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re: Forbes: America's Top Universities '13 list out...SEC schools ranking
Posted on 7/25/13 at 3:50 pm to Irons Puppet
Posted on 7/25/13 at 3:50 pm to Irons Puppet
quote:
Alabama has made a decision to grow beyond what the Alabama Education System is able to supply high qualified graduates.
Correct. The former president, now chancellor Robert Witt admitted that back in 05 or 06 and took a lot of heat for it, but he is right. The public schools of Alabama do not produce enough talent on their own for Alabama and Auburn to be nationally relevant academic schools.
quote:
That is why the enrollment is over 50% out of state students. Alabama is trying to boost their scores by offering large amount of schalorships to instate students.
Yep. Especially tons of out of state scholarships.
The vast majority of the university agrees with Witt's strategy to increase the rankings, but I am one of the last holdouts. IMO, UA will never be a Michigan, Virginia, Cal, etc so why try to be and ruin a good thing? I loved the UA campus back in 04 when it was about Ole Miss' size. Now the campus has doubled with most of the scholarships going out of state, and I have not seen a bit of relevant academic improvement other than some stupid rankings that mean nothing to employers. What is so wrong with having a state funded university designed to benefit the residents of the State of Alabama?
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Posted on 7/25/13 at 3:55 pm to Monticello
quote:I have seen a difference. There has been a marked improvement in the Science and Engineering facilities that allow more hands on learning rather than just learning from a textbook. I mean, as an undergrad, I get to play with electron microscope instead of watching someone do it. I can see and understand things at my own pace rather than waiting for someone to explain it. That is one example, but it was certainly meaningful to me.
I have not seen a bit of relevant academic improvement other than some stupid rankings that mean nothing to employers.
ETA: Larger lab space=more room for activities=more undergrads being able to get that experience.
This post was edited on 7/25/13 at 4:01 pm
Posted on 7/25/13 at 4:15 pm to Monticello
quote:
Now the campus has doubled with most of the scholarships going out of state, and I have not seen a bit of relevant academic improvement other than some stupid rankings that mean nothing to employers. What is so wrong with having a state funded university designed to benefit the residents of the State of Alabama?
As an Alabama taxpayer, I agree with you. I was told the out of state students are keeping the doors open at both AU and UA. The mission of both schools have been lost due to chasing these rankings. The information I posted about UA was from a HS Counselor who graduate from UA. They were concerned that for the sake of growth, the school was watering down the acceptance standards at a time when the opposite should happen. That marketing was becoming more important than educating. They also felt that by placing an enrollment cap at AU with no instate number requirements, the school was shuting out the Alabama High School graduate.
Posted on 7/25/13 at 4:48 pm to Monticello
quote:
I loved the UA campus back in 04 when it was about Ole Miss' size. Now the campus has doubled with most of the scholarships going out of state, and I have not seen a bit of relevant academic improvement other than some stupid rankings that mean nothing to employers. What is so wrong with having a state funded university designed to benefit the residents of the State of Alabama?
I agree with this point of view.
Arkansas has also grown tremendously in the past several years and I think the campus feel is going to suffer for it. Lottery scholarships happened.
The Fayetteville campus has grown from 17k students in 2007 to over 25k this fall and is projected to be over 28k in 2015. Its not a "big school" by a lot of standards, but I don't think it should overgrow what the state needs. Raise standards, improve infrastructure, and keep enrollment at sane levels.
This post was edited on 7/25/13 at 4:52 pm
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