Separating Truth From Fiction

I’ve followed Paul Quinn for a couple of years now and I have been impressed with some of the rather unique solutions they have implemented to differentiate their institution. I followed them with some sadness as they were facing their accreditation issues – however, they appear to have crossed that bridge with flying colors and based on the news reports, they are financially stronger now than ever.

It saddens me to see people like melissastep attempt to minimize those accomplishments with what appear to be baseless allegations wrapped in what can only be described as the illiterate ramblings of a high school student that could likely use the kind of education Paul Quinn provides its students. As Dr. Gasman correctly points out, President Sorrell isn’t just attempting to create an exceptional institution, but he is also at the forefront of leading the revitalization of the southern sector in dallas and the farm is just one component of that effort.

The irony is many people want to talk about the accreditation issues that faced the college in the past, however, very few actually understand how accreditation works or what it really means. SACS and TRACS are both recognized by the department of education and CHEA, the 2 primary accrediting agencies for accrediting bodies. TRACS process and standards are as high or higher than SACS’ and the number of schools represented has no bearing on the quality of the accrediting body. I believe I read that earlier this year the college received full accreditation from TRACS, which appears to speak volumes about how far the institution has come in a short period of time.

I think everyone should heap more praise on those HBCU’s that are doing the right things to take them into the 21st century and not dwell so much on the past – good or bad. The great HBCUs of the future will be determined by what they do over the next 5 years – not what they did over the last 50. Times are changing and too few of them are adjusting with the times – which will be to their detriment.

I look forward to hearing more great things – not only from PQC, but also from other HBCU’s and I hope more get this kind of positive exposure in the Chronicle!

Vaillancourt has hit upon a serious issue that is plaguing higher education in a number of different ways. Not only do institutions “put up a front,” “tell their best story,” or “stretch the truth a bit” for prospective students and employees.

However, in my 40 years in academic administration, I have also seen what appears to be an upturn in this same ailment affecting potential students and potential employees applying for jobs. When I first began in higher education administration, the number of faculty and administrative applicants who would pad their resumes with patently false information was much less than 3 years ago when a medical condition forced my retirement. In terms of these applicants, I have always sensed that adminsrators and faculty “knew enough to put their best foot forward” on applications without lying. However, in the past 10 years, there seem to be more reports of falsifications appearing. Every month there seems to be a report in the Chronicle about a President, a VP or a coach who claimed a degree that they didn’t have.   

Twice during my career, I had oversight of the admissions and financial aid offices. Once early in my carerr, it was direct oversight of both offices for a year as “Interim Dean of Admissions” The second time was at the end of my career when I was provost and the admissiions and financial aid offices reported to me, In the first stint, I don’t remember having to confront many students who were caught stretching the truth on their admissions or financial aid applications beyond reasonable bounds. In my second stint, the direct managers of these offices would complain weekly about the number of out-right  fabrications on applications with which they had to deal.

As I have studied the history of American higher education, I find this disease has apparently always infected institutional relationships with potential donors. Seveal of the early presidents of the colonial colleges which were reportedly founded to educate young men to serve as leaders of the colonies and the colonial churches, elected not to pursue support from the established colonial churches. In many of the presidental  fund raising letters to potential wealthly donors, the stated reason why these donors should support the colleges was because the colleges were an insurance policy for these wealthly families assuring their sons an education that would guarantee these sons could inherit their rightful place of leadership in society.      

This same ailment affects inter-institutional relationships the relationships of institutions with their accrediting agencies. How many institutions prepare slick reports each year just before the US News & World Report ranking ballots are sent out. These reports are sent to the presidents, chief academic officers and chief admissions offices of institutions that will vote to determine the reputational rankings. These brochures make the institutions sound like the best thing since slice-bread, praising the facilities, the award wining faculty and students and the very successful athletic teams comprised of all 4.0 atheletes

Self-studies were originally meant to be an opportunity for an institution to honestly appraise its good points and short-comings, and propose soultions to those short-comings. The self-study visit was suppose to be an oppotunity for an institution to receive the benefit of the insights and knowledge of others in higher education in analyzing itself and proposing solutions to problems. What happened to those days and who is to blame?

One cannot blame institutions for putting their best foot forward. We are looking now and have been on 9 visits so far. With my daughter, she’s decided her priorities. There are two things that have given us the most helpful information: Ask specific questions and Meet with a professor.

Example questions:  “How many students are in your introductory biology class (we usually ask the student guide this question)? How many students are in your upper level major classes this semester? What undergraduate research have you done? Have you published it? What international experiences have you had?”

Professor meeting: “How many students graduated from your program last May? What are they doing now (this is essential because my daughter would like to go to graduate school)? If they are in graduate school, what schools are they attending? How many first year majors do you have this year (this helps to understand how many students persist)? How many women are at each stage (is the institution friendly to women)?”

By asking a student and a professor, we usually get honest answers. For example, each institution we have visited reports to have a class size of about 20, but only one has an introductory biology class of less than 40.

Good luck!

Ha ha that’s easy- look them up in the Chron. Seriously, look up some articles about the college in the library. If there have been any scandals, they will be news. Also ask for that mandated crime report. And, look up some news about the town or city. I once applied at a college in an area I was not familiar with, and the newspapers had articles about chronic gang and drug related crimes, and several toxic waste spills nearby. I withdrew my app.