The Kept-Up Academic Librarian

Is The California Higher Ed Dream Over

California's higher education system, created to offer the opportunity for advancement to any resident, rich or poor, has seen hard times before. But the deep cuts imposed by the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this year are raising the question of whether the University of California, the California State University system and the nation's largest community college network can maintain their reputations for quality, or whether a public higher educational system that has been lauded as the world's finest may be in serious decline. "This notion of the California dream, the idea that every adult could go to college, we've been hacking away at that during every recession for the past 25 years, and this year may well be it," said Patrick M. Callan, president of the San Jose-based National Center for Public Policy and Education. "We're coming out of this really tarnished." Read more at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-college-cuts31-2009jul31,0,6428362.story

No More Undies Run For UCLA Students

Three times a year, UCLA's unofficial Undie Run brings out thousands of skivvy-clad students looking to unwind -- and then some -- from finals week by meeting at midnight to run. But on Tuesday, UCLA administrators informed student leaders that the thrice-annual gathering would no longer be allowed on campus. They cited reports of injuries, fights and property damage. A "Save Undie Run" Facebook page quickly attracted dozens of members. Read more at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-undie-run31-2009jul31,0,2814602.story

Like A Library With More Textbooks And Longer Loans

Saying they offer an alternative to the textbook industry's bloated prices, a growing number of companies are renting new and used titles at reduced prices. Among them are Chegg, BookRenter and the Follett Higher Education Group, which will test drive a rental service at campus bookstores this fall. They join a number of colleges that have already started their own on-campus programs. The concept is essentially to pay to check out textbooks as if they're out of a library -- only there are more copies and titles, and they can be used for longer periods of time. Read more at:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/31/textbooks

Kindles Could Save IHEs Paper

In May, Amazon introduced the electronic book reader Kindle DX, touted as a new way to read textbooks, newspapers and other large documents. This fall, six colleges and universities will test the technology in a pilot, which includes making the textbooks for certain courses available online. The Kindle DX (for “deluxe”) is searchable and portable, a plus for students accustomed to toting heavy backpacks. But there is another reason that some institutions jumped at the chance to try it out: the technology could substantially reduce their use of paper. Read more at:
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/universities-turn-to-kindle-sometimes-to-save-paper/?em

Canadian IHE Presidents Talk About Canadian Higher Education

Perhaps we are not putting too many words into the mouths of the presidents of Canada’s largest universities when we say something is nagging at them. A sense that things have become skewed in Canada’s higher education system, and more broadly in the way Canada’s economy and society face an uncertain future. How else to explain the decision by these five top university presidents to approach Maclean’s for an interview? And how else to explain that—after their aides and helpers took care to assure us that the five presidents had “no specific ask” when they offered to talk—they showed up with an agenda for major change in their own institutions and in Canadian society at large? Read more at:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/28/our-universities-can-be-smarter/

Dictionary Helps To Translate Student Slang

If you think an awkward turtle is an uncomfortable reptile, then you're probably not very obama. For reals. Or for those didiots (stupid people) who don't follow today's slang: If you don't know to put your hands together, wiggle your thumbs and say "awkward turtle" when a moment becomes cringe-worthy, then you're probably not very cool. Really. Fortunately, UCLA's latest slang dictionary comes out today, and a close study of the book can turn even the biggest newbie into a total G (impressive person). Read more at;
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-07-28-slang-ucla_N.htm?csp=34

Athletics Administrators Forced To Slash Program Budgets

The signs are there, as plain as a Penn State helmet. Athletic departments are bleeding money. Budgets are being slashed. Coaches are going on furlough. Sports are being eliminated. After decades of excess, is the financial meltdown about to bring nuclear winter to college sports? As they are forced to reduce their budgets, athletics administrators are left to wonder what might happen if the economy doesn't turn around and schools don't change their free-spending ways. Read more at:
http://athleticbusiness.com/articles/lexisnexis.aspx?lnarticleid=1013203781&lntopicid=136030023

Boston's High School Grads Are Big On Local IHEs

Boston public high school graduates are attending college at a record rate, according to a report being released today, but young women are far outpacing their male counterparts, raising concerns among education officials about a widening achievement gap. Rising college attendance follows efforts by state policy makers and local schools to emphasize to students that success in key sectors of Massachusetts’ economy, including healthcare, financial services, and technology, require a more highly trained workforce. Read more at:
http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2009/07/28/college_entrance_rates_rise_among_hub_graduates/

Students Must Pass Drinking Habits Test Before They Can Register

Incoming freshmen at Rowan University already are facing their first test -- an online program that addresses drinking habits. Some 1,600 first-year students will be required to pass the Alcohol-Wise exercise in order to register for classes when school begins. The Alcohol-Wise program also is meant to teach students about legal and safety concerns, and to help students cope with a range of related issues. Read more at:
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20090728/NEWS01/907280353/1006/news01/Colleges-address-drinking

Court Overturns Blackboard's Patent Ruling

Blackboard's patent on learning management system technologies has been overturned by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The court ruled Monday in favor of Desire2Learn and invalidated some claims in patent No. 6,988,138, also known as the "Alcorn patent" or the "138 patent." But the saga will continue. The ruling may bring to end one portion of a years-long dispute between Blackboard and Desire2learn, one whose implications and contentiousness have reached out well beyond the courtroom. Read more at:
http://campustechnology.com/articles/2009/07/27/appellate-court-overturns-blackboard-patent-blackboard-to-press-on.aspx