Crisis in Colorado Education
GUESTS
Our one guest last week other than the speaker was Scott Schmitz, a software developer from Virginia who recently moved here to start a new business.
PROGRAM
The program for the week was presented by Dick Dunn. Dunn was an architect in Nebraska for many years and then moved to Colorado. He taught construction Management at CSU for some time, is a 27-year Rotarian and started the Rural Education Assistance Program.
Dunn's subject was the Crisis in Colorado Education. The Colorado Commission on Higher Education has set requirements starting in 2008 for all state-supported four year colleges. These requirements establish the minimum curriculum an incoming student must have and include three years of math, four years of English, two years of science (with lab), and one year of foreign language. These requirements get even tougher in 2010 when the requirements increase to four years of math and two years of foreign language. Dunn feels that the effect of these severe changes will mean that in a few years, only 5% of the graduating high school seniors will be able to go to college in Colorado. He fears that many students will seek out of state educations which sets up a tightening spiral of lower enrollment, less revenue, and decline of state colleges. He is especially concerned about poorer rural schools who cannot afford the teachers and facilities to meet the new requirements. The Northern Colorado Business Report recently had an article about the economic impact of these requirements.
He said there are few choices left for students who do not have the minimum requirements: One or two years of community college and then perhaps three years of education in a four-year school. Dunn says that many community colleges cannot hire new staff and gear up to meet the demand because of the uncertainty of the issue. He feels there has to be a practical approach to allow students and the state legislature to adjust. He says we must fond a compromise to not force Colorado students out of state. There were some interesting questions and comments from the audience. Tim Fleming had a particularly interesting point about the possible effect of eliminating some of the four-year colleges, or turning them into private institutions.
QUIZ ANSWER
President Eisenhower was in Denver visiting his mother-in-law when the heart attack hit. He had been playing golf when the first symptoms struck.
NEXT QUESTION
What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, and windshield wipers all have in common?
USELESS INFORMATION
Diseases spread by fleas have killed more people than those killed in all wars combined.
Our one guest last week other than the speaker was Scott Schmitz, a software developer from Virginia who recently moved here to start a new business.
PROGRAM
The program for the week was presented by Dick Dunn. Dunn was an architect in Nebraska for many years and then moved to Colorado. He taught construction Management at CSU for some time, is a 27-year Rotarian and started the Rural Education Assistance Program.
Dunn's subject was the Crisis in Colorado Education. The Colorado Commission on Higher Education has set requirements starting in 2008 for all state-supported four year colleges. These requirements establish the minimum curriculum an incoming student must have and include three years of math, four years of English, two years of science (with lab), and one year of foreign language. These requirements get even tougher in 2010 when the requirements increase to four years of math and two years of foreign language. Dunn feels that the effect of these severe changes will mean that in a few years, only 5% of the graduating high school seniors will be able to go to college in Colorado. He fears that many students will seek out of state educations which sets up a tightening spiral of lower enrollment, less revenue, and decline of state colleges. He is especially concerned about poorer rural schools who cannot afford the teachers and facilities to meet the new requirements. The Northern Colorado Business Report recently had an article about the economic impact of these requirements.
He said there are few choices left for students who do not have the minimum requirements: One or two years of community college and then perhaps three years of education in a four-year school. Dunn says that many community colleges cannot hire new staff and gear up to meet the demand because of the uncertainty of the issue. He feels there has to be a practical approach to allow students and the state legislature to adjust. He says we must fond a compromise to not force Colorado students out of state. There were some interesting questions and comments from the audience. Tim Fleming had a particularly interesting point about the possible effect of eliminating some of the four-year colleges, or turning them into private institutions.
QUIZ ANSWER
President Eisenhower was in Denver visiting his mother-in-law when the heart attack hit. He had been playing golf when the first symptoms struck.
NEXT QUESTION
What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, and windshield wipers all have in common?
USELESS INFORMATION
Diseases spread by fleas have killed more people than those killed in all wars combined.
posted by Windsor Rotary Club (link to this post)
<< Home