Here we go again: this is the beginning of my 33rd year of teaching. We had a boffo Registration (there are no jobs so enrollment goes up) and all my classes are full. Plenty of changes have occurred over those 30+ years. When I first started teaching, most of my students were males. Sure, I had an occasional female student taking my Marketing or Management classes, but they were rare. Then, about 20 years ago things changed. More and more women signed up for business classes. Our numbers swelled and the Business Department became the curriculum with the highest enrollment (today, it’s Criminal Justice). Today, I expect to see more women than men in most of my classes. I also expect many students will not be prepared to do College work. We’re an “open Admissions” campus which means if you have a pulse and a check for tuition, you’re in. But, as I’ll tell my students today in my first lecture, we may have open admissions, but we don’t have open Graduation. They’ll have to earn it. And it all begins today.
Phil’s first day two. Enrollment is down at WSU since the tuition keeps arising as the state pays less and less and students more. He teaches two classes. An UG Honor class with 22 students (it closes at that number). And a grad class with 10–it usually has 20. Fewer and fewer grad students in political science. And yes, our community colleges are booming too.
Patti, my community college charges the lowest tuition in Western NY. Plenty of students here! I’m teaching eight courses (3 online). No rest for the wicked…
8? Wow. That’s a lot of papers to mark. Jackie worked for 34 years but got out of the classroom the last 6 years.
This does say it all: We’re an “open Admissions” campus which means if you have a pulse and a check for tuition, you’re in.
I remember when open enrollment started in the City University of NY 40 years ago. Unfortunately, until there is recognition that not everyone is college material and we need skilled blue collar workers too (if not more) things will continue to be a mess.
Good luck.
Jeff, that’s the situation at my community college. Everyone is accepted (provided they have that pulse and tuition check). But, as you point out, not everyone is “college material” though they think they are.
Sock it to ’em, George!
Bill, I’m tanned and rested and ready to roll!
Go get ’em, George. Make them read WAR AND PEACE, that will get them ready for mgt. staff meetings. Are you still including GM (or was it Ford?) in your marketing class?
Rick, I still throw in some GM stories to amuse the students. Asking them to read anything longer than a tweet is a Hard Sell.
I imagine your welcome speech might be a reality check for a lot of students.
Beth, I had one student stop by my office after class who told me, “Dr. Kelley, you’re the only one who tells it like it is!” Reality Check, indeed…