University Business - July/August 2011 - (Page 14)

Behind the news Future Shock U Estrellas en Ascenso: Rising Hispanic Higher Education Stars A doubting student of itAliAn once chAllenged: “if english is supposed to be the lingua franca, how come there’s no word in english for lingua franca?” though english is still the most widely spoken language in the nation and elsewhere, the number of spanish-speaking citizens in the u.s. is expected to grow exponentially in the decade ahead. today, a new cadre of institutions has emerged—universities with special missions and shared visions for educating the coming age of global citizens. established in 1880, the University of the Sacred Heart, or universidad del sagrado corazón (“sagrado”), is among the oldest, most prominent, and most beautifully situated institutions in Puerto Rico. its programs focus on bridging today’s social and cultural differences by developing strong language competencies in spanish and english. “our main focus is to educate individuals holistically through interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary educational experiences,” says President José Jaime Rivera. sagrado also offers immersion experiences for english-speaking students through the international/intercultural educational experience Project, ranging in length from one month to one year. consider the National Autonomous University of Mexico (unAM), based in Mexico city. this public university boasts the largest enrollment in Mexico, and has a history steeped in social activism and academic freedom. beyond Mexico, unAM has several satellite campuses in san Antonio, chicago, los Angeles, and Quebec, which focus primarily on spanish language arts, Mexican history, and music appreciation. or take the University of Alcalá. situated just outside Madrid, Alcalá offers several programs in spanish language and literature for native and foreign students. Alcalá offers a one-year accelerated master’s program in bilingual and multicultural education for english-speaking students, and includes free tuition, health insurance, and a stipend for living expenses. in return, students work and teach english-language skills in the local communities of Madrid. last but not least, our tour of hispanic higher ed campuses takes us to the National Hispanic University in san Jose, california. nhu was established in 1981 with the goal of providing accessible, affordable, and quality education for underserved students, recognizing that hispanic students needed an educational system that acknowledges their learning needs. At the end of our higher ed expedition, we came to realize that what sagrado, unAM, Alcalá, and nhu have in common is a commitment to multilingual communication and multicultural education. through the creation of new partnerships and programs, these rising university stars are at the leading edge of a new intercultural dynamic now making its way around the world. for more on these and other hispanic higher education institutions, see the online version of this column at www.universitybusiness.com. —James Martin and James E. Samels, Future Shock columnists, are authors of Turnaround: Leading Stressed Colleges and Universities to Excellence (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009). Martin is a professor of English at Mount Ida College (Mass.) and Samels is president and CEO of The Education Alliance. 14 | July/August 2011 Report Examines Community College Issues CHAnging timES ContinuE to bRing CHAllenges to higher education, especially community colleges, which are typically trying to do even more with even less. the report, “Eight important Questions for Eleven Community College leaders: An Exploration of Community College issues, trends & Strategies,” by the SouRCE on Community College issues, trends & Strategies, provides an overview of comments from thought leaders ranging from the heads of the American Association of Community Colleges and the league for innovation, to experienced presidents from around the country. the questions cover a range of ever-present issues from college readiness through technology and funding, presenting responses in a way that should help continue the discussion on these important topics. “When you look behind the questions, it is really about the ‘completion agenda,’” says george lorenzo, writer and editor-in-chief of the SouRCE. “it’s not so much that everyone needs a degree as [it is about] getting adults a college credential.” the report is the most recent in a library of information lorenzo is building as a research source for people interested in the community college sector. “the whole spirit is to share information,” he says, expressing gratitude to Western governors university for sponsoring the report. He is hopeful the report will help community college leaders in their decision-making process. it’s available for free at www.edpath.com/sourcelibrary .html. —Ann McClure universitybusiness.com http://www.universitybusiness.com http://www.edpath.com/sourcelibrary.html http://www.edpath.com/sourcelibrary.html http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - July/August 2011

University Business - July/August 2011
Contents
Editor's Note
Ad Index
College Index
Behind the News
Sense of Place
Viewpoint
Financial Success
Money Matters
Community Colleges
Funding Capture
Models of Efficiency
Thwarting ID Thieves
Embezzlement Epidemic
What's New
End Note

University Business - July/August 2011