Published at the Editor's Weblog, the blog for the managing editor of the Lee Clarion.
Lee University President Paul Conn has a profile on social network Web site Facebook, but the Office of the President denies the president's involvement in the page.
Cole Strong, administrative assistant to the president, said that he thought the president's profile page had been set up by an anonymous student. No one in the administration, even Dr. Conn himself, had a part in creating or updating the profile, he said.
The profile, however, was set up with the pconn@leeuniversity.edu e-mail address, the address the president uses for his e-mail correspondence. Technically, only he would have access to confirm his e-mail address through Facebook.
Dr. Conn has repeatedly stated he had no part in the page, even though it has been continuously updated since it appeared in fall 2006. over two years ago.
In that time "Conn" has garnered 158 friends and 157 photos. In February 2008, one application (Causes) was added to his page.
"Conn" apparently has not been active on his page since February until late October, when he added three friends, including his wife.
It remains a mystery who operates the Paul Conn Facebook page, but one thing is for sure: he needs a profile picture.
Friday, October 31, 2008
President's office denies involvement with Conn's Facebook profile
Published at the Editor's Weblog, the blog for the managing editor of the Lee Clarion.
Lee University President Paul Conn has a profile on social network Web site Facebook, but the Office of the President denies the president's involvement in the page.
Cole Strong, administrative assistant to the president, said that he thought the president's profile page had been set up by an anonymous student. No one in the administration, even Dr. Conn himself, had a part in creating or updating the profile, he said.
The profile, however, was set up with the pconn@leeuniversity.edu e-mail address, the address the president uses for his e-mail correspondence. Technically, only he would have access to confirm his e-mail address through Facebook.
Dr. Conn has repeatedly stated he had no part in the page, even though it has been continuously updated since it appeared in fall 2006. over two years ago.
In that time "Conn" has garnered 158 friends and 157 photos. In February 2008, one application (Causes) was added to his page.
"Conn" apparently has not been active on his page since February until late October, when he added three friends, including his wife.
It remains a mystery who operates the Paul Conn Facebook page, but one thing is for sure: he needs a profile picture.
Lee University President Paul Conn has a profile on social network Web site Facebook, but the Office of the President denies the president's involvement in the page.
Cole Strong, administrative assistant to the president, said that he thought the president's profile page had been set up by an anonymous student. No one in the administration, even Dr. Conn himself, had a part in creating or updating the profile, he said.
The profile, however, was set up with the pconn@leeuniversity.edu e-mail address, the address the president uses for his e-mail correspondence. Technically, only he would have access to confirm his e-mail address through Facebook.
Dr. Conn has repeatedly stated he had no part in the page, even though it has been continuously updated since it appeared in fall 2006. over two years ago.
In that time "Conn" has garnered 158 friends and 157 photos. In February 2008, one application (Causes) was added to his page.
"Conn" apparently has not been active on his page since February until late October, when he added three friends, including his wife.
It remains a mystery who operates the Paul Conn Facebook page, but one thing is for sure: he needs a profile picture.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Lee alumnus soars with Obama campaign
Published in the Lee Clarion.
As one of 35 reporters allowed on Senator Barack Obama’s exclusive jet, Lee alum Todd Starnes said delivering fair coverage is a key part of his role as a Christian journalist.
“I believe I have the coolest job in America,” Starnes said. “My job is to write a first draft of history and this is a historic campaign.”
Starnes, a 1994 graduate of Lee, has served as Fox News Radio’s primary political reporter since January, covering the 2008 presidential race.
The Republican Primaries
From the beginning Starnes was assigned to cover the Republican presidential primary, where he interviewed most of the candidates, including Mike Huckabee, before the New York City Marathon. Starnes said he developed a sort of kinship with the governor.
“We are both Baptists, Southerners, and have put away our fair share of fried chicken,” he said. “We are also passionate runners.”
Huckabee would ask Starnes about his running schedule throughout the campaign, Starnes said.
“On primary day in New Hampshire, I was in the parking lot of a school [and] I heard him shouting,” Starnes said.
The governor asked him how his running routine was before instructing him on proper running attire for the winter.
“I thought it was extremely weird to be discussing under armor with a guy who wants to be our next president,” Starnes said.
On a warmer day in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Starnes remembers seeing a Mount Rushmore of GOP candidates made entirely out of sand.
“It took three tons of sand just to make Mitt Romney’s hair,” he said.
Life on the Campaign Trail
No one covers the election from the perspective of the voter, Starnes said, explaining his take on the campaign.
“I try to take campaign issues and explain how they impact Main Street,” he said.
Broadcasting close to a dozen network newscasts every day, in addition to filing around 12 produced pieces daily, Starnes said his deadlines were extremely difficult. Many times he’s traveling from one event to the next and typing on his laptop along the way.
Starnes typically travels with around 75 pounds of gear including a satellite phone, Blackberry, cell phone, various microphones and his laptop.
It’s a very intense schedule, he said.
Starnes and the other journalists usually face a 5 a.m. wake-up call from the Secret Service before going to four or so campaign events and returning to the hotel room at midnight.
That’s seven days a week.
Flying with Obama
The Obama campaign, however, supplies hotel rooms, ground transportation and food for each of the reporters as well.
“They constantly feed us - and the food is amazing,” Starnes said.
In addition, the reporters fly across the nation in Obama’s “high-class” charter jet, or as Starnes and his fellow reporters call it, “O-Force One.”
“We don’t have to wear seat belts and we don’t have to turn off our electronic devices. It sure beats Southwest,” he said.
While Obama stays in the front compartment of the plane, the Secret Service occupies the second and Obama’s staff sit in the third. Print journalists receive the next compartment, Starnes said, followed by broadcasters in the back.
“The back of the plane is sort of like Animal House,” he said. “[It's] a dorm room with wings.
Despite all the work Starnes still manages to squeeze in a vacation every once in a while.
Following a recent 10 hour trip to Hawaii, Obama’s crew found about four hours of down time in Honolulu, he said.
“I did some serious speed-vacationing,” he said. “I hit the beach, took a surfing lesson [and] bought one of those dancing girls in a hula skirt…”
Starnes described life on the trail as amazing.
“I will never forget listening to Senator Obama’s victory speech in Des Moines, Iowa,” he said. “It was an amazing speech - whether you swing Republican or Democrat.”
In Denver he attended the senator’s largest rally, numbering over 100,000 people.
“I saw dads putting their kids on tree branches so they could see,” he said. “And teenagers climbed on top of lampposts to get a better look at Obama.”
Faith first
“I have a quiet time every day - no matter where I”m at - including O-Force One,” Starnes said. “Needless to say, I turned a few eyes the first time I pulled a Bible out of my backpack and read a few passages of Scripture.”
Having the Bible on board has generated some friendly discussion and allowed him to share his faith in a non-confrontational way, Starnes said, explaining that his faith keeps him grounded and focused.
“You never know when a Bible can come in handy,” he said. “Senator Obama went off script and quoted a passage. Some of the reporters were stumped and everyone was asking - ‘Does anyone have a Bible?’”
Starnes served as editor of the Lee Collegian (now the Lee Clarion) while he attended Lee, and credited the university’s journalism program for preparing him for his professional career.
“I don’t hang my faith at the newsroom door,” he said. “It’s a key part of who I am. I believe I am a more compassionate reporter thanks to my faith in Christ. Lee University taught me that excellence matters.”
No matter how bad the days on the campaign trail may be, Starnes said that it was still an honor to have volunteered to cover Obama.
“I believe as a journalist and a Christian, I have a responsibility and a duty to be fair and balanced,” he said.
As one of 35 reporters allowed on Senator Barack Obama’s exclusive jet, Lee alum Todd Starnes said delivering fair coverage is a key part of his role as a Christian journalist.
“I believe I have the coolest job in America,” Starnes said. “My job is to write a first draft of history and this is a historic campaign.”
Starnes, a 1994 graduate of Lee, has served as Fox News Radio’s primary political reporter since January, covering the 2008 presidential race.
The Republican Primaries
From the beginning Starnes was assigned to cover the Republican presidential primary, where he interviewed most of the candidates, including Mike Huckabee, before the New York City Marathon. Starnes said he developed a sort of kinship with the governor.
“We are both Baptists, Southerners, and have put away our fair share of fried chicken,” he said. “We are also passionate runners.”
Huckabee would ask Starnes about his running schedule throughout the campaign, Starnes said.
“On primary day in New Hampshire, I was in the parking lot of a school [and] I heard him shouting,” Starnes said.
The governor asked him how his running routine was before instructing him on proper running attire for the winter.
“I thought it was extremely weird to be discussing under armor with a guy who wants to be our next president,” Starnes said.
On a warmer day in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Starnes remembers seeing a Mount Rushmore of GOP candidates made entirely out of sand.
“It took three tons of sand just to make Mitt Romney’s hair,” he said.
Life on the Campaign Trail
No one covers the election from the perspective of the voter, Starnes said, explaining his take on the campaign.
“I try to take campaign issues and explain how they impact Main Street,” he said.
Broadcasting close to a dozen network newscasts every day, in addition to filing around 12 produced pieces daily, Starnes said his deadlines were extremely difficult. Many times he’s traveling from one event to the next and typing on his laptop along the way.
Starnes typically travels with around 75 pounds of gear including a satellite phone, Blackberry, cell phone, various microphones and his laptop.
It’s a very intense schedule, he said.
Starnes and the other journalists usually face a 5 a.m. wake-up call from the Secret Service before going to four or so campaign events and returning to the hotel room at midnight.
That’s seven days a week.
Flying with Obama
The Obama campaign, however, supplies hotel rooms, ground transportation and food for each of the reporters as well.
“They constantly feed us - and the food is amazing,” Starnes said.
In addition, the reporters fly across the nation in Obama’s “high-class” charter jet, or as Starnes and his fellow reporters call it, “O-Force One.”
“We don’t have to wear seat belts and we don’t have to turn off our electronic devices. It sure beats Southwest,” he said.
While Obama stays in the front compartment of the plane, the Secret Service occupies the second and Obama’s staff sit in the third. Print journalists receive the next compartment, Starnes said, followed by broadcasters in the back.
“The back of the plane is sort of like Animal House,” he said. “[It's] a dorm room with wings.
Despite all the work Starnes still manages to squeeze in a vacation every once in a while.
Following a recent 10 hour trip to Hawaii, Obama’s crew found about four hours of down time in Honolulu, he said.
“I did some serious speed-vacationing,” he said. “I hit the beach, took a surfing lesson [and] bought one of those dancing girls in a hula skirt…”
Starnes described life on the trail as amazing.
“I will never forget listening to Senator Obama’s victory speech in Des Moines, Iowa,” he said. “It was an amazing speech - whether you swing Republican or Democrat.”
In Denver he attended the senator’s largest rally, numbering over 100,000 people.
“I saw dads putting their kids on tree branches so they could see,” he said. “And teenagers climbed on top of lampposts to get a better look at Obama.”
Faith first
“I have a quiet time every day - no matter where I”m at - including O-Force One,” Starnes said. “Needless to say, I turned a few eyes the first time I pulled a Bible out of my backpack and read a few passages of Scripture.”
Having the Bible on board has generated some friendly discussion and allowed him to share his faith in a non-confrontational way, Starnes said, explaining that his faith keeps him grounded and focused.
“You never know when a Bible can come in handy,” he said. “Senator Obama went off script and quoted a passage. Some of the reporters were stumped and everyone was asking - ‘Does anyone have a Bible?’”
Starnes served as editor of the Lee Collegian (now the Lee Clarion) while he attended Lee, and credited the university’s journalism program for preparing him for his professional career.
“I don’t hang my faith at the newsroom door,” he said. “It’s a key part of who I am. I believe I am a more compassionate reporter thanks to my faith in Christ. Lee University taught me that excellence matters.”
No matter how bad the days on the campaign trail may be, Starnes said that it was still an honor to have volunteered to cover Obama.
“I believe as a journalist and a Christian, I have a responsibility and a duty to be fair and balanced,” he said.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Policy streamlined, but still needs clarification.
Published at the Editor's Weblog, the blog for the managing editor of the Lee Clarion.
The 2008 student handbook states that "students, regardless of gender, who spend the night in the same bed or in the same room will be suspended from the university, regardless of the location.
The statement, which is included in the sexual morality policy in the student handbook, has remained unchanged for a number of years, while other parts of the policy have been properly updated.
According to the policy, I could have been suspended from the university my freshman year when my first roommate and I (students, regardless of gender) slept in our dorm room (who spend the night...in the same room) in O'Bannon Hall (regardless of location).
I believe the university should inspect the policy to reformat it in a way that will more clearly convey its purpose. Updating the student handbook, especially the sexual morality policy, takes a lot of time and careful consideration on the part of the university.
A look at the changes made between the 2007 and 2008 policy:
2007: Unacceptable sexual practices outside of marriage including fondling of genitals, oral sex, excessive petting and other sexual offenses will result in suspension from the University.
2008: Unacceptable sexual practices outside of marriage will result in suspension from the University.
2007: Students found in bed together will be suspect to immediate suspension.
2008: (Statement not included).
The sexual morality policy is an important part of the university student handbook; hopefully continued revisions will refine the rules for better student understanding.
The 2008 student handbook states that "students, regardless of gender, who spend the night in the same bed or in the same room will be suspended from the university, regardless of the location.
The statement, which is included in the sexual morality policy in the student handbook, has remained unchanged for a number of years, while other parts of the policy have been properly updated.
According to the policy, I could have been suspended from the university my freshman year when my first roommate and I (students, regardless of gender) slept in our dorm room (who spend the night...in the same room) in O'Bannon Hall (regardless of location).
I believe the university should inspect the policy to reformat it in a way that will more clearly convey its purpose. Updating the student handbook, especially the sexual morality policy, takes a lot of time and careful consideration on the part of the university.
A look at the changes made between the 2007 and 2008 policy:
2007: Unacceptable sexual practices outside of marriage including fondling of genitals, oral sex, excessive petting and other sexual offenses will result in suspension from the University.
2008: Unacceptable sexual practices outside of marriage will result in suspension from the University.
2007: Students found in bed together will be suspect to immediate suspension.
2008: (Statement not included).
The sexual morality policy is an important part of the university student handbook; hopefully continued revisions will refine the rules for better student understanding.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Economic woes could cost students
Published in the Lee Clarion.
The economic roller coaster that rocked Wall Street earlier this month has shaken many colleges and universities, President Paul Conn said, noting that he believes Lee is well-prepared to survive the downturn.
Last weekend Conn met with financial leaders in New York City and fellow college presidents in Boston to discuss the impact of the economic crisis on higher education.
Conn said he will be distributing a set of articles that detail the downturn's effect on higher education to Lee administrators, with the help of Cole Strong, administrative assistant to the president. Conn highlighted important information in pieces from the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed and The Wall Street Journal.
Conn noted that the articles forecast a bleak financial outlook for schools around the country.
One of the articles is devoted entirely to the fact that many schools are fairly dependent on credit, he said. Another examined how interest rates on bonds has spiked in the last few months, causing some schools to face quadrupled interest rates.
"Fortunately we have done rate swaps for our bonds over the last six months to a year and a half, so we don't have that exposure," he said.
Conn said that some schools, including Lee, were very happy that they chose to pay slightly higher interest rates to get fixed bond rates.
Access to student loans is one of the main challenges caused by the current state of the economy.
Student Loan Outlook
Taking out student loans may be more difficult next semester due to the recent financial crisis that crippled Wall Street and plagued America’s banks.
Conn said that Lee faces a threat of losing students if financial aid becomes more difficult to access, a result of the financial crisis being felt by many colleges.
"The vast majority of American college students...rely on student loans," he said. "It's very high."
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 89 percent of Lee undergraduate students received financial aid during the 2006-2007 academic year, the latest figures available.
Of the financial aid received by those students, 42 percent came from student loans. Every Lee student received an average of $4,143 in student loans that school year.
“Students don’t have as many options [now],” said Jonathan Bradford, a student worker in Lee’s Office of Financial Aid, noting that several well-known lenders have reduced the amount of aid they provide.
Michael Ellis, director of financial aid, stated that around 140 lenders who provided student loans last year are no longer in the program, which will make it more challenging for students to find lenders.
That could be just part of the bad news considering that Lee students collectively borrow approximately $15 million in student loans every school year, according to 2007 statistics from the NCES.
The turbulent state of the economy isn’t actually bad news to students, however, in the opinion of Assistant Professor of Business Alan Burns.
“If [the economy] was going to be tightened up, the bailout should loosen it up,” Burns said. ”It should cause student loans to be more available.”
It will likely take several months for the effects to fully take place, he said.
Ellis, on the other hand, said he doesn't foresee the economy rebounding enough to help this year.
After talking with lenders at a recent conference, Ellis said he doesn't anticipate problems with Lee's main lenders next spring or fall.
"I think that the lenders that have survived at this point will probably stay in the program," he said.
Loss of the Perkins Loan
Approximately 150 students this semester saw their financial aid route collapse when the Federal Perkins Loans they were counting on fell through, Conn said.
The Perkins Loan program, which provides up to $4,000 per year for students, is provided solely from loan payments paid by former Lee students, Ellis said.
"Our collections from Perkins have really dropped off and that's affecting what we're able to pay this year....We won't get their payments for at least another year," Ellis said.
Conn said that the university is having to arrange new sources for borrowing. Two main options are parent loans and alternative loans requiring co-signers, Ellis said.
Ellis also said the loss of the Perkins Loan emphasized the critical need for students to lessen dependency on loans and focus on scholarship research.
The economy and Lee
"Many of the risks which this financial crisis offers for colleges and universities are minimized in Lee's case for various reasons," Conn said.
The university's relatively small $9 million endowment fund centers around an investment policy that makes Lee less exposed, Conn said.
"Schools with large endowment funds...are being extremely affected," he stated. "We have a lot to be grateful for."
Conn said that Lee's endowment is used primarily for student scholarships.
"Our focus has been to build a campus, not to build an endowment," he said.
Pointing out the current construction of a new $14 million science and mathematics building, Conn said he thinks the university has the money to keep the project on schedule.
Conn also said that donors are less willing to make multi-year commitments but that Lee's donors haven't been as affected by the downturn.
Budget crunching
The damage to Lee's budget isn't as great as it is at schools where the endowment is the primary source of the school's operating budget, Conn said.
"It is expected that the greater impact...will be in the second half of the year, depending on how this plays out," he said. "There is a little bit more of a delay for private institutions."
State schools are seeing the biggest budget problems right now, Conn said, due to lower tax revenues.
"We don't expect budget cuts this year," Conn said. "We're certainly prepared to do what we need to do. We're going to be very cautious and very careful but we expect our budget to be fully funded this year."
Conn said that there was a $750,000 decrease in the funding that Lee received this year from the Church of God, a 20 percent reduction in the amount of money that the sponsoring denomination supplies each year.
Church of God funding accounts for 5 percent of Lee's $58 million operating budget this year. Last year it accounted for approximately 7 percent.
"We can find ways to save $750,000 and that's what we're doing," Conn said, stating that approximately 90 personnel at Lee manage budgets within the overall operating budget. "We'll massage [the current budget] all year long and try to find ways to operate as efficiently as possible."
"Students need to know that we're in a very strong position financially," Conn said. "We don't depend on a change in the economy....What we depend on is our ability to serve students."
The economic roller coaster that rocked Wall Street earlier this month has shaken many colleges and universities, President Paul Conn said, noting that he believes Lee is well-prepared to survive the downturn.Last weekend Conn met with financial leaders in New York City and fellow college presidents in Boston to discuss the impact of the economic crisis on higher education.
Conn said he will be distributing a set of articles that detail the downturn's effect on higher education to Lee administrators, with the help of Cole Strong, administrative assistant to the president. Conn highlighted important information in pieces from the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed and The Wall Street Journal.
Conn noted that the articles forecast a bleak financial outlook for schools around the country.
One of the articles is devoted entirely to the fact that many schools are fairly dependent on credit, he said. Another examined how interest rates on bonds has spiked in the last few months, causing some schools to face quadrupled interest rates.
"Fortunately we have done rate swaps for our bonds over the last six months to a year and a half, so we don't have that exposure," he said.
Conn said that some schools, including Lee, were very happy that they chose to pay slightly higher interest rates to get fixed bond rates.
Access to student loans is one of the main challenges caused by the current state of the economy.
Student Loan Outlook
Taking out student loans may be more difficult next semester due to the recent financial crisis that crippled Wall Street and plagued America’s banks.
Conn said that Lee faces a threat of losing students if financial aid becomes more difficult to access, a result of the financial crisis being felt by many colleges.
"The vast majority of American college students...rely on student loans," he said. "It's very high."
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 89 percent of Lee undergraduate students received financial aid during the 2006-2007 academic year, the latest figures available.
Of the financial aid received by those students, 42 percent came from student loans. Every Lee student received an average of $4,143 in student loans that school year.
“Students don’t have as many options [now],” said Jonathan Bradford, a student worker in Lee’s Office of Financial Aid, noting that several well-known lenders have reduced the amount of aid they provide.
Michael Ellis, director of financial aid, stated that around 140 lenders who provided student loans last year are no longer in the program, which will make it more challenging for students to find lenders.
That could be just part of the bad news considering that Lee students collectively borrow approximately $15 million in student loans every school year, according to 2007 statistics from the NCES.
The turbulent state of the economy isn’t actually bad news to students, however, in the opinion of Assistant Professor of Business Alan Burns.
“If [the economy] was going to be tightened up, the bailout should loosen it up,” Burns said. ”It should cause student loans to be more available.”
It will likely take several months for the effects to fully take place, he said.
Ellis, on the other hand, said he doesn't foresee the economy rebounding enough to help this year.
After talking with lenders at a recent conference, Ellis said he doesn't anticipate problems with Lee's main lenders next spring or fall.
"I think that the lenders that have survived at this point will probably stay in the program," he said.
Loss of the Perkins Loan
Approximately 150 students this semester saw their financial aid route collapse when the Federal Perkins Loans they were counting on fell through, Conn said.
The Perkins Loan program, which provides up to $4,000 per year for students, is provided solely from loan payments paid by former Lee students, Ellis said.
"Our collections from Perkins have really dropped off and that's affecting what we're able to pay this year....We won't get their payments for at least another year," Ellis said.
Conn said that the university is having to arrange new sources for borrowing. Two main options are parent loans and alternative loans requiring co-signers, Ellis said.
Ellis also said the loss of the Perkins Loan emphasized the critical need for students to lessen dependency on loans and focus on scholarship research.
The economy and Lee
"Many of the risks which this financial crisis offers for colleges and universities are minimized in Lee's case for various reasons," Conn said.
The university's relatively small $9 million endowment fund centers around an investment policy that makes Lee less exposed, Conn said.
"Schools with large endowment funds...are being extremely affected," he stated. "We have a lot to be grateful for."
Conn said that Lee's endowment is used primarily for student scholarships.
"Our focus has been to build a campus, not to build an endowment," he said.
Pointing out the current construction of a new $14 million science and mathematics building, Conn said he thinks the university has the money to keep the project on schedule.
Conn also said that donors are less willing to make multi-year commitments but that Lee's donors haven't been as affected by the downturn.
Budget crunching
The damage to Lee's budget isn't as great as it is at schools where the endowment is the primary source of the school's operating budget, Conn said.
"It is expected that the greater impact...will be in the second half of the year, depending on how this plays out," he said. "There is a little bit more of a delay for private institutions."
State schools are seeing the biggest budget problems right now, Conn said, due to lower tax revenues.
"We don't expect budget cuts this year," Conn said. "We're certainly prepared to do what we need to do. We're going to be very cautious and very careful but we expect our budget to be fully funded this year."
Conn said that there was a $750,000 decrease in the funding that Lee received this year from the Church of God, a 20 percent reduction in the amount of money that the sponsoring denomination supplies each year.
Church of God funding accounts for 5 percent of Lee's $58 million operating budget this year. Last year it accounted for approximately 7 percent.
"We can find ways to save $750,000 and that's what we're doing," Conn said, stating that approximately 90 personnel at Lee manage budgets within the overall operating budget. "We'll massage [the current budget] all year long and try to find ways to operate as efficiently as possible."
"Students need to know that we're in a very strong position financially," Conn said. "We don't depend on a change in the economy....What we depend on is our ability to serve students."
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Lee Web site to undergo major revision
Published in the Lee Clarion.
A major redesign is on the docket for Lee University’s Web site, bringing the aging site into the Web 2.0 era before the beginning of the spring semester.
In addition to a brand new look, personalized user accounts and a system for departments to update their own pages will make the site easier to use than ever before, programmer analyst Breanna Gray said.
“It’s a completely different look but it’s going to be really nice,” Ms. Gray said.
A senior at Lee, Ms. Gray is the project manager for a team of four student workers responsible for the transition from the site’s current design to the new system.
Project Beginnings
Datatel Incorporated (the network company behind Colleague and WebAdvisor) met with Lee’s web development committee last year to discuss revisions to the school’s site, Ms. Gray said. Datatel then implemented requested features into a redesigned site and presented the concept to the committee.
“It’s a long process; we’ve got about 7,500 Web pages on the site,” said Nate Tucker, associate director of Information Systems & Technology. “[Now] it will be easier to maintain.”
Upgrading the current site requires a manual update to all 7,500 pages., unlike the new system, which will allow for a redesigned look to be easily added across the entire site, Tucker said.
The site’s current style has stayed stagnant since January 2004. Lee University’s web presence was first launched in January 1998, more than ten years ago.
Redesigned Look
“Students will notice a new look and feel,” said Craig Gray, director of Information Services & Technology.
The new site highlights a prominent photograph in a banner at the top of every page while two columns on the right side provide relevant links and information.
“Each section page has its own general color scheme,” Ms. Gray said. “It’s generally the same layout; everything should be easy to find.”
Departing from the traditional white background, new pages are wrapped with a blue frame featuring light and dark tones.
The Lee Flame logo also watermarks the primary content on every section page of the new site.
Pages will also include an integrated search bar in the top right corner and a new breadcrumb navigation system in the opposite corner that shows users a trail of previous pages.
User Accounts
Visitors to Lee University’s site will also be able to create online accounts that tailor the site according to their preferences.
“Prospects will have information that’s personalized to them,” Tucker said. “We can target their interests; the content will be delivered based on their interest.”
For example, when a prospective student creates an account, a personalization form appears. Prospects can select their top choices for majors and select their interests in clubs, organizations and sports.
A student who selects an interest in baseball will receive information about that sport integrated with other data on the site, Tucker said.
In turn, Lee’s baseball coach could receive a list of all potential students who had expressed their interest in the team, Ms. Gray said.
The data gathered will be utilized to create different audience groups on the site, she said.
In the future, LeeUniversity.edu accounts may merge with existing campus computer log-in accounts, Ms. Gray said, especially for faculty and staff.
Content Management System
“Administrators will have a whole new system to manage content,” Mr. Gray said. “We’re creating a common [theme].”
Implementation of a content management system for the first time will allow specific departments on campus to control the content on pages relative to their office, Tucker said.
“This new software will allow us to focus on the template,” he said. “The offices will be responsible for keeping the content fresh.”
At present, university departments go through a tedious process to get their page on the Web site updated, Ms. Gray said.
For instance, if there was a change in the faculty of the Department of Communication, an e-mail would have to be sent to the web development team to request changes.
The team, comprised mostly of students, does not have direct access to the live site.
“It can take a couple days just to get a simple date change made,” Ms. Gray said.
The new system will allow departments to make simple text changes themselves.
With greater access, however, comes greater security concerns.
The web development team grappled with the decision to let departments post to the live site, Ms. Gray said, but she suggests that even small changes will still have to be viewed and approved by her team.
“[This] is more secure than anything we’ve ever done,” Ms. Gray said, noting that it took more planning than ever before to get it right.
Devoting less time to making small changes will bring big changes to the way the web team operates, Ms. Gray said.
“The web development team will be focused on making the site better rather than just keeping it up to date. We’ll have time to focus on improving rather than just on maintaining…Honestly, the best feature… is the [content management system].”
Other Features
The new site will debut what Tucker called a “true electronic application,” digitizing every step of the admissions process for prospective students. The new online application will save admissions department employees from having to retype data gathered in applications.
Weather advisories and school closings can also easily be posted and distributed across the site with the new system, Tucker said.
“Right now our goal is to get to a point where we’re up and running,” Ms. Gray said, noting that adding interactive media features like videos and blogs could be explored in the future.
The internal goal for completing the transition to the new site is within a few weeks, she said.
“I know we’re not going to, at the moment, meet our projected deadline,” she said, adding that dates have continuously moved because of scheduling issues.
Mr. Gray said the changes to the site should be complete and online before the spring semester begins.
“[The new site] will not be so extravagantly different that you’re not going to know how to use it,” Ms. Gray said. “There was kind of a big fuss when we switched from Lee Central to WebAdvisor and there’s always going to be a little bit of resistance to change. I think that once people get used to it and get a feel for it, they’re really going to love it.”
A major redesign is on the docket for Lee University’s Web site, bringing the aging site into the Web 2.0 era before the beginning of the spring semester.In addition to a brand new look, personalized user accounts and a system for departments to update their own pages will make the site easier to use than ever before, programmer analyst Breanna Gray said.
“It’s a completely different look but it’s going to be really nice,” Ms. Gray said.
A senior at Lee, Ms. Gray is the project manager for a team of four student workers responsible for the transition from the site’s current design to the new system.
Project Beginnings
Datatel Incorporated (the network company behind Colleague and WebAdvisor) met with Lee’s web development committee last year to discuss revisions to the school’s site, Ms. Gray said. Datatel then implemented requested features into a redesigned site and presented the concept to the committee.
“It’s a long process; we’ve got about 7,500 Web pages on the site,” said Nate Tucker, associate director of Information Systems & Technology. “[Now] it will be easier to maintain.”
Upgrading the current site requires a manual update to all 7,500 pages., unlike the new system, which will allow for a redesigned look to be easily added across the entire site, Tucker said.
The site’s current style has stayed stagnant since January 2004. Lee University’s web presence was first launched in January 1998, more than ten years ago.
Redesigned Look
“Students will notice a new look and feel,” said Craig Gray, director of Information Services & Technology.
The new site highlights a prominent photograph in a banner at the top of every page while two columns on the right side provide relevant links and information.
“Each section page has its own general color scheme,” Ms. Gray said. “It’s generally the same layout; everything should be easy to find.”
Departing from the traditional white background, new pages are wrapped with a blue frame featuring light and dark tones.
The Lee Flame logo also watermarks the primary content on every section page of the new site.
Pages will also include an integrated search bar in the top right corner and a new breadcrumb navigation system in the opposite corner that shows users a trail of previous pages.
User Accounts
Visitors to Lee University’s site will also be able to create online accounts that tailor the site according to their preferences.
“Prospects will have information that’s personalized to them,” Tucker said. “We can target their interests; the content will be delivered based on their interest.”
For example, when a prospective student creates an account, a personalization form appears. Prospects can select their top choices for majors and select their interests in clubs, organizations and sports.
A student who selects an interest in baseball will receive information about that sport integrated with other data on the site, Tucker said.
In turn, Lee’s baseball coach could receive a list of all potential students who had expressed their interest in the team, Ms. Gray said.
The data gathered will be utilized to create different audience groups on the site, she said.
In the future, LeeUniversity.edu accounts may merge with existing campus computer log-in accounts, Ms. Gray said, especially for faculty and staff.
Content Management System
“Administrators will have a whole new system to manage content,” Mr. Gray said. “We’re creating a common [theme].”
Implementation of a content management system for the first time will allow specific departments on campus to control the content on pages relative to their office, Tucker said.
“This new software will allow us to focus on the template,” he said. “The offices will be responsible for keeping the content fresh.”
At present, university departments go through a tedious process to get their page on the Web site updated, Ms. Gray said.
For instance, if there was a change in the faculty of the Department of Communication, an e-mail would have to be sent to the web development team to request changes.
The team, comprised mostly of students, does not have direct access to the live site.
“It can take a couple days just to get a simple date change made,” Ms. Gray said.
The new system will allow departments to make simple text changes themselves.
With greater access, however, comes greater security concerns.
The web development team grappled with the decision to let departments post to the live site, Ms. Gray said, but she suggests that even small changes will still have to be viewed and approved by her team.
“[This] is more secure than anything we’ve ever done,” Ms. Gray said, noting that it took more planning than ever before to get it right.
Devoting less time to making small changes will bring big changes to the way the web team operates, Ms. Gray said.
“The web development team will be focused on making the site better rather than just keeping it up to date. We’ll have time to focus on improving rather than just on maintaining…Honestly, the best feature… is the [content management system].”
Other Features
The new site will debut what Tucker called a “true electronic application,” digitizing every step of the admissions process for prospective students. The new online application will save admissions department employees from having to retype data gathered in applications.
Weather advisories and school closings can also easily be posted and distributed across the site with the new system, Tucker said.
“Right now our goal is to get to a point where we’re up and running,” Ms. Gray said, noting that adding interactive media features like videos and blogs could be explored in the future.
The internal goal for completing the transition to the new site is within a few weeks, she said.
“I know we’re not going to, at the moment, meet our projected deadline,” she said, adding that dates have continuously moved because of scheduling issues.
Mr. Gray said the changes to the site should be complete and online before the spring semester begins.
“[The new site] will not be so extravagantly different that you’re not going to know how to use it,” Ms. Gray said. “There was kind of a big fuss when we switched from Lee Central to WebAdvisor and there’s always going to be a little bit of resistance to change. I think that once people get used to it and get a feel for it, they’re really going to love it.”
Monday, October 13, 2008
Students may face trouble with loans
Published in the Lee Clarion.
Taking out student loans may be more difficult next semester due to the recent financial crisis that crippled Wall Street and plagued America’s banks.
“You’re going to have trouble getting a loan for anything,” said Jonathan Bradford, a student worker in Lee’s Office of Financial Aid. “Fewer lenders are lending.”
Many Lee students depend on financial aid, and specifically student loans, to study at Lee every year.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 89 percent of Lee undergraduate students received financial aid during the 2006-2007 academic year, the latest figures available.
Of the financial aid received by those students, 42 percent came from student loans. Every Lee student received an average of $4,143 in student loans that school year.
“Students don’t have as many options [now],” Bradford said, noting that several well-known lenders have reduced the amount of aid they provide since the onslaught of the economic crisis this month.
The College Loan Corps has stopped providing the Stafford Loan, Bradford said.
That could be just part of the bad news considering that Lee students collectively borrow approximately $15 million in student loans every school year according to 2007 statistics from the NCES.
Last week a $700 billion economic bailout was signed into law by President George W. Bush less than two hours after the House of Representatives approved it. While the original version was rejected by the House, the skeleton of the plan remains the same.
The turbulent state of the economy isn’t actually bad news to students, however, in the opinion of Assistant Professor of Business Alan Burns.
“If [the economy] was going to be tightened up, the bailout should loosen it up,” Burns said. ”It should cause student loans to be more available.”
It will likely take several months for the effects to fully take place, he said.
The biggest damage affecting college students could come in the form of increasing interest rates according to CNN, which cites college students as the most heavily indebted population.
Most students don’t have any appreciable income while taking out student loans in hope of landing a job that can help to pay back the debt later.
Unemployment rates have continued to skyrocket, however, as the bailouts rumble through the halls of Congress.
The financial rescue plan includes detailed provisions in order to jump start Wall Street and the American economy, however. The highlights include:
Handling the credit crisis: The plan allows financial institutions in trouble to sell their assets to the government, including mortgages that the institution can no longer afford.
Safeguarding taxpayers: While the bailout comes at the expense of $700 billion in taxpayer dollars, a portion of the bill states that the president must propose a bill that would require each financial institution to repay any net loss after five years, essentially reimbursing taxpayers for what they might lose through the plan.
Tax breaks: The bill includes three main tax breaks. The first, a clause that increases the amount of renewable energy tax breaks for individuals and businesses. Secondly, the law is one that allows individuals to deduct state and local sales tax on their federal returns with the research and development credit for businesses. Lastly, a tax break that tacks on an additional year that Americans won’t have to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax. Without this clause Americans would have to pay on the so-called “income tax for the wealthy” program.
Despite the shape of the economy, Bradford, a pastoral ministry major, said he doesn’t have anymore worries about student loans.
“I’m a senior,” he admitted.
Michelle Bollman contributed to this story.
Taking out student loans may be more difficult next semester due to the recent financial crisis that crippled Wall Street and plagued America’s banks.
“You’re going to have trouble getting a loan for anything,” said Jonathan Bradford, a student worker in Lee’s Office of Financial Aid. “Fewer lenders are lending.”
Many Lee students depend on financial aid, and specifically student loans, to study at Lee every year.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 89 percent of Lee undergraduate students received financial aid during the 2006-2007 academic year, the latest figures available.
Of the financial aid received by those students, 42 percent came from student loans. Every Lee student received an average of $4,143 in student loans that school year.
“Students don’t have as many options [now],” Bradford said, noting that several well-known lenders have reduced the amount of aid they provide since the onslaught of the economic crisis this month.
The College Loan Corps has stopped providing the Stafford Loan, Bradford said.
That could be just part of the bad news considering that Lee students collectively borrow approximately $15 million in student loans every school year according to 2007 statistics from the NCES.
Last week a $700 billion economic bailout was signed into law by President George W. Bush less than two hours after the House of Representatives approved it. While the original version was rejected by the House, the skeleton of the plan remains the same.
The turbulent state of the economy isn’t actually bad news to students, however, in the opinion of Assistant Professor of Business Alan Burns.
“If [the economy] was going to be tightened up, the bailout should loosen it up,” Burns said. ”It should cause student loans to be more available.”
It will likely take several months for the effects to fully take place, he said.
The biggest damage affecting college students could come in the form of increasing interest rates according to CNN, which cites college students as the most heavily indebted population.
Most students don’t have any appreciable income while taking out student loans in hope of landing a job that can help to pay back the debt later.
Unemployment rates have continued to skyrocket, however, as the bailouts rumble through the halls of Congress.
The financial rescue plan includes detailed provisions in order to jump start Wall Street and the American economy, however. The highlights include:
Handling the credit crisis: The plan allows financial institutions in trouble to sell their assets to the government, including mortgages that the institution can no longer afford.
Safeguarding taxpayers: While the bailout comes at the expense of $700 billion in taxpayer dollars, a portion of the bill states that the president must propose a bill that would require each financial institution to repay any net loss after five years, essentially reimbursing taxpayers for what they might lose through the plan.
Tax breaks: The bill includes three main tax breaks. The first, a clause that increases the amount of renewable energy tax breaks for individuals and businesses. Secondly, the law is one that allows individuals to deduct state and local sales tax on their federal returns with the research and development credit for businesses. Lastly, a tax break that tacks on an additional year that Americans won’t have to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax. Without this clause Americans would have to pay on the so-called “income tax for the wealthy” program.
Despite the shape of the economy, Bradford, a pastoral ministry major, said he doesn’t have anymore worries about student loans.
“I’m a senior,” he admitted.
Michelle Bollman contributed to this story.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Critically thinking about the Lee Clarion
Published in the Lee Clarion.
Lee University might as well have New York Times writers in the education department.
An article review rubric used this semester for Intermediate Grade Methods (ELE 412) rates student writing on a scale using newspapers as definitions of quality.
The New York Times ranks highest on the scale (3), followed by the Tennessean, the Cleveland Daily Banner and finally, the Lee Clarion (0). Below each paper is a label reading “exemplary,” “proficient,” “progressing” and “not yet,” respectively.
The rubric charged the Lee Clarion with ignoring format, foregoing summaries and including inappropriate story topics among other mistakes.
“Critical thinking is not evident,” read one of the defining points, followed by “six or more mechanical errors were made.”
It’s likely true that neither the students enrolled in the Intermediate Grade Methods class nor the editors of the Lee Clarion have ever written a piece for the New York Times.
However, it is doubtful that the ELE 412 students have been published in a major metropolitan daily newspaper, while select Lee Clarion editors have been published in the Cincinnati Enquirer and Washington Times.
It may be that the faculty members who created the rubric unknowingly criticized other students at the university that employs them.
By devaluing the articles printed in the Lee Clarion and at LeeClarion.com, the faculty behind the grading sheet essentially ridiculed a student publication at their school.
What teacher would rank majors, athletics or student clubs on such a grading scale, even describing the lowest possible option as a student group at a university they were called to teach at?
The Lee Clarion has made six or more mechanical errors in an issue, yes, but even major newspapers make more mistakes than that every day.
If the faculty who created the rubric remain convinced that article format and critical thinking are ignored by the Lee Clarion staff, we encourage them to engage in a dialogue with our editors as we continue to strive for excellence in every article, video and photo that the Lee Clarion publishes.
The same teachers may want to rethink the labels they use on such a rubric in the future, perhaps reformatting them to labels used in many similar classes, such as: exceptional, superb, good, etc.
The connections made to the Lee Clarion, perhaps only out of ignorance, serve to shatter the self-esteem and confidence of hard-working student writers striving for excellence.
Lee University might as well have New York Times writers in the education department.An article review rubric used this semester for Intermediate Grade Methods (ELE 412) rates student writing on a scale using newspapers as definitions of quality.
The New York Times ranks highest on the scale (3), followed by the Tennessean, the Cleveland Daily Banner and finally, the Lee Clarion (0). Below each paper is a label reading “exemplary,” “proficient,” “progressing” and “not yet,” respectively.
The rubric charged the Lee Clarion with ignoring format, foregoing summaries and including inappropriate story topics among other mistakes.
“Critical thinking is not evident,” read one of the defining points, followed by “six or more mechanical errors were made.”
It’s likely true that neither the students enrolled in the Intermediate Grade Methods class nor the editors of the Lee Clarion have ever written a piece for the New York Times.
However, it is doubtful that the ELE 412 students have been published in a major metropolitan daily newspaper, while select Lee Clarion editors have been published in the Cincinnati Enquirer and Washington Times.
It may be that the faculty members who created the rubric unknowingly criticized other students at the university that employs them.
By devaluing the articles printed in the Lee Clarion and at LeeClarion.com, the faculty behind the grading sheet essentially ridiculed a student publication at their school.
What teacher would rank majors, athletics or student clubs on such a grading scale, even describing the lowest possible option as a student group at a university they were called to teach at?
The Lee Clarion has made six or more mechanical errors in an issue, yes, but even major newspapers make more mistakes than that every day.
If the faculty who created the rubric remain convinced that article format and critical thinking are ignored by the Lee Clarion staff, we encourage them to engage in a dialogue with our editors as we continue to strive for excellence in every article, video and photo that the Lee Clarion publishes.
The same teachers may want to rethink the labels they use on such a rubric in the future, perhaps reformatting them to labels used in many similar classes, such as: exceptional, superb, good, etc.
The connections made to the Lee Clarion, perhaps only out of ignorance, serve to shatter the self-esteem and confidence of hard-working student writers striving for excellence.
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