Well, I opted out of the library gig for a few years and so am just now catching up with the goings-on at my SLIS in Denton, Texas. Seems I'm not the only information professional from Texas Woman's who hit a few rough patches this decade.
Boost for TWU SLIS Directorship
Salary, enrollment grow; previous director left after murky accusations
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 10/15/2003
The School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) at Texas Woman's University, Denton, has received a boost in its search for a new director, after the previous director resigned last January following turmoil.
SLIS is undergoing significant growth, said interim director Lynn Westbrook. "The provost has allowed us to significantly increase the [salary] offer we can make. The [previous] offer was not meeting market demands really well." While the job formerly paid $66,000, with a set teaching load and no tenure, now it is "in the range of $80,000," with a negotiable teaching load and tenure.
"We hope to have news on the director by the end of this semester," Westbrook said. While the salary is an improvement, it remains on the low side. The mean salary among deans in 46 LIS schools in FY01/02 was $112,900.
The change was made in August in response to a faculty request. In the fall semester, the school has 499 students, some three-quarters of them via distance education, a more than 70 percent jump in enrollment in a year.
SLIS has nine faculty members, with four searches ongoing. SLIS was one of the few departments allowed to keep all its open faculty lines in the wake of state budget cuts, Westbrook said. An American Library Association Committee on Accreditation team was expected to visit October 25–29. "I think we're in good shape," stated Westbrook.A murky history
Westbrook, who was on leave, was not present for last year's turmoil. Director Laurie Bonnici resigned last January after holding the job for four months. Five faculty members signed a November 26, 2002 letter to then Provost Lois Smith, declaring "a vote of no confidence" in Bonnici and saying she "demonstrated an ongoing inability to advance the school's progress."
However, other SLIS faculty members did not know of the letter. "The word 'vote' has a very specific meaning," said then faculty member Kim Zarkin. "None of that happened." Zarkin charged that Keith Swigger, then dean of the College of Professional Education and former director of SLIS, "wanted [Bonnici] out of the way because she didn't do what he said."
Bonnici, now at the Georgia Southern University School of Information Technology, said, "Dean Swigger was my immediate supervisor. I received no direction from him, and he signed the letter." Swigger said, "I have no comment on personnel matters."
Swigger in November 2002 had announced his resignation as dean as of July 1, 2003. His resignation came on the heels of a meeting in which several faculty members expressed concerns about his leadership.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
You're not from Texas
Yes, folks, our Texas Senate has placed the finishing touches on a Texan's right to pack heat on college campuses. While eagerly awaiting the final outcome down in Austin, I noticed what one bunch of out-of-towners (out-of-staters?) had worked on:
http://tcclibraryblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/gun-control-and-tcc-library.html
There go those peaceniks again - focusing on non-violent higher education. You can sure tell they're not from Texas, as Mr. Lovett has crooned:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMhaehb5AnE
Of course, contrary to some opinions, not everyone wishes they were from Texas and could care less if "...Texas wants you anyway." (Mr. Lovett again). It'll be interesting to see how the Texas population changes after this nifty new Texas Senate law gets going on our college campuses. Will our population increase (births; immigration) or decrease (deaths due to all causes, including higher education; emigration, aka "Let's get the hell out of Dodge, er, Texas!")?
Stand by for more news (and start polishing those holsters) -
http://tcclibraryblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/gun-control-and-tcc-library.html
There go those peaceniks again - focusing on non-violent higher education. You can sure tell they're not from Texas, as Mr. Lovett has crooned:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMhaehb5AnE
Of course, contrary to some opinions, not everyone wishes they were from Texas and could care less if "...Texas wants you anyway." (Mr. Lovett again). It'll be interesting to see how the Texas population changes after this nifty new Texas Senate law gets going on our college campuses. Will our population increase (births; immigration) or decrease (deaths due to all causes, including higher education; emigration, aka "Let's get the hell out of Dodge, er, Texas!")?
Stand by for more news (and start polishing those holsters) -
Guns OK on Texas Campuses?
So some of the members of the Texas Senate think it's ok for students and employees on Texas campuses to walk around armed. Faculty - will this make you think harder about giving students the grades they actually earned? Or students - will you think harder before sexting in that next class while the prof is talking?
Texas Senate OKs guns on college campus bill today
By JANET ELLIOTT AUSTIN BUREAU
May 20, 2009, 1:30PM
AUSTIN — A bill to allow college students and employees to carry their concealed handguns on campus won final passage today on a 19-12 vote in the Senate.
The bill would allow college students who are at least 21 years old and licensed to carry concealed handguns to bring those weapons into state campus buildings. University hospitals and athletic facilities would remain off limits to guns.
It applies to all universities and colleges in the state, but private institutions would be able to opt out.
Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, said he introduced the bill because of the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech, where he said victims were “picked off like sitting ducks.”
“I would feel personally guilty if I woke up one morning and read that something similar had occurred on a Texas campus,” he said.
If the Senate gives the bill final approval — which could happen today — the controversial measure could go back to the House, where it died last week because lawmakers did not make the deadline to debate it.
However, legislative rules do allow House lawmakers to take up the Senate version if they do it before midnight Tuesday.
Exactly half of the House members, 75 of 150, have signed on as supporters of the bill, a legislative priority of the Texas State Rifle Association, an affiliate of the National Rifle Association.
Only 11 U.S. universities allow handguns on campus. In Texas, college students are split on the issue and several university administrators have expressed reservation.
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, tried to amend the bill to allow all schools to opt in if their governing boards wanted to allow concealed guns on campus. Colorado took that approach, she said, with some universities allowing guns and others not.
“This is a common-sense approach to the concealed handgun issue. Allow local control,” she said. Her amendment was defeated.
Katie Kasprzak, a recent graduate of Texas State University, testified in favor of the bill before legislative committees.
She completed the required course and shooting test to get licensed to carry a concealed weapon, but wasn’t able to carry it at night when she walked alone on campus.
“If someone wants to protect themselves, they should be guaranteed that right whether they are on a college campus,” said Kasprzak.
Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said the bill could confuse university police, who now know that a person with a gun on campus is violating the law.
“When there is an alcohol-related tragedy on campus, you don’t hear claims that giving students a 12-pack is the solution,” he said.
“Yet, when it comes to gun-related incidents, we seem to think that putting more guns in the mix will lead to a good, rather than bloody outcome,” Ellis said.
janet.elliott@chron.com
Copyright © 2008 The Houston Chronicle
Texas Senate OKs guns on college campus bill today
By JANET ELLIOTT AUSTIN BUREAU
May 20, 2009, 1:30PM
AUSTIN — A bill to allow college students and employees to carry their concealed handguns on campus won final passage today on a 19-12 vote in the Senate.
The bill would allow college students who are at least 21 years old and licensed to carry concealed handguns to bring those weapons into state campus buildings. University hospitals and athletic facilities would remain off limits to guns.
It applies to all universities and colleges in the state, but private institutions would be able to opt out.
Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, said he introduced the bill because of the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech, where he said victims were “picked off like sitting ducks.”
“I would feel personally guilty if I woke up one morning and read that something similar had occurred on a Texas campus,” he said.
If the Senate gives the bill final approval — which could happen today — the controversial measure could go back to the House, where it died last week because lawmakers did not make the deadline to debate it.
However, legislative rules do allow House lawmakers to take up the Senate version if they do it before midnight Tuesday.
Exactly half of the House members, 75 of 150, have signed on as supporters of the bill, a legislative priority of the Texas State Rifle Association, an affiliate of the National Rifle Association.
Only 11 U.S. universities allow handguns on campus. In Texas, college students are split on the issue and several university administrators have expressed reservation.
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, tried to amend the bill to allow all schools to opt in if their governing boards wanted to allow concealed guns on campus. Colorado took that approach, she said, with some universities allowing guns and others not.
“This is a common-sense approach to the concealed handgun issue. Allow local control,” she said. Her amendment was defeated.
Katie Kasprzak, a recent graduate of Texas State University, testified in favor of the bill before legislative committees.
She completed the required course and shooting test to get licensed to carry a concealed weapon, but wasn’t able to carry it at night when she walked alone on campus.
“If someone wants to protect themselves, they should be guaranteed that right whether they are on a college campus,” said Kasprzak.
Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said the bill could confuse university police, who now know that a person with a gun on campus is violating the law.
“When there is an alcohol-related tragedy on campus, you don’t hear claims that giving students a 12-pack is the solution,” he said.
“Yet, when it comes to gun-related incidents, we seem to think that putting more guns in the mix will lead to a good, rather than bloody outcome,” Ellis said.
janet.elliott@chron.com
Copyright © 2008 The Houston Chronicle
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Well, you know what they say about people being "geocentric." Basically, that most of us believe we are the center of the universe, which of course you have to prove to us we aren't, before we can believe you. Even then, many Texans will try to convince you that yes, we may not be the only ones of something or the other, but we are the biggest or the best. It's a Texas state of mind, seemingly. Today, I wanted to share that there are at least three other TCC's on the web, in addition to Tarrant Community College, aka TCC. Here they are:
http://www.tcc.fl.edu/
Yes, Tallahassee Community College can label itself TCC and not be in violation of any copyright laws for using "our" acronym. Operating in Florida, where it's home to more than 27,000 students and offers 70 programs, this TCC sounds like an all right place to learn and there's lots to do in sunny Florida when one isn't hitting the books.
http://www.tacomacc.edu/
Then there's Tacoma Community College, sometimes calling itself TCC, but at other times using tacomacc.edu, which sounds like a taco with pasta inside. Or, maybe it sounds more like a taco one buys at McDonald's? Either way, this TCC enrolls over 15,000 students annually in its 45 programs and sounds like a 21st century kind of place. Out-of-towners just missed TCC's fifth annual Cabaret, Drag Show and Silent Auction on May 8.
http://www.tcc.edu/
We mustn't overlook Tidewater Community College, home to over 39,000 students and offering more than 150 academic programs. Not to be outdone by Tacoma Community College as a fun place to be, Tidewater offers on August 22 "NO HOKIE POKIE IN THE PRAYER LINE." True, we don't know exactly what the play is about, but it's great fun to imagine doing the Hokie Pokie in a prayer line, right? Kinda like popping your bubblegum in church, while your mom is up in the choir and can't do a thing about it......
So, yes - there are at least three other U.S. based community colleges who can rightfully label themselves with the acronym TCC, just like Tarrant County College. But true to form (and as I mentioned in my opening paragraph) we have to prove that we are bigger or better than them, so here goes:
This spring, we enrolled well over 40,000 students. We are the biggest TCC!
http://www.tcc.fl.edu/
Yes, Tallahassee Community College can label itself TCC and not be in violation of any copyright laws for using "our" acronym. Operating in Florida, where it's home to more than 27,000 students and offers 70 programs, this TCC sounds like an all right place to learn and there's lots to do in sunny Florida when one isn't hitting the books.
http://www.tacomacc.edu/
Then there's Tacoma Community College, sometimes calling itself TCC, but at other times using tacomacc.edu, which sounds like a taco with pasta inside. Or, maybe it sounds more like a taco one buys at McDonald's? Either way, this TCC enrolls over 15,000 students annually in its 45 programs and sounds like a 21st century kind of place. Out-of-towners just missed TCC's fifth annual Cabaret, Drag Show and Silent Auction on May 8.
http://www.tcc.edu/
We mustn't overlook Tidewater Community College, home to over 39,000 students and offering more than 150 academic programs. Not to be outdone by Tacoma Community College as a fun place to be, Tidewater offers on August 22 "NO HOKIE POKIE IN THE PRAYER LINE." True, we don't know exactly what the play is about, but it's great fun to imagine doing the Hokie Pokie in a prayer line, right? Kinda like popping your bubblegum in church, while your mom is up in the choir and can't do a thing about it......
So, yes - there are at least three other U.S. based community colleges who can rightfully label themselves with the acronym TCC, just like Tarrant County College. But true to form (and as I mentioned in my opening paragraph) we have to prove that we are bigger or better than them, so here goes:
This spring, we enrolled well over 40,000 students. We are the biggest TCC!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Bea Arthur
The spring semester was so busy, I didn't learn until this week that one of my all-time favorite entertainers had left the planet - the highly talented Miss Bea Arthur.
May 13, 1922 - April 25, 2009
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
