On Campus Blog

Early to rise, early to learn: Colleges offer 6 a.m. classes For early risers and those with busy schedules, 6 a.m. college classes have become a more-common option. (The Miami Herald via University Business) Despite more college grads, U.S. workforce needs even more The number of adult Americans who have earned college degrees has been increasing, but…
Just in from the Minnesota Daily: Graduate assistants at the University of Minnesota voted against forming a union 1,857 to 1,142, according to results released by the Bureau of Mediation Services Monday. Read the (short) article here. Update: Those initial numbers are right. In last week’s voting, 62 percent of those who cast ballots rejected…
University of Minnesota graduate assistants finishing unionization vote
University of Minnesota graduate assistants are wrapping up week-long voting on whether to unionize. The students will finish casting their votes today Friday (today), and the results could come as soon as Monday. Union supporters say they want a voice in decisions over pay and working conditions, which they say are uneven across departments — and…
Rosenstone: MnSCU will survey MN industry needs this spring
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system chancellor Steven Rosenstone has announced the start of the statewide jobs-skills survey he has talked about in weeks past. MnSCU, along with the state Chamber of Commerce and Minnesota Department of Employment, is  performing a joint “Workforce Assessment” to analyze the “state’s skills gap.” (I’ve posted on some…
As you may know, MnSCU has been dinged by legislators and students for its transfer rate. It states that its success rate (depending on how you define it) is over 90 percent (though some students think that estimate is a bit high). A recent survey of students has also shown that many who have had…
What university did the MN New York Times student choose?
In December I posted that Minnetonka High School senior Abigail Hansen was contributing to a New York Times series of essays by students going through the college selection process. Hansen has apparently chosen the University of Minnesota — and defends her choice here: A few weeks ago, I was engaged in the expected and obligatory…
5 from Southern Miss pep band disciplined  Southern Mississippi has revoked the scholarships of five members of its pep band who took part in the heckling of a Kansas State basketball player from Puerto Rico at last Thursday’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament game. (Associated Press via University Business) Just because it doesn’t feel productive You might spend a lot…
The state Senate's higher-ed omnibus bill
The Senate’s higher-education omnibus bill (or “delete-everything amendment”) just came out. So far, no committee meetings are planned past Wednesday. Here’s the text, which I got from the Senate Web site: KEY: stricken = old language to be removed underscored = new language to be added scs1573a-2 1.1Senator ……………….. moves to amend S.F. No. 1573…