Score 1 for the University

Equal to my calling to point boldly to areas of lacking in my scholastic experience is the imperative to tip my hat when actual learning is taking place.  Such is my experience so far in Advocacy in Communications Class this semester.  Real reading, real research assignments, real interactive discussions.  Although my return to academia is still new, I cannot help but wonder at the reasons for the difference.  Could it be that this class being advanced for graduate students in pursuit of a Masters is the difference?  It is a 500-level course.  But if this is the actual learning and intelligence level that I hoped for—and I am still and undergrad—is there an unspoken comment in there reflective of the quality of undergraduate education?  Have we seen standards slip so that we are churning out “basic” college graduates as if they are High School diplomas and therefore the “Masters” is the “New Bachelors,” and perhaps the High School is the new Middle School?

I will let that question stand unanswered for now as I enjoy my semester in the trenches.  I do not want to sound egotistical, but how refreshing that someone else besides me quoted Aristotle in class!

I do need to gripe a bit about tuition escalation.  I took one 3-unit course last semester at a cost of about $770.  This semester, my one, 3-unit course is going to cost over $1250—a 65% increase in three months time.  This raises the estimated cost of completing this degree from about $22k to $38k, +/-.  When Shakespeare said to, “Empty your purse into your head and no one can steal it from you.” I do not think that he meant the “purse-emptying” quite so literally.

Be well.

Score 1 for the University

Equal to my calling to point boldly to areas of lacking in my scholastic experience is the imperative to tip my hat when actual learning is taking place. Such is my experience so far in Advocacy in Communications Class this semester. Real reading, real research assignments, real interactive discussions. Although my return to academia is still new, I cannot help but wonder at the reasons for the difference. Could it be that this class being advanced for graduate students in pursuit of a Masters is the difference? It is a 500-level course. But if this is the actual learning and intelligence level that I hoped for—and I am still and undergrad—is there an unspoken comment in there reflective of the quality of undergraduate education? Have we seen standards slip so that we are churning out “basic” college graduates as if they are High School diplomas and therefore the “Masters” is the “New Bachelors,” and perhaps the High School is the new Middle School?

I will let that question stand unanswered for now as I enjoy my semester in the trenches. I do not want to sound egotistical, but how refreshing that someone else besides me quoted Aristotle in class!

I do need to gripe a bit about tuition escalation. I took one 3-unit course last semester at a cost of about $770. This semester, my one, 3-unit course is going to cost over $1250—a 65% increase in three months time. This raises the estimated cost of completing this degree from about $22k to $38k, +/-. When Shakespeare said to, “Empty your purse into your head and no one can steal it from you.” I do not think that he meant the “purse-emptying” quite so literally.

Be well.

Score 1 for the University

Equal to my calling to point boldly to areas of lacking in my scholastic experience is the imperative to tip my hat when actual learning is taking place. Such is my experience so far in Advocacy in Communications Class this semester. Real reading, real research assignments, real interactive discussions. Although my return to academia is still new, I cannot help but wonder at the reasons for the difference. Could it be that this class being advanced for graduate students in pursuit of a Masters is the difference? It is a 500-level course. But if this is the actual learning and intelligence level that I hoped for—and I am still and undergrad—is there an unspoken comment in there reflective of the quality of undergraduate education? Have we seen standards slip so that we are churning out “basic” college graduates as if they are High School diplomas and therefore the “Masters” is the “New Bachelors,” and perhaps the High School is the new Middle School?

I will let that question stand unanswered for now as I enjoy my semester in the trenches. I do not want to sound egotistical, but how refreshing that someone else besides me quoted Aristotle in class!

I do need to gripe a bit about tuition escalation. I took one 3-unit course last semester at a cost of about $770. This semester, my one, 3-unit course is going to cost over $1250—a 65% increase in three months time. This raises the estimated cost of completing this degree from about $22k to $38k, +/-. When Shakespeare said to, “Empty your purse into your head and no one can steal it from you.” I do not think that he meant the “purse-emptying” quite so literally.

Be well.

Score 1 for the University

Equal to my calling to point boldly to areas of lacking in my scholastic experience is the imperative to tip my hat when actual learning is taking place. Such is my experience so far in Advocacy in Communications Class this semester. Real reading, real research assignments, real interactive discussions. Although my return to academia is still new, I cannot help but wonder at the reasons for the difference. Could it be that this class being advanced for graduate students in pursuit of a Masters is the difference? It is a 500-level course. But if this is the actual learning and intelligence level that I hoped for—and I am still and undergrad—is there an unspoken comment in there reflective of the quality of undergraduate education? Have we seen standards slip so that we are churning out “basic” college graduates as if they are High School diplomas and therefore the “Masters” is the “New Bachelors,” and perhaps the High School is the new Middle School?

I will let that question stand unanswered for now as I enjoy my semester in the trenches.

I do need to gripe a bit about tuition escalation. I took one 3-unit course last semester at a cost of about $770. This semester, my one, 3-unit course is going to cost over $1250—a 65% increase in three months time. This raises the estimated cost of completing this degree from about $22k to $38k, +/-. When Shakespeare said to, “Empty your purse into your head and no one can steal it from you.” I do not think that he meant the “purse-emptying” quite so literally.

Be well.

Back in Black (or Back at the Blackboard)

Well after a Summer hiatus where I worked at my job--and worked, and worked, and worked--I am back in acedemia. I am taking a graduate level course as an undergrad. It was available, within my major, and the university computer system mistakenly let me register. I do not know whether to be greatful or otherwise.

I have reviewed the syllabus--it is challenging from both a volume and an intellectually demanding perspective. I hope that I have not bitten off more that a wayaward returning scholar can chew. Weeks one and two have been allabout introductions to the coursework and the expectations laid upon us, so there is precious little to report. We dig in this week and so I expect much ado starting soon.

Be well and I will write again soon.