?ref=us

My last favorite blog dealt with an issue that I thought was crazy but as I read more about it, it began to make sense to me. I was surprised to read about Charles T. Clotfelter’s take on his perception of big-time college sports. Clotfelter is a professor of public policy, economics, and law at Duke University. He even has a book that just came out about big-time sports in American universities. Clotfelter argues that big-time athletic sports are now one of the “core functions” of several hundred prominent American universities, and these universities should embrace the benefits of commercialized college sports. Clotfelter suggests that rather than ignore the magnitude of intercollegiate sports, professors at these institutions should acknowledge them.

According to Clotfelter, the core function is birthed from evidence of how the institution’s environment is affected by big-time sports. Universities with big-time sports enterprises function around the schedule of the football games. Football games can shut down entire campuses and important meetings will not be held if there is a game to watch. Athlete recruits even have their own admissions criteria totally separate from general applicants. One last wild example is the University of Alabama postponed their spring semester start date because the football team was playing in a bowl game in California. I could easily provide more examples, but I think I’ve made my point, let’s move on to Clotfelter’s benefits.  

There are three “benefits” he maintains. First, is the aspect of a social benefit. Americans cherish sports and view them as the “university’s most significant activity.” He concludes to this by the amount of Americans who attend games and who watch them on television. The numbers are enormous which means high commercial value. The revenues from commercials are crucial because universities need the finances to keep their teams competitive (coaches salaries). Clotfelter points out how Americans care deeply of their college teams. To watch one’s favorite hometown college football team can lead to life happiness. Second, is big-time college sports can teach civic values such as interracial cooperation and meritocracy. Since coaches and players treat each other as equals, interracial teams have served as models for the rest of the U.S. in regards to diversity and equality.  What I would like to know is what happens with these relationships after football season? In regards to meritocracy, how great it is to know that you have been promoted because of your athletic ability. Which is a good thing, but as a college student and athlete, wouldn’t it be equally important to achieve merit on one’s academics, too? And last, is the benefit to the academic enterprise. Big-time sports programs can raise the amount of contributions and applicants to the institution.

Without a doubt, big-time college sports are as American as apple pie, however, I think it would be in everyone’s best interest to regulate the payroll of athletic departments because at the same academic departments have to cope with cut-backs and downsizing.        

http://chronicle.com/article/Is-Sports-in-Your-Mission/125038/

Blogging about current issues of higher education and posting comments of other blogs was a great learning experience. While some of my classmates felt it was too rigorous, I felt that reading and becoming aware of these current issues broadened my scope of higher education. The process of searching for an article to blog about was enlightening as well. Because in order to find an interesting topic, one needs to search through reputable sources, skim through headlines that catch one’s attention and read quickly the article. This process took some time and by the time you find an article, you have just read a heap of information pertaining to higher education. I also think the title of the post needs to be able to spark the interest of readers. For me, if the title of a blog did not seem interesting I would not read it, but if it was catchy I would read it. So I would always try to create a title that would entice readers. I would enjoy taking another class that involves blogging. I feel as if it was a hybrid class because we wrote so much to and for one another and we had face-to-face class time. This is important because the growth of online education is huge and as a future student affairs professional, we need to embrace this new way of learning and discover how we can benefit from it and how we can improve it. Thanks Matt!