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CLINTON: REDUCE NON-RESIDENT COLLEGE ENROLLMENTS
Legislation recently approved by the California Assembly that would allow colleges within the University of California system to restrict non-state residents to no more than 10 percent of total enrollment recently won the endorsement of Hillary Clinton. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, who won the party's June 7 California primary, said she knew that public colleges across the country were admitting more out-of-state students — who pay much higher tuitions — to help make up for shortfalls in state funding. A Washington Post study earlier this year found that 43 of 50 "state flagship" schools enrolled fewer state students than they had a decade earlier. At 10 flagships, it found that less than half the freshmen class were residents. Clinton she said that
model isn't tenable. "We have got to get back to using public colleges and universities for what they were intended," Clinton said during a campaign stop before the primary. "If it is in California, for the children in California. If it is in New York, for the children in New York." The candidate said that a Clinton administration would instead work to reduce the cost of going to college. The California legislation would limit all out-of-state students, including international students. A March state audit of the UC system found that the number of non-Californian students leaped 82 percent between the 2010-11 and 2013-14 academic years. The state auditor wrote that the trend made it harder for state residents to attend the colleges and caused "significant harm to residents and their families."
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TECH INDUSTRY REPUBLICANS NOT KEEN TO DONATE TO TRUMP
Donald Trump, whose primary campaign was mostly self-funded, is now tapping GOP donors to help pay for his general election campaign against Hillary Clinton. But some Republican donors aren't keen to pony up for Trump. That's particularly true in Silicon Valley, The Hill newspaper reports. Trump opposes free-trade pacts and immigration, two issues popular with the tech industry, which is also looking to see the visa process for skilled workers adjusted and relaxed. When Apple and the FBI were at odds over the agency's demand that Apple help break into the smartphone of one of the terrorists involved in the attack in San Bernardino, California, earlier this year, Trump suggested that voters boycott Apple. “There is also a general distaste (within the valley) . . . for Trump's
temperament and rhetoric,” The Hill notes. GOP donors there say Trump will be hard-pressed to raise the kinds of sums Mitt Romney raised in 2012. Valley Republicans are likely either stay on the sidelines or give money to down-ballot races, the newspaper says. |
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IV. THE K-12 REPORT
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SCHOOLS IN KANSAS FEEL THE PAIN OF STATE BUDGET WOES
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, convinced his GOP-led legislature to enact the biggest tax cuts in the state's history in 2012 and 2013. Since then, the state has had to make deep cuts in spending to compensate for a steep falloff in revenues. The state's colleges and public schools have both been hit. School districts have been forced to eliminate programs, lay off staff, and in some cases shorten school weeks, the New York Times reports. As a result, it adds, 69 percent of Kansans are unhappy with Brownback, and that includes many Republicans. The Times notes that one long-time GOP voter, Dinah Sykes, is challenging an incumbent state senator in the Republican primary in August because she's so alarmed about cuts to state education. Now the state's supreme court has ruled that
the legislature has not abided by its constitutional mandate to finance K-12 schools equitably, and ordered lawmakers to fix the problem by June 30 or face a shutdown of the schools. Finding the estimated $40 million to make the fixes the court is seeking would require further cuts elsewhere. Brownback cut K-12 funding by 1.5 percent in 2015, but kept a promise not to make further cuts in this year's budget. Instead he slashed spending to other agencies and reduced funding to higher education, including community colleges and technical schools, the newspaper reports. The Kansas branch of the National Education Association says that since Brownback took office in 2011, state aid per pupil has fallen from $4,400 to $3,800. Brownback and GOP lawmakers say school districts have plenty of cash and should instead spend dollars more prudently or dig more deeply into their reserves, according
to the Times.
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PROTOTYPE PROJECTOR COULD BE A FUN CLASSROOM TOOL
Sony's Future Lab is the consumer electronic giant's research-and-development group, and at the recent SxSW music and tech festival in Austin, Texas, it showed off a prototype projector that may have many classroom uses. The projector turns any table top into a screen that plays with light. At a SxSW demonstration, a company representative showed how it works by opening a copy of Alice in Wonderland. The book's illustrations became animated, and could be dragged off the page to interact with objects on the table, including a teacup and a deck of cards, the Verge reports. International Business Times says that the projector has great potential as an educational tool. “It is not hard to imagine how technology such as this could change school classrooms into an inspiring, interactive
table haven, teaching children about classical literature, geographical landmarks and ancient history in a hands-on, engaging manner,” it said. For now, however, it remains a prototype. Sony hasn't said if or when it will be released as a consumer product. |
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V. INNOVATIONS
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A SCANNER THAT COULD SHRINK AIRPORT SECURITY LINES
As the summer vacation season ramps into high gear, the Transportation Security Administration is under pressure to help reduce the long security lines at airports that can keep travelers stuck for up to 30 minutes. Engineers at Northeastern University may have a solution — albeit one that is still several years away from fruition. A team led by Jose Martinez, an assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at the Boston school, is devising a structure laden with powerful sensors that can scan several people at a time while they simply walk through it. Passengers would not have to remove their shoes or jackets; they would merely need to pause for a few seconds while raising their arms until they are cleared. Despite working so quickly, the sensors would still be able
to detect all potential threats. Current technology can screen 300 passengers per hour, but Martinez says his version could triple that number. Moreover, the fact that passengers wouldn't need to fumble around with their shoes and jackets should also speed things, as that ritual is one of the big reasons for today's logjams. Martinez's project is partly funded by the Department of Homeland Security. It's hoped a prototype of the screening structure will be ready by 2020.
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FOR SALE: A BIKE THAT REPELS BOTH THIEVES AND RAIN
A MIT spinout has begun marketing a bicycle it says is theft-proof and waterproof. Fortified Bicycle's Invincible bike features tires that cannot be punctured, a frame and chain that cannot rust, and theft-resistant components, including a U-lock, lights, handlebar, wheels and seat. It requires a specially-designed screwdriver to remove the components — a standard Allen wrench won't work. Fortified is also registering the bikes and owners, so if one is stolen, it can work with authorities and search through Craigslist or eBay to find it. If that doesn't work, the company will replace any stolen bike for free after 24 hours. Fortified began life in 2011 as Gotham Bicycle Defense Industries, led by Slava Menn, a graduate of MIT's Sloan School of Management; Brad Geswein, a MIT-trained
engineer and Sloan grad; and Tival Amour, an entrepreneur. The company, which got a lot of support from MIT's entrepreneurial ecosystem, also relied heavily on Kickstarter, the online crowd-funding site. Its first successful product was the Defender, a theft-proof, battery-charged bike light, and it went on to market many other components, including locks and seats. It has since sold tens of thousands of bike components worldwide and fewer than 1 percent have been stolen.
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VI. JOBS, JOBS, JOBS |
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VII. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS |
MID-ATLANTIC CONFERENCE SET FOR OCTOBER
Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, is sponsoring the Mid-Atlantic Regional ASEE Conference October 21-22, 2016. Papers are welcome in areas including first-year curriculum, successful industry partnerships, evolving assessment strategies, retention strategies, integration of liberal arts, balancing theory and practice in curricula, the core curriculum, underrepresented populations, and many other topics.
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE SESSION LOCATOR IS UP AND RUNNING
The full Conference program is now online and searchable in a variety of ways. Check it out and start to build your schedule.
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STAYING POWER
ASEE has done extensive work on retention and time-to-graduation rates over the previous several years. A good distillation was recently done by consultant Cindy Veenstra. "The study of graduation rates is multivariate and complex; the colleges' cultures, admission policies and student support/engagement activities all contribute to the variation. An engineering college with a 90% first year retention of its freshmen can expect a 5-year graduation rate of 72% while an engineering college with a 75% first year retention can expect a 47% graduation rate." See the full content.
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ENVISIONING THE FUTURE OF THE MAKER MOVEMENT
ASEE published a summit report on June 14 on the current and future status of the Maker Movement. The November 2015 Summit brought together more than 50 leaders from five different segments of the Maker community. Key findings include:
• Makers seek stronger networks and more networking experiences.
• Educators must pursue more organic evaluation efforts addressing practical skills and long-term learning to more effectively assess the impact of Making on learning.
• The movement must embrace efforts to increase diversity, accessibility, and inclusion to sustain and impact economic and global workforce advancement.
• Makers need greater access to both tangible (3D printers, computer software) and intangible (best practices frameworks, Maker-specific Communities of Practice, targeted opportunities) tools to sustain a strong base of dedicated participants.
• Roles and relationships of movement participants and stakeholders (students, educators, government officials, members of the STEM community, manufacturers and industry leaders) must be broadened and Makerspaces must adopt a more holistic, culturally expansive, and community centric role.
ASEE Managing Director Nathan Kahl discussed the report at the National Maker Faire in Washington, DC on June 19. In a presentation designed to capture the spirit of making he covered topics from duct tape prom dresses to Disney World's new “magic bands,” to over-the-top hot dog creations to the Wright Flyer, in addition to highlighting the key findings listed above.
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eGFI SUMMER READING
Is your school hosting an engineering camp, bridge program, or professional development session for K-12 teachers this summer? Jump-start the learning with eGFI (Engineering, Go For It), ASEE's award-winning magazine for middle and high school students. Filled with engaging features, gorgeous graphics, and useful information about engineering colleges and careers, eGFI aims to get teens fired up about engineering. To purchase copies, go to http://store.asee.org/ For bulk purchases or other inquiries, contact eGFI@asee.org or call 202-331-3500.
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