MLK Day of Service

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! (A Day on, Not a Day Off)

I am too excited about today and tomorrow. As I stated in prior postings, I have always been excited about the presidential elections and this year is no exception.

Despite my excitement, I never bring my political views into the classroom. I strive to state both sides of controversial issues and I gave updates from both the republican and democratic national conventions.

Today, I am happy about the event tomorrow, yet unhappy about lack of MLK Day of Service activities in my area. I would have to travel 50+ miles to the nearest service activity. I would create one, but I am not quite sure how my community would respond to a MLK Day of Service. We are one of the black families in the community.

However, today I plan to prepare for this week's classes. What did you do for MLK day?

Millennial Professor

I Can See You on My iPhone Student Tracking Program!!!

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, article titled, "Stanford U. Unveiled iPhone Application That Will Soon Let Students Locate Each Other". A couple of Stanford University students created an iPhone program that will enable students to find each other on a GPS-like network (with the students' permission). In the future, I wonder will professors be able track our truant students down via iphone when they choose not to come to class. Interesting concept!

Thought provoking questions:

a) Will this program increase the number of reported student stalkings of each other on college campuses?

b) Since most students are engrossed in facebook and myspace, will these GPS-like programs result in more student to student, face-to-face contact?

c) Will more student choose to purchase iPhones?

Why I Became a Professor...From a Former Student Affairs Practioner's Perspective

Why did I become a professor? Well, it has been a long (from a millennial's point of view) journey that just became longer (with the tenure track). 

Timeline

• May 2003 - Graduated with a Master of Arts Degree. Served as a graduate assistant in the Office of Student Affairs.
• May 2003 -  Started my first full-time job as a Coordinator of Multicultural and International Student Services.
• May 2004 - Gained admission to a higher education doctoral program (cohort-based).
• August 2006 - Started serving as a full-time adjunct teaching six undergraduate-based classes at a community college and four-year institution in Texas. Began working on my dissertation.
  
• January 2007 - Gained a fellowship in my doctoral program, taught as an adjunct for two community colleges, and continued working on my dissertation.
• July 2007 - Defended the dissertation.
  
• September 2007 - Started the tenure track and a four:four teaching load.
• December 2007 -  Graduated with my doctorate degree.
  
• January 2009 - Projects galore! Can I really survive on eight committees?

I made the switch, because I have some wonderful mentors in student affairs and academia that always push me to my limit. Since I was an undergraduate, I have wanted to become a chief university officer. This dream was derailed when some of my close mentors told me that I could not achieve my dream unless I became a professor. 

So, academia became my new dream and mindset. Instead of fund raising for student affairs programs and planning events, I have to search for grants, publish scholarly papers, present at conferences, serve on committees, and (of course) teach wonderful undergraduates. I love my job. I would not change what I have been blessed to do for ANYTHING.I love it when the undergraduates experience that "a ha" moment when they truly get a concept. I adore the exhilaration that I feel when I receive letter of acceptance for a faculty institute or grant. Most of all, I enjoy the feeling of humility when I receive a rejection letter for a journal or a "revise and resubmit" offer from another journal. This job is challenging, but I would not trade it for the world.

UT Austin is Pushing for Change in Texas' Top Ten Percent Law

It seems like things are changing around Texas. Our wonderful state is known for giving the top 10 percent of high school seniors automatic entry into almost any public higher education institutions in Texas. This basically means that these seniors can attend one of the top public institutions in Texas, the University of Texas at Austin.

This admission perk seems to be a burden for the UT Austin, because many high school seniors are choosing to attend this institution. In fact, according to Education Week, "81 percent of the Texas freshmen entering the university this fall gained admission through the so-called "top 10 percent rule."

As a result, The University of Texas at Austin's President wants to change the law that guarantees automatic entry to students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class.

Read more about this potential law change here.... UT Pushing to Modify Top 10 Percent Rule.

Any food for thought?

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?