Return vs. Investment = The Ivy League Experience

During August, I read an article titled, "Ivy Leaguers' Big Edge: Starting Pay ". This article was eye opening, because I operate under the belief that it does not matter where you attended school (as long as you obtain the degree). As a child of a single parent, I knew that my parents could not afford SAT/ACT prep or afford private school tuition. Therefore, I sought scholarships at public schools.

One of the most surprising statistics was, "According to the survey, graduates of Dartmouth College, an Ivy League college, earn the highest median salary -- $134,000." I graduated from a public, mid-sized higher education institution in Texas with under $2,000 in student loans (thanks to scholarships). Yes, I think that an Ivy League education is wonderful, but I do not think the debt is worth it. Here's the clincher, I worked with a wealth of people who received the Ivy League experience and have the Ivy League experience debt. The most interesting aspect of this clincher is...we earn the same salary and I have less student loan debt. 

Is an Ivy League education worth the debt?

Does Graduate School Prepare Millennial Professors for the Professional Environment?

I really enjoyed my break. I had a chance to visit family, to shop, to wrap gifts, to CLEAN MY HOUSE, and to spend time with my husband. In addition, I temporarily gave up my "24 hour professor syndrome" for three entire weeks. However, on new year's night, I responded to e-mail in my university inbox and I completed a information security training during the celebratory ball descent. 

The interesting aspect of my eventful new year's night is...I celebrated the new year in a completely different way BEFORE graduate school and becoming a professor. Today, I operate under the mantra of professionalism at all times. I never know when I will come in contact with a student at the local Chili's restaurant, Kroger, or at Wal-Mart. 

It is amazing how graduate school acculturates future professors for their teaching job. However, I was a student services practitioner before I joined the tenure track and I gained a wealth of experience in professionalism with undergraduate students.

Do you think that professors should have professional (or more relaxed) relationships with students? Does graduate school prepare millennial professors for the professional environment?

Are High School Students in Rural Environments Left Behind in the College Admissions Process?

In my spare time, I operate "Academic Workshops: The College Prep Boot Camp" with my husband. Through this boot camp, we prepare college students to take the SAT/ACT, inform them about the college admissions process, and navigate through the financial aid process. We focus on rural communities in Texas.

Many of these students will attend two year or four year colleges/universities. Most of these students indicated that their high school counselors do not help them with the college application or admission processes. In addition, many of these students are first-generation college students who feel that they cannot attend college because of tuition costs.


High school students who live in the urban/suburban environments have access to Go Centers or city-based services. Students who attend high school in rural environments do not usually have access to these services.

What does your state do to reach these students?

The 2009 Outlook -Tenure Track Goals...

I am too excited about this new year! It seems that 2009 is going to be one of the BEST years. I am finished with my doctorate, my family is settled in our community, and I am ready to write. Here are my goals:

a. To maintain work-related interpersonal relationships.

b. To write a scholarly article every two months.

c. To keep the blog updated at least two times every week.

d. To read at least two scholarly articles a week.

e. To keep an organized and updated calendar.

     This year's goals are smaller when compared to last year's goals. I shortened this year's goals to start on a focused path towards tenure. Last year, I gained wonderful mentors that I need to stay in contact with this year. In addition, I will try to attend as many academic conferences as I possibly can. Networking and organization are the keys to a successful 2009!

Help for Low Income Millennial College Students

        Bill and Melinda Gates are focused on higher education! According to the November 21st edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Gates Foundation plans to allocate approximately three billion dollars over the next five years to increase the number of young college graduates who are from low-income families. The Chronicle predicts if the program is successful, an additional 250,000 young people will earn college degrees by age 26. At the beginning, this program will target community colleges because of their low tuition cost and open admission criteria.

Read more about this plan:

Gates Grants Aim to Help Low-Income Students Finish College

Bill Gates To Give Low-Income Students $70 Million In Grants

Busy, Yet Fulfilled...

Readers,

The past few weeks have been busy, yet very fulfilling. Here are some recent accomplishments that I am very proud of.


Accomplishment List (I have many updates!)


1. Finals started today!

2. Recently, I was awarded a faculty research grant from my university to extend my research on African American Undergraduate College Students and HBCUs.

3. I found out that my dissertation was selected as "Dissertation of the Year" by a state association.

4. Our conference proposal was accepted by the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement, which will be held in Baton Rouge.

5. I will present with an undergraduate student at the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference in January.

6. I attended the National Communication Conference in San Diego for the first time!

7. Distributed Christmas gifts to department colleagues and the wonderful women on the second floor of our office building.


I need to:

1. Update my vita and portfolio.

2. Submit another conference proposal that is due by Dec. 31st.

3. Contact participants in the grant-funded study.

4. Write a couple of papers in the next few weeks.

5. Administer three finals.

6. Contact colleagues from the National Communication Conference.

7. Send Christmas cards to mentors.

8. Wrap my family members' presents!

9. Update the TACUSPA blog.

Is there anything else that I should apply/submit a proposal for? Upcoming Grants? Fellowships? Conference Proposals? Let me know!

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor

*By the way, I absolutely LOVE the "Knock Knock"/"Ding Dong" chain (i.e. - to do list picture). Instead of using a legal pad (which I used for the past 15 years - former high school debater), I use items from the "Knock Knock"/"Ding Dong" chain. This chain is usually available at TJMaxx or Office Max.