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The Spellings' Commission on the Future of Higher Education; It's a Start

Important higher ed issues are out of the bag and open to discussion.

Losing Enrollment in C-Lot

A trip to a commuter college inspired this consultant to write a tongue-in-cheek essay about poor parking and the resulting bad impression on potential students and applicants.

Maybe I shouldn't be writing now. I have always been told not to go food shopping when I am hungry, or swim right after eating, or take action when upset. I am upset. But then is writing really action? Just for my fingers I think. So I will let my fingers do the squawking and write this while distraught. Besides, I don't want to lose the immediacy of the moment.

Healing from Hurricane Rita

A new e-learning initiative is helping Lamar University expand beyond its borders.

At Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, the importance of enhancing e-learning services was heightened after the devastating effects of Hurricane Rita, which hit the Houston and Beaumont areas in September 2005. To date, the university has spent more than $30 million in recovery efforts. Approximately 85 percent of the buildings on campus had some type of damage, which forced administrators to consider additional methods of service delivery. As administrators and faculty began to examine ways to enhance e-learning, they realized the potential benefits outside the classroom.

Higher Education's People Watch

Appointments and promotions in higher education.

Most Sustainable Campuses

Winners of a first annual competition are models for campus sustainability.

When it comes to sustainability efforts on a campus, having a vision is certainly a must. But it's the campus community that makes it all happen.

Ruth Abramson, communications manager in the University of British Columbia Sustainability Office, says the institution's achievements in this area "are the result of thousands of UBC students, staff, and faculty actively demonstrating their commitment to sustainability."

Admissions for Insiders

Earlier this fall a new book hit the higher education scene, and few admissions offices have stopped buzzing about it since.

Workplace Identity Theft

How to curb the latest HR headache.

A rise in identity theft is presenting employers with a major headache. They are being held liable for identity theft that occurs in the workplace.

Identity theft is the misuse or fraudulent use of an individual's personal information. Unfortunately for employers, personal data, such as Social Security and bank account numbers, is precisely what is contained in HR personnel files. These files can be goldmines for ID thieves.

Financial Aid Strategies for Maximizing Distance Learning Enrollment

Speeding up the process for potential online students.

We live in an era of great uncertainty for many in our workforce. At this moment, entire industries are being impacted by technological advances and the emergence of low-cost labor markets. Traditionally "safe" entry-level careers such as customer service, call center, and back office processing are ceasing to exist with the exception of specialized niche markets, where high-level skills and proximity to the client are important.

How to Get Things Done

A guide to smart project management for all departments.

Today's universities are enterprises in the true business sense. Perhaps more than commercial organizations, the actions, plans, and management of universities come under the microscope of alumnae, donors, trustees, parents, activists, and the press. This scrutiny underscores the need for tools and methodologies that facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing and oversight among the various work groups and communities within universities.

Business Continuity Planning

George Mason University's executive enterprise risk management approach has helped in building responses to "what-if" scenarios.

Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters, the ongoing threats of terrorism, and the auditing profession's increased emphasis on business continuity planning have captured the attention of higher education executives. Most now realize that they ought to be doing business continuity planning; most, however, are not sure where to begin. George Mason University (Va.) has developed an executive-level Enterprise Executive Risk Management Group (EERMG) to build the organization's business continuity plans and capacity.

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