Universities Weblog

(Source: dilbert.com)Want a leg up on the competition for jobs? Get an internship. Problem is, everyone has figured that out, so now internships have become competitive too.

A couple of recent pieces in the New York Times explore this trend. First, a bit from an article:

The struggle for summer internships has never been more intense, according to Mark Oldman, co-founder of Vault Inc., a career counseling company. "In an uneven job market, an internship is, or can be, the deal closer for permanent employment," he said. "Now, if you don't have one, you're at a competitive disadvantage."

"They've moved from r–sum– enhancer to r–sum– necessity, and this is reflected in today's frenetic process," said Mr. Oldman, one of the authors of "The Vault Guide to Internships."In a similar vein is this passage from an opinion column:

Summer, for many, is about looking before you leap. Internships have become as coveted and prestigious as colleges—yet another "must have" on the polished r–sum–. But while most of the talk is about how these internships help start you off into becoming all you want to be, the quieter reality is how they can help you decide all you don't want to be.

And with competition for internships so fierce, is it any wonder many of them don't pay?

(Source: abc.go.com)Thanks to the Fourth of July TV celebrations, "The Scholar" didn't air this week. But that doesn't mean we can skip our weekly dose of Scholar-ly fun.

If you just can't get enough of your favorite Ivy wannabes, check out the show's website. There you'll find the contestants' blogs, daily diaries of the competition and backstage politicking. You can also lend your own voice on the message boards and dish with fellow devotees. And for those who still can't figure out the admissions process despite the sage advice we receive each week, read these tips on "how to become a scholar" with or without the 240 grand.

Be sure to tune in next Monday to see the contestants "set aside their personal opinions to engage in a tense debate on a topical, very controversial issue to secure the last remaining spot in the final round." Until then….

(Source: pbs.org)A new PBS program explores American higher education, and its conclusions aren't terribly flattering. The show, called "Declining by Degrees," documents the ills currently facing our nation's colleges and universities. These include the following:

– Rampant grade inflation
– Professors not committed to teaching students
– Student not committed to learning
– The overuse of part-time, adjunct faculty
– Investments in facilities such as student commons and gyms instead of academic buildings
– The obsession with rankings and branding
– Rising costs and shrinking need-based aid

And on and on.

Sound depressing? Consider this teaser copy from the PBS site:

This documentary follows 30 students & teachers and explores the road between admissions and graduation. Going beyond what Americans believe about the college experience, Declining by Degrees exposes the disappointment, disorientation and deflation that so many college students feel, and the struggles they face, regardless of the schools they choose to attend. It goes on to address the issue of the quality and readiness of America's workforce.To be honest, many of the claims here are correct, to some degree (pun unintended). Colleges do rely heavily on adjuncts. They are concerned with rankings and public perceptions of quality. They are investing heavily in facilities not necessarily central to the academic mission. And many students are more interesting in gaining a credential than in actually learning something.

But let's not overstate things. The program, perhaps by its very nature, oversimplifies many of these issues. It's patently unfair to make such sweeping generalizations about an industry so vast, so diverse and so complex. Good teaching and learning still takes place every day on every campus. Somehow that message was lost.

If you missed the program, chances are you'll be able to catch a rerun. Otherwise, you can order the video or the companion collection of essays from the PBS site.

Then draw your own conclusions.