Regional State School Stories – Some Brief Thoughts About How Did This Happen

(These thoughts have to be brief because (a) I'm here again, and, (b) the Hex hatch is on! ) Speaking of fly fishing, my next post will be about the connection between fly fishing and the fact that you can't count on professors to change the … [Continue reading]

Author of University Studies/Site Visits Reports Wonders How Washinton University’s Engineering School Got Accredited

Posted as a reply to my comment on a story in the New York Times : Peter C is a trusted commenterBear Territory If your engineering story is true, how did the engineering program get accredited by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and … [Continue reading]

Swedish Professors Insights On American Education

There was a comment from a Swedish professor on an Upshot article  . He taught here and in Sweden, and his children went to college here.  I will post what he wrote and my replies.  I think what is important is that he felt he saw better education … [Continue reading]

American College Grads Don’t Do Well Overall, Period.

I'm surprised that so many people thought the data on US college grads was not representative of the job we are doing.   I find the letters that the author answered interesting in themselves. More on American Colleges’ Standing in the World - … [Continue reading]

Prof. Teaches Stats But Doesn’t Seem to Have a Clue About the Most Fundamental Notion

(At a regional public university) This is from a "teacher evalaution" (of me) by a tenured professor who regularly taught statistics. First, here is a little background about the class.  (Math now, then I will try to explain … [Continue reading]

Ralph Had Trouble With Continuity – But Why?

Ralph was another full professor (and Chair of the Dept for a while).  He seemed reasonable and intelligent in any dealing I had with him.  But here is what I was told (by a reliable source) about his background. (All of this was related to me by … [Continue reading]

This Week’s Economist Cover is About Higher Ed. But Makes Bad Assumptions

I only commented on this article.  (Several people made interesting comments.) Higher education: Creative destruction | The Economist. "This piece makes the same mistake most journalists make. They don't realize that, even at many "elite" … [Continue reading]

Statistics Prof. Kevin Doesn’t Understand Basic Math, or Statistics

(Another story from the same regional state school - the math is in color) Prof. Kevin was a full professor.  He was about 70, very nice and pleasant.  I was teaching a graduate course (Intro to Complex Variables).  He asked to sit in and he took … [Continue reading]

To Ross Douthat: Universities Acting Against Their “Business Plan”? No, Not Even If It Reduces Rape, Sorry.

In Stopping Campus Rape - NYTimes.com. , the author makes suggestions for college administrators that he thinks (probably correctly) would reduce campus rape.  The only problem - they would hurt the universities.  Here are the two suggestions he … [Continue reading]