When student politicians grow up…
They argue it out in the ‘real’ world.…
Queen’s U principal resigns
Queen’s University principal Dr. Karen Hitchcock announced she is resigning at the end of the month, after less than four years as the executive head of the Kingston, Ontario university. “After much reflection, I have decided to withdraw my request for reappointment and, with regret, will be stepping…
Queen’s U Principal Karen Hitchcock’s resignation email
For those of you interested, here is the email sent by Hitchcock announcing her resignation: Dear Members of the Queen’s Community, After much reflection, I have decided to withdraw my request for reappointment and, with regret, will be stepping aside as Principal and Vice-Chancellor effective April 30, 2008…
The next Student Code of Conduct: the Student Code of Dress
UK’s Evening Standard reports that some British universities are requiring students to sign contracts regulating dress. The headline and story state that students will not be able to wear "their scruffy jumpers and torn jeans." There is something creepy about a dress code to regulate those items. You…
I want my funeral to be in Second Life
I know this is a week old… welcome to the April time-warp. The New York Times tells me blogging kills. Slate disagrees, but tells me I may want to go outside every once-in-a-while.…
The undergraduate crisis: grade inflation and student disengagement
Last week, I attended the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Partners in Education dinner. The dinner featured a discussion panel with author of "Ivory Tower Blues" James Côté, Guelph academic dishonesty researcher Julia Christensen Hughes and McMaster professor Scott Davies. The topic of discussion was the crisis in undergraduate…
You thought your tuition was expensive?
Tuition at the University of Chicago next year will be $36,892, with room and board the cost is $48,488. UChicago is not even in the top ten for tuition costs over the border. Less than half of students will actually pay the maximum tuition.…
Ontario announces $200 mil for university infrastructure
The Ontario government announced $200 million in new money Friday for Ontario universities to fund infrastructure, equipment and security upgrades at the province’s 19 public universities. “Ontario’s skilled and highly educated workforce is a key economic advantage and enhances Ontario’s position as a destination of choice for global…
10% admission policy proposed in Michigan
One Michigan lawmaker is proposing that the state’s public universities be required to guarantee admission for student in the top 10 percent of their graduating high school class. The lawmaker hopes the proposal will increase access for potential students in rural and urban (inner-city) areas of Michigan.…
The morning reads
The New York Times Editorial Board tackles the issue of textbook costs on its blog. Dan Belzer, a student at Duke University, writes the reasons why he will not be giving the "Senior Gift" which his university is asking for in the *Duke Chronicle. *The "graduation gift" is…