The Kept-Up Academic Librarian

Penn State Plans Its Strategy For Rebounding From A Scandal

After months of reacting to one devastating development after another in the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal, university trustees Sunday charted a proactive strategy to rebuild faith in the campus. The approach, outlined on the final day of the board's annual retreat, includes implementing several recommendations offered last month in an internal report on the university's handling of the crisis, as well as launching a media campaign to emphasize Penn State's achievements. Read more at:
http://articles.philly.com/2012-08-28/news/33426040_1_centre-county-court-jury-jerry-sandusky-child-graham-b-spanier

How Will Data Misrepresentation Scandal Hurt Emory

Emory University's reputation as one of the nation's most respected institutions has been jeopardized after its disclosure that the school misrepresented information used for college rankings, education specialists say. The scent of scandal has descended on an institution that is known for its integrity and is often mentioned alongside Atlanta pillars such as Coca-Cola. But that distinction may be damaged after President James Wagner disclosed last week that Emory had for more than a decade intentionally misrepresented test data and other information about its students to publications that rank colleges. Read more at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/will-data-deception-damage-1502140.html

Turning Away Prospective Students At The Country Club Of Higher Education

The 64-year-old president of High Point University, a small private liberal arts college 90 minutes north of Charlotte, N.C., is upset that open house is occurring and—because of the sheer number of requests—the school can’t accommodate all of the parents and students who want to tour his beautiful campus. The intense interest in HPU results from the transformation that’s taken place since Qubein (pronounced coo-bane) became president of the university in 2005. Since then, the once-quiet Methodist college in the middle of High Point, N.C., a furniture industry-focused town, has become a gleaming, bustling institution of higher education that has to turn students away. “Some private universities today are struggling, but we’re thriving,” Qubein says. And people are taking notice. Read more at:
http://www.success.com/articles/1908---making-the-grade

On The Defensive Colleges Move To Show They Are Worth The Investment

Weak job-placement numbers for graduates and heavy student debt loads have put colleges and universities on the defensive. Enter the chief marketing officer to show families and state governments that a degree is worth the investment and funding. [NOTE- video segment]. Find it at:
http://live.wsj.com/video/making-the-case-for-a-college-degree/452EB807-1514-4C00-A406-709BEB6566EE.html#!452EB807-1514-4C00-A406-709BEB6566EE

To Be More Competitive Colleges Are Hiring Chief Marketing Officers

Schools are getting the message about messaging. Elite colleges and universities are still attracting plenty of applicants, but weak job-placement numbers for graduates and heavy student debt loads have put schools on the defensive, forcing them to prove to families and state governments that a degree is worth the investment. Enter the chief marketing officer. A relatively new academic position, these marketers manage schools' identities and messaging, a role covering everything from admissions brochures and Twitter feeds to brand management. Read more at:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10000872396390444233104577591171686709792-lMyQjAxMTAyMDEwNjAxODY3Wj.html?mod=wsj_valetleft_email

Sullivan Speaks Out On The Tumult At University Of Virginia

 In an exclusive interview with The Washington Post, University of Virginia President Teresa A. Sullivan speaks out about her ousting by the university’s Board of Visitors in June, the tumult that followed and her eventual reinstatement. Read more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/teresa-sullivan-none-of-us-wants-to-head-into-a-difficult-time/2012/08/14/gJQAohyAwX_video.html

Salary Increases For Administrators Could Be Tied To Rising Tuition

The past decade for the state’s higher education has seen three trends: cuts to state funding, rising tuition, and growing salaries. State higher education officials say linking salary and benefits costs to rising tuition is not so simple. There are a number of factors that affect rising tuition costs, they said, most notably the state’s minimal contribution to public higher education. New Hampshire is last in the country for state funding of higher education. Still, the state’s university system employs more than 100 people earning more than $150,000 a year, and many of those are administrative positions. Read more at:
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/971374-196/nh-higher-ed-salaries-rose-in-decade.html

Misleading Media Message Creates Public Relations Challenge For Texas A&M

A shooting that left three dead in College Station on Monday did not occur on the campus of Texas A&M University or involve members of the A&M community. Yet in headlines around the country, it is being referred to as the "Texas A&M shooting." With new students scheduled to move into A&M's residence halls on Sunday, this has left the university with a bit of a public relations problem that officials are scrambling to rectify. Read more at:
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/m-trying-distance-itself-shooting-incident/

In The Case Of University Of Virginia Shared Governance Did Work

Any lingering doubts about the complexities of overseeing a major university were likely dispelled by the recent unpleasantness in Charlottesville, as some are calling this summer's leadership crisis at the University of Virginia. Whatever reconnaissance that may have been undertaken, the board did not account for the strength of higher education's tradition of shared governance — nor all the constituencies a university president now serves. At U.Va., those constituencies — led by an outraged faculty but also including alumni, donors and even state lawmakers — had Teresa Sullivan's back. Read more at:
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/local-education/2012/aug/12/tdmet01-in-higher-education-shared-governance-prev-ar-2124888/

Temple's New President Comes From Indiana University

By unanimous vote, Neil D. Theobald, a top administrator at Indiana University, was appointed the 10th president of Temple University on Tuesday, following meetings with staff, faculty, and students at which he received positive reviews."It is great to be an Owl," Theobald told the board of trustees, staff, and reporters shortly after the vote. Theobald told various campus groups that philanthropy, financial aid, and Temple's high-profile move into the Big East Conference will top his agenda in the first year. Read more at:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120808_Neil_D__Theobald_is_named_Temple_s_new_president.html