NCLB for Higher Education

Photo from Dewey21C

Last month, Brian Mitchell, the Director of the Edvance Foundation, penned a blog titled, At-Risk Students and the College Scorecard. Here is a nugget from that editorial piece:

Let's agree that some schools do a terrible job and should close or merge. The danger is, however, that the less resourced ones who do heroic work with diverse populations of all types might be pushed into the endangered category.

In my estimation, this began with all of the for-profit institutions that shot up, (with a lot of them headquartered in Arizona). They took advantage of student-based funding, advertised college like it was cheap auto insurance, and then walked away from their own student bodies. Students were left with large debts and useless degrees. These institutions should close. Unfortunately, we are once-again seeing the lowest common denominator determining the institutional lives of an entire education sector. Again. This is the next step in what will become the No Child Left Behind of higher education. Higher education knows this outcome very well.

Colleges already face a long list of accountability measures. Ask any accreditation officer at any institution. U.S. News & World Report practically kept itself financially afloat through their "rankings" publications. However, they did a very nice job of pretty much giving everybody some reason to celebrate (multiple lists by location, price, area of study, etc.). Money Magazine's recent listing was ridiculous. I've seen some awful institutions listed among their "best." 

Each course of study--each academic department--has another set of criteria to meet through their associations. Music departments scurry to meet music standards; nursing departments struggle mightily to meet  program certification standards. Even innovative programs need to become nationally certified. The list is enormous for some institutions.

Add to this the demands that come from states. State colleges and universities become fodder for political battles, as well as slaves to multiple masters. Even at the community college level, things have gotten more onerous. Texas has implemented a new funding mechanism for community colleges called "Success Points." In short, 10% of a community college's funding depends on whether the students achieve certain targets, and that percentage is expected to grow in coming years.

Thus begins the vicious cycle. Problematic community colleges will lose funds--ergo, they will get worse. I'm fortunate to work at one of the most successful community colleges in the nation. However, pay-for-performance is problematic for individual public school teachers. 

Photo from Northwest Evaluation Association

Moving this concept to higher education makes less sense. Driving it at the institutional level is just a ridiculous idea.

When I was working in K-12 public education policy, I used to tell people that lawmakers, government officials, news agencies, and the general public see schools in one of two terms--kids or money. The same can be said for higher education. If the entire goal is to make, say, a Methodist liberal arts college more fiscally efficient, then this reaches beyond the scope of the public education debate. It's yet another way that government is working to control the efforts of higher education--all of it--in terms of money. It ignores the young (and not-so-young) adults that comprise the hearts and souls of these institutions.

While I am a BIG fan of Systems Thinking, the individual development of the American higher education system is its greatest strength. This is a monstrous effort to turn what we have into something it was never meant to be in the first place. We have throngs of foreign students looking for opportunities to study in the United States. That should be a sign of how powerful our current "system" is.

As Dr. Mitchell put it, "What a tragedy if federal policy meant to inform consumers effectively forced changes in admission practices that squeezed out local innovation." 

Unfortunately, I can already see that happening. Again.

How to Report a Hijacked Facebook Account (I Think...)

Four-step process.  These steps seem to work.

Click on the three dots next to "Message"

Choose the "Fake Account" option

Click on "Other"

Report the account AND block the account

Getting Heard in Houston This Week

On Wednesday night, the city council in Houston is set to vote on HERO (Houston Equal Rights Ordinance). Houston is deciding whether to join Pflugerville ISD and other local government entities in recognizing the rights of the LGBT community. These are historic times, and you have a chance to effect positive (or negative) change this week.

Here is the edited text of an email I received from a friend and former colleague of mine. If you wish to make a statement, Tim Bacon's pointers will help you.

The council meets again on the Human Rights Ordinance this coming Wednesday from 9 AM to late in the evening. They will vote this time. So any contacts you generate will need to be done by the end of the work day on Tuesday. Today and Monday, since city hall isn't open, you could generate emails. On Tuesday, email will still be received, but telephone calls are more effective at that point.

The ministers working against us have generated calls from all over the country. That opens using those questionable actions to us and, in my opinion, makes it necessary to follow suit. You don't have to say where you live, though if asked for a zip code give it accurately. 

Be sure to remind others of some important points:

1. Be polite. Be personal.
2. Give your name and any other info for which you are asked.
3. It is highly unlikely you will talk to the council person you call. You'll talk to an employee. Ask them to give your message to the council person.
4. State that you are in favor of the ordinance.
5. Tell why. Add any personal experiences you want to support your position.
6. Ask the council person to vote yes.
7. Say thanks.

It is not necessary to make contacts to each council person. Below are names, emails and phone numbers that are crucial to contact. Email and call each of them.

• Jerry Davis districtb@houstontx.gov 832 393 3009
• Dave Martin districte@houstontx.gov 832 393 3008
• Stephen Costello atlarge1@houstontx.gov 832 393 3014
• C.O. 'Brad' Bradford atlarge4@houstontx.gov 832 393 3012
• Jack Christie atlarge5@houstontx.gov 832 393 3017
• Dwight Boykins districtd@houstontx.gov 832 393 3001
• Richard Nguyen districtf@houstontx.gov 832 393 3002
• Michael Kubosh atlarge3@houstontx.gov 832 393 3005

Thanks so much for anything you can do. Enjoy.

Here is an example from my Sent Mail folder. It's a big picture because the text is small.

May we live in a time when this is no longer an issue.

To an Anonymous STC Student

It was a miserable day for me, capped off by a long, frustrating meeting. STC has a lot going on, both visible and under the radar. On top of that, I've been having a rough patch in life. My family has fallen apart. At times, I struggle with my decision to come here...and stay here.

And then I see someone like you.

Your car was next to mine, and I saw you coming to the car as I was getting out of mine for that ridiculous meeting. After the meeting, a drained, middle-aged man was schlepping back to his car at 5:30 p.m. There you were--still.

• You were sleeping. (Exhausted from a schedule that has many components)
• Your study materials were next to you, open. ("When you pass out, you have put in 100%.")
• You had a high school graduation tassel from 2013. (My daughter will graduate in 2 weeks.)
• You had pictures of very young children on your visor. (Mom?)
• You were still at STC. (A 6 p.m. final? Need to sleep before taking the kids back?)

I may have only looked at you for about 15 seconds (including the pic), but at that moment I realized that this was going to be worth it. Not easy, but worth it. I've got a daughter about your age. I hope she shows your moxie next year. I hope I'm showing a similar attitude.

Last weekend, STC graduated 4,800 students. Someday, you will be one of those. Your degree (or certificate) from us doesn't guarantee happiness. On the other hand, it will be documentation that you can learn, you can grow, and you can stick with things until they are complete. Those kinds of skills are critical to a happy work and family life. STC can be a powerful, useful tool for you the rest of your life. If you are a 19-year old single mom collapsing during finals week, I think your future may be bright. You just have to get to that future.

Happy to help, girl. Happy to help.

Leaving (Even) the Best Behind

(Source: I don't care. Who has 10 minutes to spend on this kind of thing??)

A Lunchtime RANT from the blogger:

This was on my morning's Facebook feed: "Find the mistake." How about playing a similar game with education data?

A new study by a group of economists (!) analyzes the effect of the “Top 10%” rule on college enrollment in Texas, using an unnamed large urban district as its subject pool.  You can find that study here, along with other misinterpreted, irrelevant, and misleading work that makes one reconsider Stanford's place in higher education.

The study does provide some interesting insight by comparing those who make the cutoff (a lot of white females) to those who miss the cutoff.  The researchers found that this rule does not lead to an increase in enrollment, as these students were going to college, anyway.  The rule does affect which college they attend, though.  Students tend to matriculate at UT-Austin or A&M at the expense of private colleges and other highly-selective institutions.

Lost in the overall focus of this study was one key figure.  "Fortunately" for me, it was shown on a bar graph. The figures were derived from the researchers' calculations. Think of this like Facebook; see if you can spot the MISTAKE we're making:

Yes, you can remark that these white females choose flagship schools. That's fine. That's comfortable. Here is what is NOT FINE:

A full 42% of students who finished in the top 10% of their class in this district did not matriculate ANYWHERE! 

In fact 45% of the top 10% never took an ACT or SAT. These are the "successful" students of the bunch, not the castoffs.  We're not even considering the top 25%, let alone reconsidering the full 70% of high school graduates that die on the vine after high school.  This is just how we treat the top 10%: cutting it to less than 6% at the start--or in the case of the others, the "finish."

Out of the best and brightest students, Texas' education system has managed to kill off almost half the dreams, half the potential, half the incredible upside from this "large unnamed urban school district." That's unconscionable, immoral, and absolutely RIDICULOUS.

Down here, we call that "A Texas Miracle."

Send those smart kids to STC. Send the others, too. We'll give them a future, since nobody at UHS (Unnamed High School) seems to care.

"There are important questions that our paper does not address."

No kidding.

Sub-Zero Coke

In the course of a week, I lost my wife and a billion dollars.  March Madness is awful. One bright spot seemed to be the Coca-Cola Zero's Bracket Challenge.

I'm supposed to receive a $50 gift card, as well, to the sporting goods store of the "sponsor's choice." My guess is it's Scheel's Sporting Goods; all I have to do is drive to Iowa to redeem it.  Today, though, it hit me: my team isn't supposed to be here.  What's on the line tonight?  What is the prize if your #7 team wins it all???  Maybe you get a t-shirt!  I'd wanted one, but the "Bracket Challenge Gear" disappears amazingly fast.  Each year, I end up with credits I can't use.  Still, it seemed worth at least one more check on their site to see what was on the line tonight.

I became very interested when I saw the Coke Zero bracket with the prizes:

That's incredible!!  Who would have thought that my fortunes would turn like that?  If they win, I'm going to the Final Four in Indianapolis!  I wanted to learn more about where I would stay and if I'd get to meet Frampton or something.

When you dig for things, though, you realize this is too good to be true:

a.  Championship Game Grand Prize - A check for $50,000; Championship Game First Prizes (if any and up to 10, depending on which team wins the Championship Game) - Trip for 2 to 2015 NCAA® Men's Final Four Tournament in Indianapolis. SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR COMPLETE PRIZING AND PROGRAM DETAILS.

Oh. I'm not GOING to the championship game, in all likelihood.  However, others who did the same things as me (and got just a little luckier) WILL be attending.

Also in the FAQ section:

1. If the Championship game winner is a Seed one team, the person with that corresponding team game piece will be the potential winner of the $50,000 prize. If a seed 2-16 wins the Championship game, all participants with the game piece corresponding to the winning team will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win the grand prize of $50,000 and one of ten trips for 2 to the 2015 NCAA® Men's Final Four Tournament in Indianapolis, IN.

Once you get to the OFFICIAL RULES, things get even worse.  Now the upper limit has dropped to six (6) winners.  No reason to put that out front.  Keep it tucked underneath messages that will tell you completely different things.

Championship Game First Prizes (if any, and up to 6, depending which team wins the Championship Game of the Tournament, see details in Section 8, above): A trip for 2 to Indianapolis, IN for the 2015 NCAA® Men's Final Four®. Trip package includes round trip, coach-class air transportation for 2 from a major airport near winner's home (determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion); 4 nights' accommodations at Sponsor's choice of hotel (single room, double occupancy); and 2 tickets to the 2015 NCAA® Men's Final Four®, which includes the National Semifinals & Championship Final Games (seat locations to be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion). Winner must travel on the dates specified by the Sponsor, surrounding the 2015 NCAA® Final Four® game, or prize will be forfeited. Travel must be round trip. Sponsor will determine airline and flight itinerary in its sole discretion. No refund or compensation will be made in the event of the cancellation or delay of any flight. Travel is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in these Official Rules, and those set forth by the Sponsor's airline carrier of choice as detailed in the passenger ticket contract.

If you live 250 miles away, Coke will pay you $0.40/mile to travel to/from Indianapolis. This Coke Zero Bracket Challenge is a HUGE promotion, and it means very little at the end to just about anyone who got involved.

I appreciate the free sodas...though they tend to "not quite materialize" after the tournament is finished. It takes months to get them, anyway. The downloads may be nice, but it will depend on the song choices. I'm not sure if the "Movie Money" will be useful at my local theatres. Still waiting for that "Frank's Used Sporting Goods" gift card...probably without any actual address to said place.

The problem is this: Coke told me it mattered, so I told people it mattered. I believed them. I viewed the initial, most public statement and took the Coca-Cola Company at that. Only curiosity led me to this kind of disappointment. Now, I guess I hope Kentucky wins.  Many will be close enough to earn that sub-IRS rate for travel.

It doesn't matter if it's a wife walking out after 23 years or a soft drink company strongly implying that this time will be different.  You should know up front, and be allowed to guard your heart and soul accordingly.

Dear Clint:

An open letter to an award-winning high school teacher that eloquently voiced frustration regarding the treatment of America's immigrant students.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Institutional Effectiveness & Assessment
South Texas College
2501 W. Pecan Blvd.
McAllen, TX  78501
March 15, 2014



Clint Smith
Parkdale High School
6001 Good Luck Rd
Riverdale Park, MD 20737

Dear Mr. Smith:

Greetings from the Front Lines of the War for America's Future, otherwise known as Hidalgo and Starr Counties in Texas. My name is Paul Henley, and I am the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment at South Texas College. I would like to suggest a potential solution to alleviate your frustration. There is a new scholarship fund designed specifically for people like your student, Maria.

As the site states,

"TheDream.US is a new multimillion dollar National Scholarship Fund for DREAMers, created to help immigrant youth who’ve received DACA achieve their American Dream through the completion of a college education."

There are 1,000 scholarships, each worth a whopping $25,000. My employer, as well as our sister institution, the University of Texas-Pan American, are two of only 12 institutions eligible to accept students using these funds. At last count, we had six applicants, while UTPA had eight. Other eligible schools across the nation are seeing similar numbers. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2014. At this rate, it is quite possible that some of these substantial scholarships will go unclaimed.

It strikes me as odd that the solution for the student in question may be right in front of you. While I agree there is an enormous problem, it seems a shame to be ignoring a potential solution in favor of complaining eloquently about said problem. Please direct Maria to WWW.THEDREAM.US. South Texas College is an open enrollment institution, and somebody with this young woman's credentials would do well here. She then could transfer both her coursework and her remaining money to another fine institution less than 10 miles to the north to complete her degree. All at virtually no cost to her or her family.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 956-872-3508. We would be happy to assist you, the young scholar, and any other potential candidates. It would be appreciated if you could contact Upworthy's writer, Adam Mordecai, the promoter of your video. This would allow him to promote a real solution as emphatically as he publicized the problem. Your assistance is appreciated.

You have 16 days to make this happen. Maria is counting on you. Good luck.

Best,

Paul T. Henley, Ph.D.