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JerseySmarts.com

Closing in on the End of Summer… And the Beginning of School

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Although there are millions of school children that consider this to be one of the worst times of the year, I always liked the beginning of the new school year. And with school starting in two weeks for the majority of New Jersey’s school-aged population, I’m sure that a lot of these kids are hoping to get the best out of the remaining days of summer vacation as they can.

For me, though, I like this time of the year because I get to prepare my course that I teach at the local college. Since it is an “American National Government” course, I always have new information to put into my PowerPoints and new documents to make copies of for handouts. And, given the age group of the students that I’m teaching, I always get a lively discussion no matter what the topic. New topics for extended discussion this semester will include healthcare and paternalistic governments versus those governments that take a more hands-off approach.

I also enjoy getting a reading from the students on where they fall along the political spectrum. The reason why I enjoy this is because most of them consider themselves to be liberal, but once we start talking about an issue they advocate for traditionally conservative positions – a clear example that many of our young minds today are focused on doing what everyone else is doing…or what the loudest voice is doing. From the last couple of years teaching this course, I’ve discovered that most of the vocal students lean left, but that the best written papers are from those who lean right. Pretty odd occurrence, I think.

This semester I’ll also be teaching an online course for one of the oldest online colleges in the nation – Thomas Edison State College. TESC pioneered the idea of having older folks receive their Bachelor’s Degree via submitting a portfolio of their professional experience and receiving credit for it instead of actually having to go to class. Plus, they were the first online-only college (and they’re highly regarded, too).

The class that I’m teaching at TESC is an undergraduate course in nonprofit leadership. I’m looking forward to that one since it ties in directly with my own academic research as well as my day job. Should be a lot of fun coming up in the next few weeks!

Okay, So It Won’t Be As Easy As I Thought

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Earlier this month I uploaded an entry talking about how I was going back to school to finish up a certificate program at the local college. One of my purposes of going back to the local college to get this certificate was that it seemed like it would be very easy to attain. Or, as I put it:

I was hired at my job and I began to look into Doctoral programs as well as certificate programs. Lo and behold, the program that I was previously enrolled in where I only finished one class had a certificate available for being a Public Relations Specialist. At the same time, my company was looking to have me and some of my coworkers get trained on some other aspects of our business. Since the local college (where I was enrolled and only finished one class) was offering a fundraising course, I took the course and completed it. Well, as a part of my research prior to taking the course, it turns out that both the course I had previously completed and the fundraising course were two of the four courses needed for this certificate. But it gets better…

I researched when the other two courses were offered and they are being offered this fall and next spring. And since I’m teaching at the local college this fall and next spring, I can take these courses for no charge. In essence, I can received this certificate in public relations free of charge.

Yes, I’m quoting my blog on my blog. Welcome to the nexus of the universe.

Anyway, as it turns out one of the courses that I previously enrolled in was taken as a non-matriculating student. In other words, that means that it does count towards the certificate goal. If I want that class to count…I need to take it again. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the definition of stupidity.

Those of you reading this entry who know me from my days at college might expect me to raise all hell and get this stupid clause reversed. Well, I’m not going to do it this time. I’m not interested in the fight nor am I interested in getting myself all wrapped up in an argument that I really don’t care about in the long run.

Speaking of the long run, I’m still getting a blockbuster deal. Assuming I teach this fall (which is locked in already) and next spring (which is 50/50 at this point), I’m still taking two of the required four classes for free. Plus, I still have the one course I took years ago that counts toward this program. That leaves one course that I have to pay for – not bad. I plan on working with my employer to split the cost of that one course (which should equal about $1,000 each). Either that, or I’ll just see if I can teach another course in the spring or next fall, which will allow me to take the necessary class to complete the certificate.

In any event, since this is somewhat a vanity certificate (in other words, I’m getting a credential that I don’t need for my current job and may only tangentially need in the future), I don’t see the need to fight what would be the good fight in this situation. At least this time…I’m just going to go with the flow.

Heading Back To School (I Think)

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I’ve spent some time over the last few months considering whether or not I want to go back to school. Actually, I KNOW that I want to go back to school at some point to earn a Doctorate, but that’s not what I’m referring to here.

What I’ve been mentally debating is whether or not I want to go finish up a Certificate Program that I (sort of) began a few years ago. Here’s the story as briefly as I can tell it…

Right after I graduated with my undergraduate degree, I enrolled at the same college for a Masters Degree. I enrolled in three classes and was so turned off by the remedial way that some of the professors in the program treated their students that I withdrew from two classes and only finished one of them (with an A, thank you very much). After that decision, I started going to Rutgers and eventually enrolled in – and completed – their masters program in public policy.

Then I was hired at my job and I began to look into Doctoral programs as well as certificate programs. Lo and behold, the program that I was previously enrolled in where I only finished one class had a certificate available for being a Public Relations Specialist. At the same time, my company was looking to have me and some of my coworkers get trained on some other aspects of our business. Since the local college (where I was enrolled and only finished one class) was offering a fundraising course, I took the course and completed it. Well, as a part of my research prior to taking the course, it turns out that both the course I had previously completed and the fundraising course were two of the four courses needed for this certificate. But it gets better…

I researched when the other two courses were offered and they are being offered this fall and next spring. And since I’m teaching at the local college this fall and next spring, I can take these courses for no charge. In essence, I can received this certificate in public relations free of charge.

Jackpot!

Anyway, to sum this story up, now I’m in the process of filling out the application and gathering all of the required information to enter this program and complete the certificate requirements. I’m not entirely sure how (or if) this will help me in my current occupation, but you never know. The one thing that I learned from going to college and graduate school is that the benefit of graduating is not the knowledge (though that’s nice), the benefit is access and networking. Perhaps while I’m enrolled in these two courses I’ll make a connection that could lead me to a job with higher compensation. I love my current job, but given the amount of work that I perform, they certainly aren’t paying me what I’m worth.

Who knows what will happen? All I know is that since I loved going to school, I’ll probably enjoy my time in this program.

Community Colleges Challenge Four-Year Schools

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As a follower of movements in higher education I love this story. The New York Times recently reported on a new phenomenon in higher education – namely the increasing number of community colleges that are offering Bachelor’s Degrees. I think that this is a great story because it shows how community colleges are bringing the same type of competitiveness that is found in the private market into higher education.

This is long overdue.

Florida leads the way, with 14 community colleges authorized to offer bachelor’s degrees, and 12 already doing so, in fields as varied as fire safety management and veterinary technology. But nationwide, 17 states, including Nevada, Texas and Washington, have allowed community colleges to award associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, and in some, the community colleges have become four-year institutions. Others states are considering community college baccalaureates.

In most cases, the expanding community colleges argue that they are fulfilling a need, providing four-year degrees to working people who often lack the money or the time to travel to a university. But some of those universities are fighting back, saying the community colleges are involved in “mission creep” that may distract them from their traditional mission and lead to watered-down bachelor’s degrees.

Personally, I think that the traditional four-year colleges have too-long enjoyed the monopoly of giving that small piece of paper that so many people need to reach the next levels of their current careers or break in to the career that they want. And what’s great about the community colleges offering these degrees is that they are offering super specialized versions of the traditional degrees.

For example, instead of the generic “public administration” degree students can now get a “public safety administration” degree, specialized for their specific discipline. It’s brilliant.

Redesigning Graduate Education

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Generally, there are very few Americans who go on to get an advanced degree after their Bachelor’s Degree. Some go on to get Masters and others put in the extra time and effort to get a Doctorate. I made it through the Masters program and I’m constantly thinking about going back to get a Doctorate Degree, but I always wind up reading articles like the one printed in the New York Times the other day that questions the purpose of graduate education in today’s environment. It’s quotes like these in the articles that generally get me thinking twice:
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