What the College Rankings Won't Tell You

Congratulations to Kennesaw State University, the only college in Georgia to be given an "A" ranking according to WhatWillTheyLearn.com standards.

/PRNewswire/ -- Responding to the widespread dissatisfaction with traditional college rankings and the growing demand for universities to refocus on undergraduate education and value, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni unveiled today its 2011 college evaluations on WhatWillTheyLearn.com, a day before the release of U.S. News & World Report's college rankings.

The free website evaluates more than 700 colleges and universities based on their general education curricula: the core courses aimed at providing a strong foundation of knowledge. Mel Elfin, founding editor of USNWR's college rankings, praised the website as "an invaluable and unique additional resource for parents" and The Wall Street Journal called its focus on education "admirable."

The website assigns each institution a grade from "A" to "F" based on how many of the following seven core subjects it requires: Composition, Mathematics, Science, Economics, Foreign Language, Literature, and American Government or History. Only a handful get A's, and most do not require college-level courses in many of these critical subjects.

"The crisis in higher education is about more than money--it's about what we are paying for. And when it comes to ensuring graduates possess the basic skills and knowledge they need to succeed, universities are shortchanging students," said ACTA president Anne D. Neal, speaking at the National Press Club. "Since when is do-it-yourself an educational philosophy?"

Key Findings:
-- Colleges and universities have by and large abandoned a coherent
content-rich general education curriculum, thereby allowing students
to graduate with important gaps in their knowledge:
-- More than 60% of all institutions receive a "C" or worse for
requiring 3 or fewer subjects.
-- Nearly 40% don't require college-level mathematics.
-- Less than 5% of colleges and universities require economics.
-- Less than a third require intermediate-level foreign language, a
broad survey class in American government or history, or
literature.
-- Paying a lot doesn't necessarily get you a lot: Average tuition at the
more than 100 "F" schools is $28,200 (2009 figures). At the 16 "A"
schools, it's $13,200.
-- Public institutions are doing a relatively better job of ensuring
students graduate with some of the basic skills and knowledge they
need than private institutions: More than half (52%) of all privates
receive a "D" or an "F" for requiring 2 or fewer subjects, while a
little under half (44%) of all publics receive a "B" or better for
requiring 4 or more subjects.


The American Council of Trustees and Alumni is an independent non-profit dedicated to academic freedom, academic excellence, and accountability. Since its founding in 1995, ACTA has counseled boards, educated the public and published reports about such issues as good governance, historical literacy, core curricula, the free exchange of ideas, and accreditation in higher education. For further information, visit www.goacta.org or www.WhatWillTheyLearn.com.

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New Online Master's Degree to Benefit Education

A new online master’s degree in teaching at the University of West Georgia will be available to students who wish to pursue a new career in math and science education.

Beginning in January 2009, the degree will be offered by UWG, Columbus State University and Kennesaw State University. Faculty from all three institutions, as well as faculty from Georgia Southern University and Valdosta State University, will teach the courses for the 39-semester hour program.

Georgia Southern and Valdosta State also will offer the degree in 2010. The institutions are able to offer the degree completely online by sharing faculty expertise and resources.

The degree is targeted to students with a bachelor’s degree in math and science or a related field and those who are already teaching and wish a certification in math or one of the sciences.

The online Master of Arts in teaching or MAT will offer degree seekers teacher certification in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics and the earth/space sciences. Dr. Kim Metcalf, UWG Dean of the College of Education, said the program will appeal to a wide audience.

“UWG is committed to serving a broad community of learners through this program,” said Metcalf. “We believe this degree offers an opportunity to increase the number of mathematics and science teachers in Georgia while preparing them in a quality program.”

Applications for the MAT degree will be available on the Georgia ONmyLINE website, www.georgiaonmyline.org. Applicants will be asked to select a school as their home institution and that university will award the degree. The site offers easy access to online and distance-education offerings throughout the University System of Georgia.

Educators hope to boost the number and quality of Georgia’s math and science teachers while at the same time allow Georgians to save gas and time by avoiding the commute to campus.

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Summer Sizzling at Siegel Institute at KSU

The Siegel Institute at KSU has a sizzling line-up of seminars & events for you, your family, friends & associates that will make a difference in your life this summer!

JUNE 12: Journey to the Center of You Seminar
Want to move from a “career” to a “calling”? Discover universal principles that will unlock all that you are meant to be. 6:00 PM light refreshments, 6:30 – 9:00 PM seminar. $35 general admission; discount for KSU faculty, staff and students. More info: http://www.siegelinstitute.org/docs/Journey.flier.pdf
Register: https://epay.kennesaw.edu/C20923_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=13&CATID=247

JUNE 19-20: Professional Development Two-Day Seminar – Challenges of Ethics in the Work Place: Ethical Decision-Making
Dr. Lois Robley, Professor of Ethics, brings you this workshop as an opportunity to stretch your knowledge about the ethical challenges, dilemmas, and ethical decisions that leaders face, including: factors that influence sound judgments and that interfere with decision-making, logical fallacies, case studies, and much more. This two-day seminar includes IACET Continuing Education credits, breakfast, lunch, and materials. For complete information, the two-day agenda, and fees: http://www.siegelinstitute.org/Two-Day%20Seminars.php
Register: https://epay.kennesaw.edu/C20923_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=13&CATID=259

JULY 14: “Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is” by Pat Kern, Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. This is a free workshop to help you take charge and secure your financial future while you are busy achieving your goals. Discuss three steps to financial freedom; explore solutions for every stage of your life; get information about how to put your money where your heart is, and create a plan that’s right for you. Siegel Institute Learning Center, 6:30 – 8:00 PM. http://www.seigelinstitute.org

AUGUST 12: “Navigating Party Politics” – A non-partisan event not to be missed before the upcoming national elections. Speakers will include The White House Project President Marie Wilson, leaders of Georgia and other southeastern U.S. parties, and more. The event will highlight how people overcome obstacles to move into leadership roles in politics and other fields. KSU Center, Room 400. Watch our website for updates on speakers, details, and tickets. www.siegelinstitute.org.

AUGUST 27-28: Professional Development Two-Day Seminar – Developing and Building an Ethical Culture
Dr. Tom Creely, Assistant Professor of Leadership, brings you this workshop as an opportunity to stretch your critical thinking skills about the ethical challenges you face as you lead your organization, including: an understanding of culture with a focus on diverse cultural influences; developing a plan for implementing an ethical culture in your organization, and much more. This two-day seminar includes IACET Continuing Education credits, breakfast, lunch, and materials.
For complete information, two-day agenda, and fees: http://www.siegelinstitute.org/Two-Day%20Seminars.php
Register: https://epay.kennesaw.edu/C20923_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=13&CATID=260

Give us a call for more information about KSU discounts, or for assistance with registration!

THE SIEGEL INSTITUTE TEAM

We also are offering an online 3-Week Module in Ethical Leadership with varying start dates, as well as a 9-week course for certification in Ethical Leadership Professional Development which will begin September 15, 2008. Visit www.siegelinstitute.org for fees and registration information.