Drop in international enrollment affects my university’s bottom line

Image credit: UCM’s International Student Services

Here’s an informative article by Charles L. Welch about the economic, educational, and cultural benefits to having international students attend regional public universities: like the University of Central Missouri, through which I am pursuing my graduate studies in librarianship.

‘Why Phi Kappa Phi’

“Why ΦΚΦ”. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is inviting its members to share the reasons that they accepted membership. What resonated with me was the emphasis being placed upon being a lifelong learner.
https://youtu.be/VdzUOWrplpE

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Parkhill elected to Phi Kappa Phi (Press release)

Here is a press release that I distributed to newspaper publishers serving my home town of Calistoga, California. It concerns my recent election to membership into Phi Kappa Phi, a collegiate honor society.

UCM’s SOLIS Book Club : Our pick for Fall 2025

Poll results are in and we have a winner! In Fall 2025, UCM’s SOLIS Book Club will read Life Hacks for a Little Alien, by Alice Franklin. Franklin wrote this book in the second person and, in an interview with NPR’s Scott Simon, Franklin said she “wanted readers of the story to feel as much empathy as possible” with the titular “Little Alien.”
https://youtu.be/GP3OdRWoj5g

UCM ‘Scholarship Surge Day,’ Feb. 18, 2025

As a recipient of scholarships for my graduate studies at the University of Central Missouri, the UCM Alumni Foundation asked me to help promote its Scholarship Surge Day fundraiser on Feb. 18, 2025. Money raised will benefit 15 scholarships at UCM, and the foundation is offering a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $50,000.
https://youtu.be/jolqBytbhww

Learn more about the fundraiser:
https://ucmgives.org/

UCM, LIS 5350 : Introductions

In Fall 2024, I am taking a course in “Culturally Competent Librarianship” through the graduate program in Library and Information Science, University of Central Missouri. Among things I’m looking forward to this year is a department book-club reading of Verified by Mike Caulfield and Samuel S. Wineburg. And check out a couple of fun pictures of myself: a “Wanted” poster for my cosplay of Monkey D. Luffy from the One Piece franchise, and a photo from my junior college days, where I look like a young Justin Bieber.
https://youtu.be/ne6-6HF8qnk

Diverse populations need diverse library collections

In our reading this week for LIS 5100, Foundations of Librarianship, we learned that the populations and communities we serve are increasingly diverse. The Rubins cite a finding by Frey (2019) that “Hispanics comprise 18.3% of the population; African Americans, 12.5%; and Asians, 5.9%” (Rubin 2020, p. 69).

LIS 5100 : Avoiding student plagiarism

In an assignment for LIS 5100 this week, I was asked to discuss how I’d handle a student plagiarism case. As UCM’s policy on Academic Honesty (2017) points out, “[A]cademic honesty is one of the most important qualities influencing the character and image of an educational institution.”

UCM, LIS 5100 : Introductions

The purpose of this video is to introduce myself to classmates in LIS 5100, Foundations of Librarianship, University of Central Missouri. I am pursuing a Master of Science degree in Library and Information Science.

SSU Library, highlight of move back home

Image credit: SSU Library

One of the highlights of our return to the Sonoma County area is the Sonoma State University Library. When I attended classes, the library was housed in the Ruben Salazar building — and it was easily one of the most significant places on the SSU campus for me.

Autistic students and college supports

From an informal survey and a discussion with Julia Bascom, executive director at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Kit Mead, writing for “The Establishment,” has determined that “many autistic students find themselves pushed out of student housing due to a lack of accessibility and support.”

Oregon to offer ‘free’ community college

As noted by Nigel Jaquiss for Willamette Week, Oregon will become the second state to offer “free” community college (pending the signature of Gov. Kate Brown). Under Senate Bill 81, Oregon will pay the balance of tuition for eligible students who apply for and receive federal grants for community college.

‘The End of College’ by Kevin Carey

In an essay printed March 5 by the New York Times, Kevin Carey writes about the effect that “open badges” or low-cost online degrees will have upon four-year colleges’ current “near-monopoly upon verifiable academic achievement.”

“Free online courses won’t revolutionize education until there is a parallel system of free or low-fee credentials, not controlled by traditional colleges, that leads to jobs.”

Carey’s essay was adapted from his book, The End of College: Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere (Riverhead Books, 2015).

Cuesta College is fully accredited

Here’s some of the best news that I had all week: the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges reaffirmed Cuesta College’s accreditation among California two-year colleges.

Swope argues: MOOCs can be free and profitable

For EdTech Magazine, John Swope argues that massive open online courses can be free and profitable at the same time.

“Critics argue that the meteoric rise of MOOCs will eventually collapse under the weight of a few key weaknesses — namely, high attrition rates and a lack of participation from underprivileged students. These criticisms, however, ignore the market forces that led to the rise of MOOCs in the first place and will continue to support the movement going forward.”

Education and health care: the best choice, even if you’re selfish

My Facebook timeline displays a head shot of Young Adult fiction writer John Green with the caption: “Let me explain why I like to pay taxes for schools even though I don’t personally have a kid in school: I don’t like living in a country with a bunch of stupid people.”

‘Pay It Forward’ at Oregon universities

Image credit: AddictingInfo.org

Oregon will become the first state to offer a “Pay It Forward” program for education at its seven state universities.

As explained by Chris Lazare at AddictingInfo.org, “Students will be able to initially attend state universities free of cost. Upon graduating students will pay 3 percent of their paycheck for 24 years in order to help fund the program for future students.”

Cuesta College on least-severe level of sanction by ACCJC

Superintendent and President Gilbert H. Stork had good news this week about Cuesta College accreditation status. According to Stork, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) has removed Cuesta College from a show-cause status. The school has been placed on warning, which, according to Stork, is the least severe level of sanction.

“In its Feb. 11 letter, the commission found that Cuesta fully resolved the deficiencies identified last year, with the exception of one -- completing an integrated planning process. The commission added that Cuesta seems poised to demonstrate that it will fully resolve that remaining issue in the next few months.”

What this means for students like me is that, according to Stork:

• Cuesta remains accredited.
• Classes will still transfer. 
• Students can get degrees and certificates. 
• Financial aid remains safe.

Stork added, “Cuesta must next complete a follow-up report and submit it by mid-October to the ACCJC. An evaluation team will visit in the fall. The commission will meet in January of 2014 to decide whether sanctions will be lifted.”

ACCJC is the regional accrediting agency that evaluates two-year colleges in California. Stork invited students to view Cuesta College’s accreditation web page to see official communications from the commission and evidence of the progress Cuesta has made toward satisfying ACCJC’s standards.

Cuesta College LIBT program ‘substantially intact’

A message from Mark Stengel, director of library/learning resources for Cuesta College, indicates that its Library/Information Technology (LIBT) degree and certificate remain “substantially intact.”

Student loan debt has grown 275 percent

According to Face The Facts USA, student loan debt grew 275 percent during the last decade. This is why I “hack” library school in the community college system.

For 100 days, Face The Facts USA is partnering with Lake County Publishing to present voters with one new fact each day until the election. View past facts at http://ht.ly/cFw52.