In an attempt to combat the falling proficiency of American students in math, science, technology and engineering, President Barack Obama announced on Monday his goal to hire 10,000 more science and math teachers over the course of the next two years, according to a White House press release. Education Secretary Arne Duncan also announced on Monday a new national commitment to recruit more college students for the teaching profession, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported. Duncan's announcement took place at "Education Nation," a two-day summit on education that was sponsored by NBC, according to NBC's website. At the press conference, Duncan compared the issue of education in America to the challenges of the civil rights era and said, "If young kids can help us fight for social justice, it'll last for generations to come," KQED reported.
The Southern Regional Education Board released new recommendations Tuesday on how governments in 16 southern states can improve the level of postsecondary education, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. The board is looking to increase the percentage of adults from the South who hold postsecondary degrees dramatically by reducing the requisite cost and time commitment of earning a degree. David Spence, president of the board, told The Chronicle that unless public colleges and universities become more efficient, states will be unable to handle the cost of an influx of new students.
Canadian universities are increasingly offering students the chance to include their volunteer and leadership activities as part of their formal academic records, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. The trend, inspired by similar policies at American colleges, reflects a growing belief that academic grades comprise only a part of the university experience, The Chronicle reported. While some Canadian institutions choose to include all leadership and volunteer work, most limit the formal acknowledgement to campus-based extracurricular activities. In one case, Acadia University in Nova Scotia conducted focus groups with employers regarding the expansive version of the co-curricular record that includes leadership and volunteer experiences, The Chronicle reported. The groups concluded that this type of transcript was much more valuable than traditional academic records in evaluating prospective employees.
Compiled by Keshav Poddar
