Viewing by month: July 2009
Merging Two Academic Worlds
John Bertalan describes how a teacher preparation program class, "Teaching Diverse Populations," has helped students in American government and cultural diversity classes bond through learning about the immigration stories of individuals from other countries. When students in the cultural diversity class heard these stories, they responded with great interest in the lives and plight of their fellow students. The essays also gave students a deeper appreciation for being an American.
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President Obama speaks at Macomb Community College
President Obama has announced the American Graduation Initiative, a program to reform and strengthen community colleges by providing resources that students and schools need to meet the demands of U.S. businesses. The goal of the plan is to help an additional five million Americans earn degrees and certificates in the next decade.
A full transcript of the entire speech is available here:
The White House - Press Office - Remarks by the President on the American Graduation Initiative in Warren, MI
PDF, 85 KB
A Game of Chance: Community College Hiring Practices
We knew we were taking a risk in writing a book about community college hiring practices. We acknowledged the seriousness of the subject matter, appreciating the daunting task that board members and administrators face when searching for leaders. We expected raised eyebrows from some administrators and legal advisors who work diligently to protect the sanctity of policies and procedures that govern how we bring new employees into the college. Here is what we did not expect. As we visited with many community college faculty members, presidents, and trustees, people seemed excited that at last a light was being shined on the strategies used to recruit, select, and retain employees. We realized the impact of hiring practices on the culture of the organization and on the leader’s ability to facilitate meaningful transformation. Guided by our experiences, research, and stories collected from successful community college leaders, we pieced together information about the way in which colleges approach the recruitment and selection of new employees.
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