KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2010 / NEWS
3A
CAMPUS
Proposal may produce problems
BY ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON
amcnaughtonkansan.com
Emporia State University's efforts to start an elementary education program at Johnson County Community College has sparked some concern from University officials regarding the interests of students pursuing education degrees.
The committee recommended approval, according to the meeting's agenda. But Kip Peterson, director of government relations and communications for the Kansas Board of Regents, said the committee didn't take any immediate action on Emporia State's proposal.
"I don't begrudge Emporia for wanting to work with Johnson County," said Rick Ginsberg, dean of the School of Education. "But we in the business have to take a stand and do what is right by young people."
Last Tuesday, during a meeting held by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Kansas Board of Regents, the topic came up for discussion and recommendation.
Emperor State officials have been discussing the need for an elementary education program for more than a year with Johnson County officials.
Marilyn Rhinehart, executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer with Johnson County, said Emporia State proposed this program because it had become increasingly difficult for students to take advantage of education programs already in place in the Kansas City area due to full occupancy.
Rhinehart said it is Johnson County's goal to make higher education accessible to people who are either place or time bound.
"We need programs like this so people can have access", Rhinehart said. "And that is probably the central feature of what Emporia State is trying to provide, especially considering that they had so much success at Kansas City Kansas Community College with their program there."
Ginsberg doesn't deny that students have probably been requesting an education program. But he did stress that there are already multiple programs, either private or state, that could meet the needs of those students while being fair to them.
"You want students to pursue programs that they have a pretty good likelihood of getting a job," Ginsberg said. "We already struggle finding placements for our
students in the Johnson County region because the school districts are overwhelmed."
In an e-mail sent by Jeffrey Vitter, per request for comment from the Kansas Board of Regents, Vitter outlined the concerns the University has with the approval.
In the e-mail, Vitter said he does not oppose the program expansion but is worried about the significant budget cuts in K-12 schools that have resulted in the elimination of teaching positions.
Both Vitter and Ginsberg describe the teaching market as "over-saturated." Vitter said the term is in reference to college graduates seeking elementary teaching jobs, not potential undergraduates seeking elementary education degrees.
For evidence of the market in the Kansas City metropolitan area, Ginsberg and Vitter refer to an informal survey conducted by the School of Education. According to Vitter's e-mail, the survey of K-12 human resources directors showed that very few elementary teachers are being hired. In the Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission, and De Soto School districts, there were 68 elementary teachers hired last year, with more than 12,000 applications filed for these openings. There was an average of about 175 applications for every elementary position hired.
"If we're having trouble finding placement sites for our current candidates, what sense is there to add more?" Ginsberg said.
Rhinehart said it is hard to believe that the market is saturated because there is a high rate of turnover, despite the fact that the financial situation is "dire," as she put it.
Bill Noblitt, director of marketing and media relations for Emporia State, declined to comment on the controversy surrounding the discussion.
"We want to make this a convenient opportunity for education students and citizens in that area and this is pretty much the way that we see it, in that we are going to work with the Kansas Board of Regents for the approval process," Nobilt said.
Ginsberg said while Emporia State may have done their research in terms of opportunity, the University is looking out for students in terms of job placement.
"I think we are the ones being fair, I don't think Emporia is being fair," Ginsberg said. "If you don't mind just turning up people who don't get jobs in the field, you can do it and be successful but I think
that is shirking our responsibility as a University to do that."
The issue will be discussed again in the committee's meeting next month.
Edited by Leslie Kinsman
DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM
The Johnson County Community College (JCCC)/Emporia State University (ESU) Elementary 2+1+1Program will provide a quality elementary preparation program to individuals residing in the Johnson County Kansas area who wish to complete the Emporia State Elementary Teacher Education program and KSDE licensure recommendation through continued engagement with JCCC.
The program will allow candidates the ability to complete two years of general education coursework at the JCCC campus. In addition, the candidate would be able to complete the required ESU education course work taught by ESU faculty on the JCCC campus, meeting the needs of the placed bound candidate. The required professional field experiences and student teaching requirement will be completed at elementary schools participating in the Professional Development School (PDS) agreement established by ESU.
Students likely to Enroll in the Program
Based on a spring 2011 start date, ESU and JCCC believe there are a minimum of 20 program candidates per student cohort. Thus, by fall 2013, there is the potential for a consistent enrollment of 80 students a semester. Again, the potential enrollment numbers are reflective of students seeking face-to-face instruction and place bound in the Johnson County Kansas vicinity and are considered on the minimum end of the potential student learner.
—KANSAS BOARD OF REGENTS
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS STANDING COM-
MITTEE AGENDA
Hannah Gillaspie, Kansas City senior, Emily Williams, Dallas senior, Grace Lancaster, Topeka junior, Courtnev Kinkaid, Lawrence senior on top of the Eiffel Tower.
Terrorist alert may affect study abroad students
INTERNATIONAL
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
BY MEG LOWRY
mlowry@kansan.com
"In a situation like this, it just provides students and parents with a platform to be more alert and prepared," Nancy Chaison, associate director of the Office of Study Abroad, said. "We are hoping the alert will end Jan. 31, as the government has said, and not be extended."
Last week, the United States issued an alert for U.S. citizens traveling to all European countries. The State Department said mounting evidence of an imminent terrorist attack prompted the alert.
There are currently 95 University students studying abroad in European countries. Immediately after the national alert was issued, the students were e-mailed a second advisory.
A terrorist attack of this nature would target buses, trains or high-traffic areas. Ashley Curry, a junior from Leawood, is studying abroad in Barcelona and said she agreed that the warning was especially relevant for students.
A spokesperson for the British government confirmed that evidence of an attack plot was being looked at very closely by the U.S. and its allies. The plot is said to mimic the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, which lasted three days and killed more than 160 people.
"I've been traveling almost every weekend," Curry said. "Honestly, the thought that there would be a real danger there never crossed my mind."
France, Britain and Spain all have a current travel advisory of "high," but will not disclose if the classification is a result of the U.S. alert. A high travel advisory indicates a "high, probable risk" of a terror attack.
"When I was studying abroad in London last summer, I traveled to Italy for a weekend." Lancaster said. "There was a guy who kept trying to get me to get into a taxi, but it wasn't marked as one. When you don't speak the language, they really try to take advantage of your naiveness."
Because there is no specific evidence as to where the attack
The Office of Study Abroad instructs students to notify their resident director or the U.S. embassy before they leave their location to travel, and forward the office a number at which they
Regardless of University policy, Lancaster feels the alert may deter students from going abroad.
"The most important thing is to be aware of your surroundings," Lancaster said. "We've heard stories about a guy who was offered a drink from an older man at a train station and woke up four hours later and all of his bags were gone. You have to trust the people you are around and talking to."
Enrollment for the spring semester of study abroad ended Oct. 1, three days before the alert was issued. Chaison says if the alert is changed to a travel warning, all University programs in the affected countries will be cancelled and any students there will be brought home immediately.
"They don't really know if, when or where the attacks are going to happen," she said. "That's going to scare a lot of people. It may be a one in a million chance, but it's still a chance."
can be reached in an emergency.
The protests were not related to the travel advisory, however, Grace Lancaster, a junior from Topeka, said she understood why students may be fearful.
"Last week, our classes were cancelled because of political protests going on in the city," Curry said. "People were lightning cars on fire. We weren't even allowed to leave our houses, so obviously people were wondering if it was related to the alert."
may take place, a blanket advisory has been made for all of Europe. Curry said the warnings have led to fear and confusion for students.
Edited by Leslie Kinsman
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