Friday, February 27, 2009

Peer Writing Positions--

Students speak highly of this job opportunity--

Writing Advisor Positions at the Writing Center

The Peer Writing Advisor positions are open to students with at least a 3.3 G.P.A. who will be enrolled at the University of Puget Sound during the 2009-10 school year. Preference will be given to students who will be juniors and seniors during the next academic year. The application deadline is March 6th, 2009. For more information and application instructions, check out the following page: http://www.ups.edu/x14337.xml

Puget Sound blogdom expands

Did you think PG had the only blog at Puget Sound? Perish the thought. You'll find to the right a new set of links from our colleagues around the campus, including IPE, Philosophy, and English. More to browse!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The humanities in tough times

Also from the NYT:

...in this new era of lengthening unemployment lines and shrinking university endowments, questions about the importance of the humanities in a complex and technologically demanding world have taken on new urgency. Previous economic downturns have often led to decreased enrollment in the disciplines loosely grouped under the term "humanities" — which generally include languages, literature, the arts, history, cultural studies, philosophy and religion. Many in the field worry that in this current crisis those areas will be hit hardest...

...The study of the humanities evolved during the 20th century "to focus almost entirely on personal intellectual development," said Richard M. Freeland, the Massachusetts commissioner of higher education. "But what we haven’t paid a lot of attention to is how students can put those abilities effectively to use in the world. We’ve created a disjunction between the liberal arts and sciences and our role as citizens and professionals."

Read the whole piece here.

Bring back ROTC?

Hat tip to Kevin Billings '77 for pointing out this recent editorial in the NYT:

But rebuilding a connection between America’s military and its most selective colleges is about more than providing exceptional opportunities to exceptional young people. It is, ultimately, about our military’s relationship to its civilian leaders.

At Yale, which has supplied more than its share of senators and presidents, almost none of my former classmates or students ever noticed the absence of uniforms on campus. In a nation at war, this is a disgrace. But it also shows how dangerously out of touch the elites who shape our national policy have become with the men and women they send to war.

Read the whole thing here.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Peace Corps here--TOMORROW

Here’s your chance to get the latest updates on the Peace Corps, on all available Peace Corps assignments around the globe, and on how to become a more competitive applicant. Peace Corps service is the opportunity of a lifetime and a great way to get two years of international experience under your belt upon graduation. There are also opportunities to pursue a graduate degree during or after Peace Corps service. Erin Carlson, UPS 2004, Peace Corps recruiter and returned Peace Corps Volunteer, will be hosting these events. Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Peace Corps – voted by college graduates around the nation as one of the top five most desirable organizations to work for in 2007 * – is welcome to attend and ask questions. Please feel free to bring friends and family.

Information Session:
How to Make Yourself More Competitive for Peace Corps Service
Wednesday, Feb. 25
5 – 6 p.m.
University of Puget Sound
McIntyre Hall (Room 203)
1500 N. Warner St.
Tacoma, WA 98416

Information Table
Wednesday, Feb. 25
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
University of Puget Sound
Wheelock Student Center
1500 N. Warner St.
Tacoma, WA 98416

Look HERE to find out more information about upcoming events!

The Peace Corps needs Volunteers from a variety of backgrounds to fill assignments in education, agriculture, the environment, business, health, IT and community services. Come and learn how your skills can be put to use in the Peace Corps.

Are you ready to take the next step? Apply now at peacecorps.gov/application to begin your conversation with the Peace Corps. If you need any assistance with the application, or if you have any questions at all, you can call 800.424.8580 and ask to speak to a regional recruiter. Without exception, every regional recruiter in our office also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer and has firsthand knowledge of what it was like to go through the Peace Corps’ entire application, screening and selection process.

* Business Week - May 11, 2007

Contact: Erin Carlson





Erin Carlson
Regional Recruiter

RPCV Guinea, West Africa, 2005-2007

Peace Corps - Seattle Regional Office
1601 5th Ave., Suite 605
Seattle, WA 98101

direct phone 206.239.6606

office phone 206.553.5490

toll-free 1.800.424.8580, option 1

fax 206.553.2343

ecarlson@peacecorps.gov

It's the travel, not the time?

From Chronicle of Higher Education. I find this particularly interesting as Puget Sound is looking at ways to develop short travel programs:

The length of time students study overseas has no significant impact on whether they become globally engaged later in life, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, a conclusion that is sure to add fuel to the already fiery debate over the efficacy of increasingly popular short-term study-abroad programs.

The findings of the Study Abroad for Global Engagement project, presented here on Thursday at the annual conference of the Forum on Education Abroad, suggest that students who go overseas for a short period of time, four weeks or less, are just as likely as those who study abroad for several months or even a year to be globally engaged.

Read the whole thing here.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Erik Connell 07: Democracy Fellow at FairVote

You might recall Erik's post on his Peace Corps stint in Swaziland; now he's at FairVote. Congrats, Erik!

Saletic Scholarship: One grand

William G. Saletic Endowed Scholarship – Up to $1,000; deadline 3/14

http://www.icwashington.org/scholarships/2009-10_ICW_General_Application.pdf
William G. Saletic, an active board member of ICW until his death in 1999, was a graduate of Seattle University. He was grateful for the educational opportunities he had been given and strongly believed the private college option should be maintained and made available to any student who wanted such an opportunity. Upon his retirement in 1998, Mr. Saletic was President and Chief Executive Officer of Peter Pan Seafoods, a Seattle company where he had served for 22 years. Friends, family, and business associates established The Saletic Endowment to honor Mr. Saletic’s memory, particularly his interest in history and politics. Applicants for this award must be sophomores or juniors in good standing with a declared major in history or political studies at the time of application. Students with a GPA of 2.5 or above are encouraged to apply. The award is not renewable.

Required one-page essay topic: Why my special interest is in politics and/or history?

Friday, February 20, 2009

ACLU on campus


FYI: Professors Holland and Bristow (in religion and history, respectively), are hosting the following event with the goal of restarting a campus chapter of the ACLU. Click on the image for a larger size.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

All shall have prizes

From The New York Times (hat tip: Professor Weinberger):

A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, found that a third of students surveyed said that they expected B’s just for attending lectures, and 40 percent said they deserved a B for completing the required reading.

“I noticed an increased sense of entitlement in my students and wanted to discover what was causing it” said Ellen Greenberger, the lead author of the study, called “Self-Entitled College Students: Contributions of Personality, Parenting, and Motivational Factors,” which appeared last year in The Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

Professor Greenberger said that the sense of entitlement could be related to increased parental pressure, competition among peers and family members and a heightened sense of achievement anxiety.

Aaron M. Brower, the vice provost for teaching and learning at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, offered another theory.

“I think that it stems from their K-12 experiences,” Professor Brower said. “They have become ultra-efficient in test preparation. And this hyper-efficiency has led them to look for a magic formula to get high scores.”

James Hogge, associate dean of the Peabody School of Education at Vanderbilt University, said: “Students often confuse the level of effort with the quality of work. There is a mentality in students that ‘if I work hard, I deserve a high grade.’ “

In line with Dean Hogge’s observation are Professor Greenberger’s test results. Nearly two-thirds of the students surveyed said that if they explained to a professor that they were trying hard, that should be taken into account in their grade.

Jason Greenwood, a senior kinesiology major at the University of Maryland echoed that view.

“I think putting in a lot of effort should merit a high grade,” Mr. Greenwood said. “What else is there really than the effort that you put in?”

“If you put in all the effort you have and get a C, what is the point?” he added. “If someone goes to every class and reads every chapter in the book and does everything the teacher asks of them and more, then they should be getting an A like their effort deserves. If your maximum effort can only be average in a teacher’s mind, then something is wrong.”

Sarah Kinn, a junior English major at the University of Vermont, agreed, saying, “I feel that if I do all of the readings and attend class regularly that I should be able to achieve a grade of at least a B.”

Thoughts? read the whole article here.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

jumped the silent cars that slept at traffic lights

Monkey Cage has a post on the attempt to keep the American car industry afloat; their title "Panic in Detroit" triggered the nostalgia region in my brain. And thanks to YouTube, David Bowie finishes up this post. Tonight I'm going to party like it's 1973.

Intern(et) at Talking Points Memo

Thanks to Professor Sousa for the tip:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/jobs.php

TPM interns are vital to our operation and have a hand in everything we do. They work alongside our reporters to write and break stories, help our editors keep a finger on the pulse of the news day, and produce all kinds of digital media from youtube clips to mash-up photographs. Some of our interns have gone on to jobs here at TPM, others have moved on to jobs in new and old media alike, working for Think Progress, The Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, The New York Sun, The Washington Post and more.

To learn more about what we do at TPM and what we've accomplished in the last year, see these news reports on TPM from 2007.

Because each intern is encouraged to work in multiple parts of our operation, it's important that applicants have a basic understanding of new media technologies (blogging, youtube, etc.) and a desire and ability to learn quickly.
Video Intern

We are looking for one intern who is video specific. This person should have a working knowledge of Final Cut, and be ready and excited to dive into the world of TPMtv.
Publishing Intern

We're putting out a special call for a publishing intern. We're looking specifically for someone with some nice design and tech skills to work with us creating special projects and helping us out with site development. Ideally this candidate will be an html and css ninja, have some Photoshop and Flash chops and maybe have dabbled in javascript or php and/or the Movable Type publishing platform.

To apply for any of our internships, send an email to talk at talkingpointsmemo.com with a cover letter, resume and two references. If you're interested in video or publishing, please specify that in your cover letter. Include in the email subject "TPM Video Internship," "TPM Publishing Internship" or "TPM Internship" for all non-video/publishing interns. All internships are unpaid and based in TPM's New York City office.
Winter 2008/09 Internship

Our Winter Internship runs from December Through February. We will be accepting four or five full time interns. Part-time interns will not be considered.

Applications are due November 7th at noon.

Rolling Internships (Intern now!)

At any given time, it is always possible that we could use a smart person in the office to replace a lost intern or help us manage the ever-growing mountain of muck and news. If you're available to come in sooner than the beginning of the next internship cycle begins, let us know.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Career Fair 2/18

Stay on top of the market or...!

Now, more than ever, it is important for the campus community to support students as they navigate an uncertain job market. When students look to you for career advice and encouragement, please also refer them to CES resources. Here are other important ways you can support students’ career success:

Encourage students to attend the Career Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 4 to 7 p.m. in WSC Marshall Hall. http://www.ups.edu/x12576.xml

Students from all classes and majors can benefit from meeting employers face-to-face. It’s never too early for students to begin gaining exposure to career fields and practice interacting with professionals. The Career Fair is an easy way for them to get that experience. Full-time, part-time, and summer job and internship opportunities are available.

An easy way to stay knowledgeable about the career resources available to students is to subscribe to the student e-newsletter CES Career Connections (C3). C3 is a weekly e-reminder of upcoming events, tools, resources, and services supporting students’ career development. To see the text of the most recent message “Break a leg!” featuring job preparation tips with an Academy Awards theme, visit http://www.ups.edu/x32265.xml. You can subscribe at
https://mailweb.ups.edu/mailman/listinfo/cescareerconnections

· CES has added 17 Job Search Clinics this spring to give students an edge in today’s job market http://www.ups.edu/x32164.xml. Many clinics are only 30 minutes long, and others allow students to drop-in at their convenience. And of course, students can always schedule an appointment to meet with a career advisor to devise a personalized strategy for their career development or job search.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Our county's namesake is unloved


From Monkey Cage, the most and least admired presidents throughout history. How about Lincoln County instead of Pierce?

Professor Share gets choreographed


Check this out--a piece by Professor Share's band, The Downtown Mountain Boys, was choreographed for ballet students in Sacramento. Fame spreads far and wide--

Afro Cuban All Stars!

Via Professor Share:

Hi Professor!

I hope you are doing well! I work downtown at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts and we have a show coming up next week that might be of interest for you as a fellow Latin American enthusiast. I know that you are teaching a US-Latin American Policy course this semester, and I thought that some students might also be interested. Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars are coming to the Pantages Theater on Tuesday, February 17 at 7:30. Normally tickets run from $32 - $56 (a bit pricey for students!) but we are working with the Tacoma’s Emergency Food Network on a promotion so that if patrons bring one non-perishable food item, the ticket price drops to $15 a ticket per donation.

I’m not sure what your policy is about sharing event outside of UPS with students, but this is a great way to get off campus for an evening and connect with Tacoma! If you wouldn’t mind either forwarding it to your students or mentioning it in class, I would greatly appreciate it.

Click here for a great article about the Afro-Cuban All Stars from the Weekly Volcano.
http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/2009-02-12/music-main/3403/page/1/rc/admin/ra/index/
The article doesn’t mention the deal for bringing non-perishables, but as long as it is mentioned when getting tickets from the box office, then it shouldn’t be a problem.

The Pantages Theater is located at 9th and Broadway in downtown Tacoma. It is a beautiful theater and definitely worth a visit if you’ve never been! The box office can be reached at 253.579.5890.

Gracias!

Jessica Rudder
Marketing Assistant
Broadway Center for the Performing Arts
253.591.5890

Friday, February 13, 2009

What do international relations scholars worldwide think?

There is an interesting report that just came out based on surveys of over 2000 scholars of international relations in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, South Africa, Hong Kong and Ireland. I grabbed a few tables I thought were interesting (click on them for a larger size). In some cases there are clear similarities across the countries (such as ideology), in other cases we see the parochialism inherent in where those scholars are. For example, most scholars think the most important part of the world is where they happen to live--with the interesting exception of US scholars (see Question 58). If you are interested in reading more, the whole report is here.




Thursday, February 12, 2009

Jobs with Grassroots Campaigns

Hello!

My name is Sean Diller, and I'm writing on behalf of Grassroots Campaigns. Grassroots Campaigns is a progressive political consulting firm that specializes in running field campaigns for candidates and issue-based advocacy groups lilke the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, the Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Democratic National Committee. We're looking for energetic, passionate students and graduates to run our campaign offices in Portland, Seattle and across the country. If you could send this out to your students, or anyone who would be interested in this type of work, that would be fantastic We will be making a campus visit this coming Wednesday (the 18th).

Thanks so much for your support!

Best,
Sean Diller
Assistant Director
Grassroots Campaigns, Seattle
sdiller@grassrootscampaigns.com
504-343-3837

To: Students

Subject: Progressive Campaign Job Opportunities Nationwide

Grassroots Campaigns is a progressive political consulting firm whose main goals are to win elections and further the progressive agenda. We run on-the-ground organizing offices for the Democratic National Committee, the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, and other progressive groups.
We made history last fall. Young people turned out in record numbers to vote, volunteer, and make the change that our country has been waiting for. Now that we've won the election with President Obama and the expanded majorities in the House and Senate, we must keep striving to make lasting change a reality.
Right now, it is critical that we continue to focus on issues of civil liberties, womens' rights, and poverty, and hold the candidates we have worked to elect accountable to the promises they made during their campaigns. There is no better time or place to get involved and help create the new generation that will take this country in a more progressive direction.

Students who are interested should apply directly to:
Sean Diller
sdiller@grassrootscampaigns.com
504-343-3837
http://www.grassrootscampaigns.com
Job Description:

Grassroots Campaigns, Inc is a progressive political consulting firm that specializes in running face-to-face citizen mobilization campaigns for political parties, candidates, and advocacy groups. By running campaigns on behalf of groups such as the Democratic National Committee, MoveOn.org, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Amnesty International we can focus on building up their membership and volunteer bases while running field campaigns for candidates and other organizations to win progressive victories on the local, state, and national level and mobilize citizens to be more actively involved and engaged in politics.
Canvass Directors and Assistant Canvass Directors manage our 30 grassroots fundraising field offices across the country, with bottom-line responsibility for all local operations.

Job Responsibilities:

Recruitment: Build a team of 15-50 canvassers by recruiting from within the local community. Interview prospective staff and make hiring decisions.

Staff Management: Teach canvassing/fundraising skills. Work with your staff in individual and group settings, with a particular eye towards developing leaders. Cultivate a welcoming and motivating atmosphere.

Canvassing: Canvass in the field three to four days per week, to train new and experienced staff in the field and meet personal fundraising requirements.
Administration: Carefully track income and expenses. Manage the budget for your office. Process staff payroll. Maintain records for future organizing efforts.

Qualifications:
Strong communication and motivational skills, work ethic, and desire for political change are essential. Candidates must be able to work within a team, have proven leadership ability and an orientation towards handling a lot of responsibility. Strong self-direction and the ability to take initiative are also necessary qualifications. Previous field or canvassing experience is a plus, and may qualify candidates for additional leadership positions.

Training:
Newly hired directors will typically spend three weeks doing field training, working intensely alongside experienced directors and will also attend a week-long national classroom training. Additionally, directors receive support from regional management staff throughout their time on staff.
After one year in the position, staff will have learned the basics of running a successful grassroots campaign, including, but not limited to, fundraising and donor recruitment, hiring and supervising staff and/or volunteers, and turf management.

Expectations:
Director positions are for a minimum commitment of one year, and we're building towards mid-term elections in 2010. Campaign hours can run 60-80 hours per week, including work on weekends. We are also hiring entry-level, hourly paid positions that will run through the summer and do not require overtime or long-term commitment.

Salary/Benefits:
Annual salary for Assistant Canvass Directors begins at $24,000. Staff may opt into our health care plan (PPO). Paid training, vacation and sick days are included; student loan assistance is available.

Timing and Location:
Positions are available beginning post-graduation, in cities nationwide – Ask Sean Diller for details.

We are also hiring for summer jobs in our Seattle office, and we will be conducting on-campus interviews on February 18th! See you there!

To Apply, send resume to:
Sean Diller
sdiller@grassrootscampaigns.com
504-343-3837

Please visit our website, www.grassrootscampaigns.com, for more information about current and past campaigns.

Grassroots Campaigns past and current clients include: Democratic National Committee, MoveOn PAC, League of Conservation Voters, American Civil Liberties Union, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Working America, Amnesty International, Center for American Progress, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Save the Children.

Belt tightening at ASU

From the Arizona Republic:

All 12,000 Arizona State University employees will be required to take 10 to 15 days off without pay before July to meet budget cuts required by the state Legislature, the university announced Wednesday.

The mandate includes top administrators, varsity coaches, faculty, office and maintenance workers, but the unpaid leave, or furloughs, will be staggered. ASU will remain open and classes will meet.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Wintergrass 2009 is coming soon--

From Professor Sousa. See you there? It's great just to wander around and watch folks jam.

I wanted to spread the word about Wintergrass, the terrific bluegrass festival held in downtown Tacoma each year. This year, the event takes place between February 19 and Februrary 22. The festival attracts great, national acts—30 bands—and in the evening there are shows and dances taking place at several venues. Most of the bands play a few shows on different stages over the weekend—I’m going to follow the SteelDrivers wherever they go! For the musically-inclined there are workshops, and there’s endless jamming all over the place. Even if you don’t play or listen to much bluegrass, this is something to see (and hear)—a really interesting slice of life. Information about the event, venues, schedule, and ticket prices is at http://www.acousticsound.org/


A bit of video I shot last year to get you in the mood.

Paul Hughes '09: PG Swimmer

From the News Tribune:

Straight ahead is the preferred direction in swimming.

But Paul and Aaron Hughes are taking the roundabout way at the University of Puget Sound.

The siblings will be two of the Loggers’ Northwest Conference-title hopefuls in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke when the three-day conference meet opens Friday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. The Whitworth men and women are defending champions.

A win, or automatic qualifying time, will guarantee the Hughes’ brothers a trip to the NCAA Division III championships, March 18-21 in Minneapolis.

Paul is the top seed in all three breaststroke events and holds the conference record in the 100 breast (55.70 seconds), set at the Husky Invitational last December.

“There’s an outstanding chance we’ll send the biggest UPS team to nationals ever,” Loggers coach Chris Myhre said. “We could send anywhere from two to six people, on both sides.”

Minneapolis would be a superb destination for the Hugheses to swim their last meet together. Paul is a senior; Aaron a junior.

“It’s been a goal of ours, from the beginning of the year,” Aaron said. “It’s been set up now to make that happen.”

The Hughes boys were introduced to swimming while they were living in Juneau, Alaska. Paul was one of the state’s brightest prospects when, at age 16, he needed to switch to a new swimming club for competitive reasons.

When the family decided the Tacoma Swim Club was the best place for Paul to further his swimming career, they packed up and moved in 2003.

“At that point, swimming was a bigger part of my life, and my family was supportive of me getting more exposure and competition,” Paul said. “Swimming was going to be the vehicle to (NCAA) Division I.”

The two enrolled at Curtis High School. Both swam for the Vikings together, then branched out. Aaron picked up water polo, while Paul continued on with the Tacoma Swim Club.

Then health issues that resulted from overtraining changed Paul’s plans.

He missed workouts for nearly six months. Suddenly, hopes of getting to the U.S. Olympic Trials or even joining a high-profile Division I program withered.

“I had to give up those goals,” Paul said. “But it gave me new perspective on the sport.”

Water polo was working out fine for Aaron, who chose to play at the University of Redlands in California while Paul swam at UPS. A few weeks into his first semester, Aaron had a change of heart and wanted to go elsewhere.

He asked his brother if UPS would accept him.

“It was definitely tough making the transition, but Chris was great, and there were a great group of guys there,” Aaron said. “As big into athletics as I am, my passion has been art, and they have a great art program there, too.”

The past two seasons, Paul and Aaron seem to have a grip on their career paths and how swimming fits into their lives.

“Paul got burned out, stepped back … and saw what we were doing and how it was a perfect fit,” Myhre said. “Aaron still plays water polo here, but he’s turned into a heck of a swimmer and is knocking on the door of the national scene.”

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

The beginning of the end of the printed word?



The Kindle 2 is out.

Sharpening the knives

From Inside Higher Ed:

...The culture wars started long ago, but the current economic crisis is provoking new skirmishes. Cary Nelson, president of the American Association of University Professors, said the cycle is predictable and unfortunate....Hill, the Republican vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee in Georgia, said he alerted his constituents about some faculty whose research interests he considered questionable in hopes that they would voice any complaints to the state Board of Regents. Along with a local radio address, Hill sent out a mass e-mail that began “Sit down and buckle you seat belts! What I am about to tell you will shock and disgust you.”

“Do you know that your tax dollars are being used at our state universities to pay professors to teach your children classes like ‘Male Prostitution’ and ‘Queer Theory’? Yes, even in tight economic times like we are facing today, our Board of Regents is wasting your tax dollars to teach these totally unnecessary and ridiculous classes.”

Actually, there are no classes titled “male prostitution” in Georgia, according to university officials. There is, however, a sociology professor at Georgia State University who is listed in a media guide as an expert on the subject of male prostitution. The professor in question, Kirk Elifson, studies risk factors involved in the spread of HIV/AIDS, among other public health issues. As for courses on queer theory, there is at least one offered at the University of Georgia, according to a Board of Regents spokesman.

Hill’s e-mail goes on to proclaim that a class entitled “Oral Sex” is offered in Georgia’s system. Again, there is no such class, but there is a Georgia State faculty member who was identified in a campus media guide as an expert on the subject. The faculty member, Mindy Stombler, is a senior lecturer who has studied whether popular culture and other factors have led to an increase in oral sex among teenagers.

Hill says his only goal is to tell taxpayers how their dollars are being spent, and encourage them to contact the regents if they have concerns. About 10 of them have done that, and their e-mails reflect both anger and misinformation. Several repeated the inaccurate assertion from Hill’s e-mail that Georgia offers “classes” about male prostitution.

“I am shocked and dismayed that our universities are paying professors to teach subjects like ‘male prostitution’ as reported in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution,” one Georgia resident wrote to the Regents. “I have not worked nearly thirty years in education and paid taxes to fund such as that.”

As for what the regents should do in response to such concerns, Hill said Monday that they could “redirect” the faculty.

“I would assume someone that has those credentials can teach something else that is more worthwhile,” he said.

In his e-mail to constituents, however, Hill didn’t talk about redirecting anyone:

“Now that we need to cut the state budget, I think I know where we can eliminate a few highly paid professors and get rid of these classes,” he wrote.

Workshop for undergrads interested in education research

Apply and get in and we'll pitch in on the cost of travel (other costs are covered by AERA):

Dear Colleague:

I am seeking your assistance identifying potential candidates for the
American Educational Research Association (AERA) Undergraduate Student
Education Research Training Workshop. Offered during the 2009 AERA Annual
Meeting in San Diego, this workshop is intended to increase the talent
pool of undergraduate students who plan to pursue doctorate degrees in
education research or in disciplines and fields that examine education
issues. The workshop will focus on applying to graduate
school, pursuing graduate education, and education research as a field.
Awardees will be provided with mentoring support from senior and early
career scholars.

Below is the call for applications and the description of the workshop.


AERA Undergraduate Student Education Research Training Workshop
2009 AERA Annual Meeting, San Diego
Monday, April 13-Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Call for Applications
Deadline February 20, 2009

The American Educational Research Association invites fellowship
applications for an Undergraduate Student Education Research Training
Workshop to be held at the 2009 Annual Meeting in San Diego. This
workshop is designed to build the talent pool of undergraduate students
who plan to pursue doctorate degrees in education research or in
disciplines and fields that examine education issues. Applicants are
sought who have potential and interest in pursuing careers as education
researchers, faculty members, or other professionals who contribute to the
research field.

The workshop, led by junior and senior scholars, will give fellows an
overview of how education research is designed across fields, how
quantitative and qualitative research methods are used in studies, and how
research is applied to education policy and practice. Senior
researchers and faculty from both academic institutions and applied
research organizations (i.e., ACT, the American Institutes for Research,
Educational Testing Service, the College Board, and the Urban Institute)
will introduce education research as a field and share their area of
expertise and knowledge with the fellows. Workshop activities will also
focus on exploring graduate education, applying to graduate school, and
beginning a career in education research.

Fellows will be paired with a faculty member and a graduate student who
will serve as program mentors. In addition to attending the workshop,
fellows will attend preselected paper sessions and presentations during
the AERA Annual Meeting.

Dates: Monday, April 13-Wednesday, April 15, AERA 2009 Annual Meeting, San
Diego

Award: Fellows will participate in the Undergraduate Student Education
Research Training Workshop during the AERA 2009 Annual Meeting in San
Diego. They will also have the benefit of a distinguished mentor as part
of the award. The award includes conference registration and two nights of
lodging. The fellows and/or their home institutions are responsible for
transportation costs to San Diego.

Eligibility: Candidates may come from a broad range of fields across the
arts and sciences. Underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities and women
are encouraged to apply. Candidates must be

* Students in their sophomore, junior, or senior year of college
in good academic standing.
* Interested in pursuing a graduate or professional degree that
can lend itself to education research areas such as children and youth,
school and schooling issues, higher education, education policy, student
achievement, curriculum and instruction, education psychology, or
education leadership.
* U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Application Requirements:

* Complete on-line application at www.aera.net

* Official college transcript from current institution.
* Letter of recommendation and evaluation form from a faculty
member who is familiar with your academic ability and potential.
* Resume which includes any educational background, training,
jobs, activities, honors, and other academic achievements. Include
information on any research experiences you may have had.
* Personal Statement

In one statement of no more than 500 words (double spaced) the applicant
should address the following:

1. How are your course work, extra-curricular activities,
leadership roles, work experiences, and/or other academic and life
experiences preparing you to pursue a graduate or professional degree?

2. What are your education research interests and what are you doing
to help further develop these interests and enhance your research and
writing skills?



Applications: AERA will accept applications via the online application
system www.aera.net . Applications will be
reviewed by a selection committee of senior scholars and researchers. All
materials must be received by 11:59pm on February 20, 2009. Official
transcripts and letter of recommendation and evaluation form must be
mailed to:

AERA Fellowships Office
1430 K St. NW
Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20005


Direct all questions to George Wimberly, Director of Social Justice and
Professional Development, at 202-238-3200 or fellowships@aera.net.

Best regards,

George L. Wimberly,
AERA, Director of Social Justice and Professional Development

Friday, February 06, 2009

UPS Pac Rim Sings the National Anthem--Badly



Shot in Japan. Pity about the key shift. And I assume those are cans of fruit juice.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Facebook and get scammed--or worse

A cautionary tale from CNN:

While reports of extortion and false impersonation have been common in phony phone calls and fake e-mails, similar fraud hasn't been reported on Facebook until recently. Now a number of complaints are surfacing.

In response to the trend, the Better Business Bureau in late January issued a warning intended for Facebook's 150 million users: know who your friends are and keep your sensitive information private, the consumer advocate group said, according to CNN affiliate KMGH in Denver.

In the Seattle case, a hacker appeared to steal Rutberg's identity to get money from his friends by toying with their emotions.

In Wisconsin, police accuse an 18-year-old man of posing as a woman on Facebook to get high school boys to send him naked photos of themselves.

Of course, needless to say that I first found this article because someone had linked to it on Facebook.

Sustainability Expo

From the Auburn Reporter:

The South Sound Sustainability Expo, featuring “green” exhibits, new ideas, organic food, and plenty of items for the home, will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, at University of Puget Sound Memorial Fieldhouse from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

After last year’s success, the event is again expected to attract many individuals and families who want to learn more about adopting an environmentally friendly and healthy lifestyle. Visitors will pick up tips on “greening” their homes and eco-friendly transport options. Exhibitors and speakers will share their knowledge on subjects such as healthy living, organic food, sustainable buildings, alternative energy, waste minimization, preservation of wildlife, and climate change.

The day will include a tour of “green buildings” on the Puget Sound campus, including the new Live Green House, redeveloped from its bare bones into a showcase, sustainable-living home for five students. There also will be presentations by speakers as follows:

• Gifford Pinchot III, co-founder of Bainbridge Graduate Institute and author of the best-selling book Intrapreneuring in Action: A Handbook for Business Innovation, will speak on the topic “Operating Sustainable and Successful Businesses.”

• Bill Smith, senior environmental specialist for the city of Tacoma, will give a talk on how to make your home “green.”

• Representatives from the “Grow Local Tacoma” Web site and blog will speak on the importance of buying locally grown food and what to look for in the supermarket.

• A panel discussion will be held on “green” transportation issues.

More than 50 organizations will have exhibits at the expo, including colleges organizing the event, city of Tacoma departments, environmental advocacy and working groups, and agencies and businesses working in the realms of food, transportation, nature, recreation, alternative energy, community support, clean air and water and recycling.

The South Sound Sustainability Expo is being presented by Bates Technical College, Clover Park Technical College, The Evergreen State College–Tacoma Campus, Pacific Lutheran University, Pierce College, Tacoma Community College, University of Puget Sound, and University of Washington Tacoma.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Alums gather in DC

Thanks to Ned Culhane who sent along the following picture from a recent gathering of our alums in DC:

PG in DC
Left to Right: Ned Culhane '06, Colleen Dyble '00, Julie Housh '06, Kari Manlove '06, Svetlana Matt '06, Erik Connell '07, Ron Davison '85 (standing) (not pictured Alex Raposo '08, Cat Fish '08)

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Buy your internship? Hmm.

From Slate and the Wall Street Journal (hat tip: Professor Sousa):

An outfit called the University of Dreams guarantees placement or your money back. Summer-internship fees (the University of Dreams prefers to call it "tuition") ran ge from $5,499 to $9,499. For 3 percent extra, you can pay on an installment plan....Like the University of Dreams, Fast Track Internships offers a money-back guarantee. Its Web site boasts that it can tap into 85 percent of all internships that are never advertised, a proposition that suggests divine omniscience. Prices range from $799 for an unpaid internship to $999 for a paid internship to $1,999 for a full-time job.

Read the whole thing here. Students, if you want an internship, let the department know--don't go this route.

Monday, February 02, 2009

National Education for Women's Leadership Puget Sound Workshop

PG Majors: if you are interested in attending, let me know and I'll see what we can do to cover part or all of the registration fee:

What is NEW Leadership Puget Sound?

NEW (National Education for Women's) Leadership Puget Sound is an intensive six-day institute open to students who attend university or college in the Puget Sound region or who have a permanent residence here.

The 2009 NEW Leadership Institute will be held June 15-20 in Seattle. Applications for the Institute will be accepted until February 27, 2009.

The NEW Leadership curriculum is designed to:

* Cultivate leadership skills
* Connect participants with women leaders who make a difference in civic life and the public sphere
* Help students explore the demands and rewards of leadership in a diverse society
* Empower students to practice leadership through action

During the institute students will:

* Meet with interesting and active women who are leaders in their communities, non-profit organizations, local and state government, and businesses
* Receive interactive skills training on public speaking, fundraising, negotiation & conflict resolution, diversity and networking
* Develop valuable social networks with peers and mentors

Graduates of the institute will receive information and assistance to help them continue to grow as leaders through involvement with the NEW Leadership Alumnae Association.

NEW Leadership would like to thank the following units of the University of Washington for their generous support: The College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, The Graduate School, the Diversity Research Institute, the Department of Political Science, and the Center for Communication and Civic Engagement.

Additional generous support from private donors and The Center for Women & Democracy underwrites the expenses of the Institute and makes it possible for students to attend without regard to financial ability.