In the past week, the Sacramento Bee published two pieces about the UC online education pilot program. (1) “UC professors raise doubts about online degree plan”; and (2) Editorial: “Online education? Beware of glitches” (1) UC professors raise doubts about online degree plan lrosenhall@sacbee.com Published Tuesday, Jul. 27, 2010 The University of California’s interest in offering an online degree is opening a new chapter in the debate over online education. Many professors question whether the state’s premier university system should tread so deeply into cyberspace, where other prestigious universities have failed – and where some less selective colleges have thrived, sometimes with programs of questionable quality. The professors are concerned that a virtual UC will waste limited resources, compromise the [...]
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The following article was published in The Daily Cal, UC Berkeley’s student newspaper. By Alisha Azevedo Contributing Writer Monday, July 26, 2010 Category: News > University > Academics and Administration As the University of California tries to absorb massive cuts in state funding, a recent UC report shows that without addressing the many financial challenges graduate students face, the academic quality of the entire UC system could slowly erode. The report, as well as a recent survey of UC Berkeley graduate students, found many concerns about graduate students’ level of compensation, working conditions, child services and affordable housing. These concerns and possible solutions will be addressed when Steven Beckwith, UC vice president for research and graduate studies, presents the Biennial [...]
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The Two Big University Lies: Why the University of California Wants to Promote Virtual Slums by Bob Samuels, UC-AFT President Published on Huffingtonpost, July 20, 2010 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-samuels/the-two-big-university-li_b_652789.html) In discussing the fiscal problems of the University of California with the Chronicle of Higher Education, President Mark Yudof argued that driving the budgetary problems for the university is the high cost of instructional salaries. According to this common argument, many costs of universities can be reduced, but the high salaries of tenured faculty cannot be lowered, and so the only solution is to find a less expensive way of delivering courses. In the case of the UC system, the proposed solution is to turn to distance education. Unfortunately, the entire UC strategy [...]
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The following call to action was recently issued by the California organizing committee formed at the Second Conference Against Privatization in Los Angeles last April. October 7th Day of Action and October 23-24th Mobilizing Conference In Defense of Public Education and Public Services The historic actions, protests and strikes of last Fall and Spring showed our state and the nation that students, teachers, staff, and our communities are determined to fight against the cuts, layoffs, fee hikes, and the shrinking access to public education and services. However, our fight is far from over. On October 7th, supporters of public education plan to unite and demand accessible, affordable and quality education for all. Public higher-education is an engine of economic growth [...]
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On UC’s Risky Venture Into Online Education Mortarboards without the bricks Sunday, July 18, 2010 Christopher Edley, dean of UC Berkeley School of Law, say… A handful of administrators at the University of California are spearheading an effort to create an ambitious online educational program for undergraduates. The idea is that UC could become the first top-tier American university to offer a bachelor’s degree over the Internet. It’s a thought-provoking, fascinating and innovative concept. It’s also a highly risky experiment. Online education has a place – even in the university system. For students, it’s impossible to beat the convenience and the accessibility of online learning. For workers, it can be a great way to expand their knowledge base without having [...]
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LA Times: Is UC regent’s vision for higher education clouded by his investments? Richard C. Blum’s ownership of about $700 million in stock of two firms that run for-profit schools raises the question of whether his holdings are consistent with his role as a UC regent. Michael Hiltzik July 14, 2010 Conflicts of interest almost always involve money, but sometimes they raise more questions about the subjects’ perspective than about their wallets. Consider the large investments University of California Regent Richard C. Blum has made in two for-profit higher education companies, Career Education Corp. and ITT Educational Services Inc. Blum’s San Francisco investment firm is the largest shareholder in both firms, owning nearly 20% of Career Education and more than [...]
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