Graduates » Carol J. Carter

Europe’s Higher-Education Restructuring Holds Lessons for U.S., Report Says

CAROL’S SUMMARY:

Clifford Adelman from the Institute for Higher Education, is leading a new way of thinking in the U.S. based on the Bologna Process, the higher education agenda of 29 European countries. Like many of us, Adelman believes the U.S. is no longer on the cutting edge, nor can “we assume world-wide dominance oblivious to the creative energies, natural intelligence and hard work of other nations.”

The Lumina Foundation agrees with Adelman and will be working in three states–Minnesota, Utah and Indiana–to pilot some of the strategies from the Bologna Process. Most appealing to me, is that people from many perspectives will be surveyed–students, faculty, recent grads and, hang on to your hat, employers in an effort to define knowledge and skills needed from specific disciplines as they translate to real world success. Wow!
What a concept and how obvious in this age of serious global competition. I would encourage all states to follow suit as soon as possible.

The Lumina Foundation’s goal is to increase the quality of degrees–and I am sure there must be workforce equivalent to measure this longitudinally–from 39% to 60% by 2025. As I said, we could really benefit from this nationally. In this age of global achievement and opportunity, the U.S. needs to look out for best practices and then apply them to an educational system which can again become cutting-edge, hopefully on or before 2025.

ARTICLE
Chronicle of Higher Education
April 8, 2009

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Report Envisions Shortage of Teachers as Retirements Escalate

CAROL’S SUMMARY:Â

As the article below indicates, over the next four years, one third of the nationâ€™s 3.2 million teachers are slated to retire. In addition to that, many entering the professionâ€”one in three–drop out in their first five years of teaching.

What can we do to keep talented young teachers on the teaching track? What are we not doing in our schools of education to prepare these students for what lies ahead? How can we recruit some of the best and brightest people from industry to get their teaching certificates and become teachers in this tough economy? How can we look to other nations for top talent in teachers who can inspire and educate our students in the United States? How can more talented teachers become principals or leaders in their districts in other important capacities?

Many people with industry experience are now being considered for Superintendent positions. School boards value managers who are data driven, smart and able to motivate and inspire people beyond what they have always done. Michael Bennett in Colorado was a lawyer and a successful business person before he ran Denver Public Schools. Now that he is a United States Senator, his successor was the CFO under Bennet and has the same business sensibilities as the new Superintendent.

ARTICLE
New York Times

By SAM DILLON
April 7, 2009
Over the next four years, more than a third of the nationâ€™s 3.2 million teachers could retire, depriving classrooms of experienced instructors and straining taxpayer-financed retirement systems, according to a new report.

To view entire article visit

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/education/07teacher.html?emc=eta1

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Recession Has Changed Views Among Prospective Adult Students, Study Finds

According to the firm, Eduventures, nearly half of adults learners in a 1,500 person survey believe that the value of an education has increased because of the economic crisis. While there are still the super-smart and talented exceptions to this rule like Bill Gates, most of us are going to benefit greatly from a college degree in this new economy.

Adults are not only competing with younger grads who have undergraduate and often graduate degrees, they are competing in many cases for jobs with people from other countries. The knowledge and skill-base required is definitely greater than a decade ago and will likely become more intense as time goes on. If you are an adult and you are thinking about going back to school while keeping your job, remember that whatever outlay you invest will likely be paid back because your earning potential is likely to be so much higher over the course of your career than if you forego the degree and stay in the ranks of the minimum-wage jobs.

If you’ve taken a hard look at your situation and you feel you really can’t go back right now, learn as much as you can at your current job and set your sites on being the most valuable contributor that you can be. If you aren’t working, but you are looking for a job, then volunteer where you can develop the same critical workplace success skills. When this tough economic time passes, which it inevitably will, set your sites back on getting your degree. There are many programs which will allow this to take place in your own time.

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ARTICLE:

Chronicles of Higher Education
by Eric Hoover

Nearly half of adult students believe the value of education has increased over the last year due to the economic crisis, according to a survey released this week by Eduventures Inc., an education-consulting firm.

Twenty-five percent of respondents said the value had not changed significantly. And only 20 percent said the value of additional education had decreased, meaning that they believed it was less likely to earn them a raise or better job.

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http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=mdxR4ZWrGPcfwCzwCgzmdrSrzqbgHsdj

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Education Secretary Says Aid Hinges on New Data

CAROL’S SUMMARY:

Business measurements are now being required of educators, as are business skills. Measuring and tracking data beyond the lens of the state test scores, is crucial to school improvement and performance. For example, measuring a number of indicators with high school freshmen like who joins a club freshmen year, who has stellar attendance, who uses the resources of tutors and counselors, as well as grades and state test scores, more accurately reflects overall student success. In fact, the students who struggle the most academically need to be taught â€œsuccess habitsâ€ â€“qualities like perseverance, self-advocacy, an indomitable spiritâ€”which will propel them past their challenges and on to solid adult life skills.

Principals of schools are being asked to measure a variety of data in order to manage their schools well. In addition to being data-driven, the best school principals need these additional qualities: vision, interpersonal skills and very strong project management abilities. Often, principals who are promoted through the ranks of teaching may not have these skills, but as we analyze what teachers need to be effective in our challenging global environment, we may find that teachers need the same leadership skills as principals to promote world-class learning and first-rate outcomes.

ARTICLE:

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told the nationâ€™s governors on Wednesday that in exchange for billions of dollars in federal education aid provided under the economic stimulus law, he wants new information about the performance of their public schools, much of which could be embarrassing.

To view the entire article please visit
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/education/02educ.html?emc=eta1

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Graduating With a Major in Go-Getting

CAROL’S SUMMARY:

Every college student this year and for the next few years needs to graduate with a major in â€œGo-Getting,â€ as the article below implies. Grads need at least one if not two solid internships and work experience from jobs in retail, fast food, child care or yard work. These experiences, if well done, can show employers how students think, work as a team and lead others to positive goals, which is something recruiters look for during the interview process. Companies today want to know that the grads they hire arenâ€™t just a good bet for the entry level, but for the long term as well. Data shows that companies spend an average of $40,000 training new hires. If those grads go on to be promoted to positions of more responsibility or better, start new divisions within their company, they will be fueling future economic growth. There is no better way to ensure job security than having outcomes which directly impact and create business growth.

ARTICLE
Wall Street Journal
By EILEEN GUNN
Reorganizations grab fewer headlines than job losses, but they are common in a recession, and often precede or follow layoffs. And they can be as just as disheartening. It can be difficult to figure out where you fit in as management changes are made, new work groups are formed, and you find yourself working for a new boss. To survive, you’ll need to adapt, while also assessing the future of your job.

To view the entire article visit
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123845358462571299.html

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Does Experience Trump Higher Education?

CAROL’S SUMMARY: Does experience trump education? It certainly can. That is why it is more important for students to plan interesting and different ways to spend their summer or winter breaks in high school than overly obsessing about their SAT score. In life, as Dr. Robert Sternberg says, you need Successful Intelligenceâ€”the ability to be analytically, creatively, and practically intelligent. Schools foster analytical skills, which are important, but the other skills you need for life success like taking calculated risks, learning new skills, stretching beyond your comfort zone and learning to work with people who arenâ€™t like you, can propel you to job success and security.

Questions to consider:
1. What are all the things you could imagine for yourself if things could go as well as possible?
2. What are the successes as well as failures that have been your greatest life teachers?
3. How can you think about your future as a balance of education and experience?

ARTICLE:

By Matthew Vuturo
Wall Street Journal
March 27, 2009

I wouldnâ€™t trade my education for anything. All of my educational experiences have shaped the person I am today, high school on through my business degree. Educating their children was my parentsâ€™ top priority, for which I will be eternally grateful.

But, these days, as I look around, I canâ€™t help but feel like education is the biggest scam going. With so many accredited institutions minting fresh undergraduate and graduate degrees, the perceived value of formal education has become greatly diminished. An undergraduate degree used to represent a real achievement in life, whereas now it seems to be mere proof one has a pulse.

Like many others who went through a traditional M.B.A. program, I dedicated serious time and money to completing my degree. With a full time job and classes most nights of the week, the two years I spent dedicated to the cause was a grind to say the least. I remember a year ago now how much I believed my advanced degree would help me get my foot in the door, and in front of the right audience. I knew it didnâ€™t guarantee me anything, but I did think it would help me stand out and get my shot.

Visit http://blogs.wsj.com for the entire article

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New Workplace Equalizer: Ambition

CAROL’S SUMMARY:

The article below is about a new strain of ambition seen from women, equalizing the male and female career ladder. These trends are no doubt fueled by student loan debt, general debt grads may have acquired and the recent downturn in the economy which may make the model of one parent staying at home extremely difficult financially.

Women as well as men are less likely in this economy and this decade to take their jobs for granted. If they are dissatisfied, they may be more cautious about building their skills and networks while still maintaining their day job, paycheck and benefits at least for the next few years until things turn around. In the meantime, it is nose to grindstone for those of us who have jobs balancing work, family, and often a second job or school at night for better prospects in the future.

ARTICLE
Wall Street Journal
By SUE SHELLENBARGER
After decades of glacial change in gender roles, a new generation of working women is proving to be as ambitious as their male counterparts, as measured by their eagerness to move up the career ladder.

Based on a unique long-term study of attitudes in the U.S. work force, about two-thirds of both men and women under age 29 say they desire more responsibility on the job. Having children doesn’t dent the ambitions of young women workers; 69% of mothers in this age group say they want to move up on the job, compared with 66% of women without children, says the study of about 3,500 wage, salaried and self-employed workers and small-business owners, released Thursday by the nonprofit Families and Work Institute in New York.

To view the entire article visit
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB123801512551141207-lMyQjAxMDI5MzI4NTAyMTU1Wj.html

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Why College Towns Are Looking Smart

CAROL’S SUMMARY:
During times of recession, many people are reconsidering where they live and where they might want to live for better jobs, lower taxes, and possibly better school systems. In the WSJâ€™s article, Why College Towns Are Looking Smart, many of the college towns across America seem to be recession-proof, at least for the time being.

Some people, who have lived in the big cities, paying high taxes and falling from high income jobs, are analyzing where else they could live and work now that technology has really brought down the need to be at a â€œhome officeâ€ base. Hewlett Packard recently had more than 50% of their workforce shift to home offices to save money on facilities. These kinds of company moves open up more options for the highly skilled, trustworthy worker to work from whatever community they wish. Skype, Twitter and other forms of keeping in touch facilitate this type of flexibility which can promote financial stability and success in low-income parts of the United States and even the world.

ARTICLE:
Wall Street Journal
By KELLY EVANS

Looking for a job? Try a college town.

Morgantown, W.Va., home to West Virginia University, has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. — just 3.9% — and the university itself has about 260 job openings, from nurses to professors to programmers.

“We’re hurting for people, especially to fill our computer and technical positions,” says Margaret Phillips, vice president for human relations at WVU.

To view entire article visit www.wsj.com

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Start Over as an Intern

CAROL’S SUMMARY:
In this job market, many mid level and middle-aged employees are going back to intern for companies for which they have a passion and an interest, but no experience. While this may mean a temporary financial hit for some, it may produce long-term benefits on a whole new career path. It can often obviate the need for business school, or it can help ensure you are accepted to business school if you are convinced you need that degree and learning for your career advancement.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1) If there is an industry or field about which you have a deep passion, how could you pitch a one-month internship to both show your capabilities and truly verify your interest in that area?

2) Financially, how can you supplement your income so that you can work without pay on an internship? Can you get a minimum wage job, or even work as a consultant for your former employer?

3) Who are at least three people who can provide strong recommendations for you so that you can get your foot in the door for the internship? Have these in hand or as part of your electronic portfolio when you make the pitch for securing the internship.

ARTICLE:

Wall Street Journal
By ALEXANDRA LEVIT
When I was in school just over a decade ago, internships were only for college students. The jobs we performed were unglamorous. But in today’s professional world, internships have gotten a facelift, and mid-career adults are flocking to them as a way to reinvent their careers.

Marieka Torrico, 31 years old, of Alexandria, Va., chose an unpaid internship in Bolivia to jumpstart her career in public health. She had been a medical-records assistant for nearly five years. “I felt that I needed to start living my life in a way that would make a difference to others,” Ms. Torrico says.

To view entire article visit
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123768268795705241.html?mod=article-outset-box

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Staying Afloat in Today’s Crowded Talent Pool

CAROL’S SUMMARY:

In todayâ€™s crowded job market, laid off employees are competing with college graduates. While there are some inherent challenges, this is also great training for corporate America where formidable problems need to be solved all the time with the same perseverance, motivation and indomitable spirit the job search requires. If you are a recent graduate, or you are graduating this spring, here are some things to think about and act on:

1) If you have a job which you consider beneath your means, make the most out of it. The days where employees could have an attitude of entitlement are gone. Whatever job you do have, ask how you can contribute to your company, your boss and your own professional development. This may mean coming in early, leaving late, helping a co-worker to learn a skill, or taking on an extra assignment without pay from your manager.

2) If you are trying to get a foot in the door at a company, consider working there as a consultant or without pay for one month so that the company can see what you are capable of accomplishing. You need to shine and show your value relative to anyone else they may consider. Allowing them to see your work and relationships first-hand will show them that in spades.

3) Consider working a job, even if it is minimum wage, to bring in your rent and food money while you spend a few days a week working as an intern or getting your foot in the door as in suggestion #2 above. Create a strict budget, cut everything that isnâ€™t essential. The benefit of working for someone as a consultant or for free is that they will often be willing to give you a strong letter of recommendation even if they canâ€™t hire you. You need at least three strong references to speak to your abilities and contribution over time. Ideally those people are all work references, but you can have two work references and one professor if you are just graduating.

4) Surround yourself with pro-active people. This is a tough time, but the people who will be valued the most are the ones who are willing to work hard, even in a volunteer capacity, make appointments daily and keep their resolve strong. The same qualities that make you a success in the job hunt, are the same qualities which make you a success once you get that job.

ARTICLE
Wall Street Journal
By BOB DAMON
In February, President Obama signed into law the much debated and anticipated $787 billion economic stimulus bill, a plan designed with a primary focus on countering recent, unprecedented job losses. This legislation cannot come quickly enough for the 4.4 million Americans who’ve lost their jobs since Dec. 2007. The past two months were particularly brutal, with layoffs announced seemingly daily by such industry stalwarts as Microsoft, Starbucks, Pfizer, Caterpillar, Home Depot, Macy’s and Nissan. Even CEOs have felt the blow, with more than 60 terminated in 2008 and up to 150 expected to lose the top spot by the end of 2009. While the stimulus package is said to save or create three to four million jobs, this will depend on how efficiently the money is distributed over the next 12 to24 months.

To view entire article visit http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123689624615612311.html

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