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Full-Text Articles in Education
Higher Ed Needs New Forms Of Marketing., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Higher Ed Needs New Forms Of Marketing., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
In this day and age of crises – financial, enrollment,
even scandal – among institutions of higher education,
image “management” has become a tool to help
some institutions stay afloat. Countless colleges and
universities have resorted to spending money on
glossy brochures, billboards and even on expensive
TV airtime.
The images they portray are usually one of happy
and attractive students having fun on campus, enjoying
athletic events and amenities that used to be more
likely to be found at country clubs than colleges. The
quality of education is almost an afterthought. The
name of the institution is being sold …
If You Think Education Is Expensive, Try Ignorance., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
If You Think Education Is Expensive, Try Ignorance., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
This is the 100th column of this series. During
the two years during which this column has been
published uninterruptedly on a weekly basis, a
common question I received is why do I defend
higher education?
I remember when I decided to become a scientist.
The day was October 5, 1957. I was a 6-year-old kid
living in Venezuela. The big headline in the newspaper
that day was that the Soviets had launched
an artificial satellite named Sputnik. I was amazed.
I asked my father all kinds of questions about it,
but he could not tell me much more than …
Viewing Obama’S Legacy In Higher Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Viewing Obama’S Legacy In Higher Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
For eight years as president, Barack Obama showed
an unusual interest in reforming higher education
when compared with any other U.S. president in history.
Most concerned themselves with primary and
secondary education. The only possible exception is
Abraham Lincoln, under whose administration the
land grant university system was created.
One reason for his interest in higher education may
be because Obama himself once taught at the law school
of the University of Chicago. Another may be that, in
retrospect, Obama has always been a great admirer of
Lincoln, mirroring his stances on many issues.
Higher Ed Sees Decline In Language Studies., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Higher Ed Sees Decline In Language Studies., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
Despite much talk about the importance of globalization,
the very places where most people in
the U.S. learn foreign languages – colleges and universities
– are offering fewer and fewer courses in
them. In a report published last year by the Modern
Languages Association (MLA), statistics show that
for the first time since 1995 we are seeing a drop
in enrollment in courses in all major European languages,
including Spanish. And the drop is significant:
6.7 percent overall since 2009 after increasing
steadily since 1995.
Spanish, the most studied language in colleges
and universities (more than all other languages
combined), …
The Line Between Free Speech And Hate Speech., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
The Line Between Free Speech And Hate Speech., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
With the rise of incidents of bigotry on U.S. campuses
after the November elections, a question has
come up. How can we differentiate between free
and hate speech and what can we do about the latter?
The answer is complex, but there is a solution
to the problem.
At the federal level – and contrary to popular
belief – free speech is not absolute. The Supreme
Court has ruled many times setting limits on
speech, from child pornography cases, to deceptive
advertisement to specific threats of violence. The
fine line comes when dealing with espousing ideologies,
like the ones held …
Anti-Intellectualism Casts Shadow Over Higher Ed., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Anti-Intellectualism Casts Shadow Over Higher Ed., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
In addition to all of the issues affecting higher education,
like the lack of appropriate funding, diminishing
enrollments, insularity, and the like, now it is
time to recognize the biggest problem of all – anti-intellectualism.
Anti-intellectualism is defined as a negative attitude
toward intellectual pursuits, whether in the
form of education or scholarly activities and toward
their practitioners, such as college professors and
intellectuals in general.
The Consequences Of The Election For Higher Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
The Consequences Of The Election For Higher Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
“So, now what?” That is the question some people are asking when it comes to higher education after one of the longest and most contentious presidential elections in American history. The question comes up not only because of the results, but also because higher education is facing one of its most grave situations in its history due to, among other things, decreasing funding, exorbitant student debt and bad press.
So what can we expect in the months and years to come based on the platform and statements issued by the leaders of the upcoming administration? Here is a sample.
Extreme Poverty Affects Many College Students., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Extreme Poverty Affects Many College Students., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
One of the most painful realities of higher education in the 21st century – and one that gets very little attention – is the fact that some college students live in extreme poverty, oftentimes sleeping in libraries, cars, or temporarily with friends. Despite the extreme conditions under which they live, or in many cases because of them, these students still seek the education and training needed to be able to get a job and move out of poverty. Some colleges and universities are taking steps to help.
Study Abroad Scholarships A Good Use Of Taxes., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Study Abroad Scholarships A Good Use Of Taxes., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
There is little doubt that an international experience
is one of the most life-changing events for a college student.
That is what one hears from students when they
return, particularly from those who have never even
been abroad in their lives. Cost is usually mentioned
as the major barrier for Americans to have such an
experience. And this barrier can be particularly high for
minority and first-generation college students.
Yet, there is a little known but very successful federal
program known as The Benjamin A. Gilman International
Scholarship Program that serves to help U.S. college students
interested in going abroad.
Scandals Are Threatening Higher Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Scandals Are Threatening Higher Education., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
Among the unfortunate curses affecting the
image of higher education are the scandals taking
place with unrelenting regularity. Whether
they have to do with athletics, sexual assaults,
murders, cheating, hazing, or corruption, the
media are echoing those scandals, sometimes
in excruciating detail. In some cases, like the
“Sandusky affair” that made headlines for
months and tarnished the reputation of Penn
State University and its renowned football coach
Joe Paterno, these scandals have a lasting effect
on public opinion.
We in academia have always been worried
about the effect of these scandals on an issue
very important to colleges and universities …
Review: Posner, Richard A. Divergent Paths: The Academy And The Judiciary. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2016., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Review: Posner, Richard A. Divergent Paths: The Academy And The Judiciary. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2016., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
Legal education in the United States has been controversial in the last few years
due to its cost, decreasing enrollments, and doubts about its practical value. Until
the mid-nineteenth century legal training was essentially technical in nature. At
that time many lawyers—like Abraham Lincoln—could afford to study the law by
themselves without even attending law school and then, by passing the bar exam,
were admitted in the legal profession.
Review: The New Celebrity Scientists. Out Of The Lab And Into The Limelight. Fahy, Declan. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Review: The New Celebrity Scientists. Out Of The Lab And Into The Limelight. Fahy, Declan. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
In the last couple of decades, we have seen the widespread ascendancy of the
phenomenon of celebrity in society. Celebrities as a cultural manifestation are not
necessarily something new. We saw that notion in the twentieth century being
exploited by Hollywood through their “star system” as well as by sports teams
hungry to increase their revenues. Now that phenomenon has expanded into areas
that we would not have imagined decades ago, and one of them is in the field of
science. With the advent of social media and the relaxation of social views
regarding stereotypes, we have seen the rise …
Distance Education More Expensive Than Thought., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Distance Education More Expensive Than Thought., Aldemaro Romero Jr.
Publications and Research
Cost is one of the big issues facing higher education.
Diminishing government funding has spiraled
the expense of attending public colleges and
universities, which, in turn, has increased the debt
burden on students to more than a trillion dollars.
Facing this issue has become a national concern
for many politicians. State legislators and governors,
as well as executives of some for-profit
education companies, have been pushing distance
education (mostly in the form of on-line courses)
as the solution.
Apps In Higher Education: Criteria And Evaluation, Rebecca Arzola, Stefanie Havelka
Apps In Higher Education: Criteria And Evaluation, Rebecca Arzola, Stefanie Havelka
Publications and Research
In this article, the authors will consider different evaluation methods for mobile applications. A closer look is taken at app criteria and benchmarks by librarians, by topic, accessibility, and rubrics.