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[martyvdw]

The Chronicle/Gallup Panel in May 2008 surveyed Americans about whether colleges and universities are doing a good job preparing students for a global economy and whether colleges are good environmental stewards. Americans noted the efforts of colleges, but said, if anything, colleges are not moving quickly enough. You can see the results of the poll here: http://chronicle.com/free/documents/v54/i40/panel_chronicle_education_may_2008.pdf
Talk about what you find most significant in this survey and suggest follow up questions for a future poll.

[sad_goat]

How, specifically, does a "university" define "preparation"? This is a poorly designed "poll".

[takapa]

I'm not sure I put any weight on this.  I like survey research, but in this instance I'm not sure they hit on anything.  A poll that tells me my U doesn't prepare students for a global economy or is a good steward of the environment would be important if those polled could give (1) any real information about what my U (or any U) does, (2) could self-define either term, or (3) had any real knowledge of what my or any other U might be doing in either arena as is. 

[daurousseau]

Another vacuous poll. Whoopie!

[daurousseau]

Posing "organic food" (as opposed to the sustainable/local food movement) as an issue shows the poll writers are 5 years behind the times.

[any123]

Poll, is for those businesspeople who are worried sick about competing on a global scale. You might have more to worry about & more to gain -- in your own backyard. And for those who lambaste globalization as a curse and threat, simmer down. Your real power is local, and globalization may never be as bad as you think.

[mountainguy]

Poll, is for those businesspeople who are worried sick about competing on a global scale. You might have more to worry about & more to gain -- in your own backyard. And for those who lambaste globalization as a curse and threat, simmer down. Your real power is local, and globalization may never be as bad as you think.

Warts.

[barred_owl]

Yup, sure thing...use those credit cards to purchase worthless carp that you'll end up throwing away anyway.  Be gone, spammer!  May you rot in a landfill.

[temporaryname]

I agree that the poll surveys a bunch of people who don't understand the academy, but I worry that we dismiss such negative opinions at our peril. Rather than just dismissing them, oughtn't we be figuring out how to educate them?