If you're a fitness nut in Northeast Ohio, you can now turn your passion for activity into a job opportunity through a new program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). According to a press release from Tri-C, a new associate degree program, Sport and Exercise Studies (SES), launches this Fall 2008.
The degree prepares students for positions such as:
• Fitness Specialist
• Personal Trainer
• Recreation Director
• Program Manager/Director
• Group Fitness Instructor
• Health Fitness Instructor
• Sport Coach
The U.S. Department of Labor says that jobs for fitness workers are expected to increase 27 percent over the 2006-2016 decade, much faster than the average for all occupations; due to rapid job growth in health clubs, fitness facilities, and other settings.
In May 2007, for example, according to the Department of Labor, there were 6450 jobs for fitness trainers and aerobics instructors in the state of Ohio. the median hourly salary was $9.82 and the median annual salary was $25,000. In the Cleveland/Elyria/Mentor region specifically, there were 1150 jobs, with a median hourly pay rate of $12.35 or an annual salary of $20,020.
In May 2006, median annual earnings nationwide of fitness trainers and aerobics instructors were $25,910, not including self-employed workers. Earnings of successful self-employed personal trainers can be much higher. The largest numbers of fitness workers in 2006 were in the following industries:
Median Salary
General medical and surgical hospitals $29,640
Local government $27,720
Fitness and recreational sports centers $27,200
Other schools and instruction $22,770
Civic and social organizations $22,630
In order to advance in this field, the Department of Labor says "A bachelor’s degree in exercise science, physical education, kinesiology (the study of muscles, especially the mechanics of human motion), or a related area, along with experience, usually is required to advance to management positions in a health club or fitness center. Some organizations require a master’s degree. As in other occupations, managerial skills are also needed to advance to supervisory or managerial positions. College courses in management, business administration, accounting, and personnel management may be helpful, but many fitness companies have corporate universities in which they train employees for management positions.
Personal trainers may advance to head trainer, with responsibility for hiring and overseeing the personal training staff and for bringing in new personal training clients. Group fitness instructors may be promoted to group exercise director, responsible for hiring instructors and coordinating exercise classes. Later, a worker might become the fitness director, who manages the fitness budget and staff. Workers might also become the general manager, whose main focus is the financial aspects of an organization, particularly setting and achieving sales goals; in a small fitness center, however, the general manager is usually involved with all aspects of running the facility. Some workers go into business for themselves and open their own fitness centers."
Coursework for the degree includes anatomy and physiology; instructional techniques of cardiorespiratory, flexibility, and resistance training; sport injury care; CPR and first aid; sport management; fitness coaching; exercise physiology; kinesiology; exercise testing; exercise program design; personal training and group fitness instructor certification preparation; and practicum experience.
Tri-C's program includes classes in:
Principles of Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Muscular Strength and Conditioning
Sport Injury Care
First Aid
CPR
AED
Sport Management
Exercise Physiology
Fitness and Wellness Coaching
Kinesiology
Students can enroll now for fall classes, which are available at all three main campuses. Fall courses include SES 1000: introduction to sport and exercise studies; SES 1040: instructional techniques of training; and SES 1200: fitness and wellness coaching.
For more information about fitness careers and training, contact:
IDEA Health and Fitness Association, 10455 Pacific Center Court., San Diego, CA 92121-4339.
National Strength and Conditioning Association, 1885 Bob Johnson Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. Internet: http://www.nsca-lift.org/
For information about personal trainer and group fitness instructor certifications, contact:
American College of Sports Medicine, P.O. Box 1440, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1440. Internet: http://www.acsm.org/
American Council on Exercise, 4851 Paramount Dr., San Diego, CA 92123. Internet: http://www.acefitness.org/
National Academy of Sports Medicine, 26632 Agoura Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302. Internet: http://www.nasm.org/
NSCA Certification Commission, 3333 Landmark Circle, Lincoln, NE 68504. Internet: http://www.nsca-cc.org/
For information about Pilates certification and training programs, contact:
Pilates Method Alliance, P.O. Box 370906, Miami, FL 33137-0906. Internet: http://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org/
For information on yoga teacher training programs, contact:
Yoga Alliance, 7801 Old Branch Ave., Suite 400, Clinton, MD 20735. Internet: http://www.yogaalliance.org/
To find accredited fitness certification programs, contact:
National Commission for Certifying Agencies, 2025 M St., NW., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036. Internet: http://www.noca.org/ncca/accredorg.htm
For information about health clubs and sports clubs, contact:
International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association, 263 Summer St., Boston, MA 02210. Internet: http://www.ihrsa.org/
Sources:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos296.htm
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes399031.htm
http://www.tri-c.edu/programs/sportsmanagement/Pages/default.aspx
http://data.bls.gov/oes/occupation.do
Jill Bernaciak
Owner
http://www.whatsyourmajor.net/
440-668-3446
What's Your Major? SM
P.O. Box 321
Berea, OH 44017-9918
My mission is to empower youth with: - The knowledge about career possibilities, and the education and training needed to attain them - The creative-thinking and emotional skills that make for good career decisions and which employers prefer; - And the resilience needed to flourish in life.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
12 Local Colleges Named "Best Colleges" by Forbes
Forbes Magazine has developed an "alternative" to the highly read US News and World Report college rankings. In its August 2008 issue, Forbes teamed with Dr. Richard Vedder, an economist at Ohio University, and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, to rank 569 undergraduate institutions based on the quality of the education they provide, and how much their students achieve.
Whether you buy into the methodology of any ranking system, somehow it's always compelling to see who made the list and to try to figure out why, especially if you're close to making your own "college shopping decision".
In Northeast Ohio, 12 colleges were selected by Forbes to be among the top 15% in the nation:
Rank College Cost ($) Size of Freshman Class
51 Oberlin College 48,070 742
123 College of Wooster 41,432 543
152 John Carroll University 37,224 720
206 Hiram College 25,160 NA
232 Baldwin-Wallace College 32,862 740
390 Mount Union College 30,850 593
403 Case Western Reserve University 45,826 1,133
481 Ohio Northern University 40,575 722
482 Kent State University 21,020 3,800
500 University of Akron, Main Campus19,789 4,109
505 Bowling Green State University 20,156 3,241
564 University of Toledo 20,700 NA
Compiling data from a "variety of sources", Forbes strove to answer the following questions:
- How good will my professors be?
- Will the school help me achieve notable career success?
- If I have to borrow to pay for college, how deeply will I go into debt?
- What are the chances I will graduate in four years?
- Are students and faculty recognized nationally, or even globally?
So first, you have to agree that these are the right questions. They certainly appear to answer some key questions that parents have about payback of their investment in tuition toward a successful job future for their children.
Forbes combines quantitative and qualitative measures (numerical measures and accumulated opinions). And so should parents. Like the US News and World Report version, the Forbes (and other) rankings offers "indicators" for families in their choice of college. But it still comes down to the fit of the individual student with the college (often a "gut feel"), as well as the opportunities initially offered by the college (financial and otherwise), that set up the student for success in higher education.
And other data sources suggest that -- once you get out into the work world -- successful employment simply doesn't have anything to do with where you went to school and what your major was. Getting hired -- and staying employed -- ultimately depends on proficiency in soft skills, like interpersonal communication and self-motivation; even if you land the "hot job" for which you are academically prepared.
But Forbes did come up with the following conclusions from its research:
Students strongly prefer smaller schools to big ones.
Big state schools performed poorly.
Small liberal arts schools faired very well.
Readers are reminded that the U.S. Department of Education, there are more than 4,000 college campuses in the U.S.. So the "decision set" is much larger than these rankings would suggest. The editors also recognize that it's fairly "absurd" to rank colleges with "mock precision", when the process of individual choice is so much more complex. But "when families have to make a decision with a six-figure price tag and lifelong impact, .....they deserve all the information they can get."
Jill Bernaciak
Owner
http://www.whatsyourmajor.net/
440-668-3446
What's Your Major? SM
P.O. Box 321
Berea, OH 44017-9918
Whether you buy into the methodology of any ranking system, somehow it's always compelling to see who made the list and to try to figure out why, especially if you're close to making your own "college shopping decision".
In Northeast Ohio, 12 colleges were selected by Forbes to be among the top 15% in the nation:
Rank College Cost ($) Size of Freshman Class
51 Oberlin College 48,070 742
123 College of Wooster 41,432 543
152 John Carroll University 37,224 720
206 Hiram College 25,160 NA
232 Baldwin-Wallace College 32,862 740
390 Mount Union College 30,850 593
403 Case Western Reserve University 45,826 1,133
481 Ohio Northern University 40,575 722
482 Kent State University 21,020 3,800
500 University of Akron, Main Campus19,789 4,109
505 Bowling Green State University 20,156 3,241
564 University of Toledo 20,700 NA
Compiling data from a "variety of sources", Forbes strove to answer the following questions:
- How good will my professors be?
- Will the school help me achieve notable career success?
- If I have to borrow to pay for college, how deeply will I go into debt?
- What are the chances I will graduate in four years?
- Are students and faculty recognized nationally, or even globally?
So first, you have to agree that these are the right questions. They certainly appear to answer some key questions that parents have about payback of their investment in tuition toward a successful job future for their children.
Forbes combines quantitative and qualitative measures (numerical measures and accumulated opinions). And so should parents. Like the US News and World Report version, the Forbes (and other) rankings offers "indicators" for families in their choice of college. But it still comes down to the fit of the individual student with the college (often a "gut feel"), as well as the opportunities initially offered by the college (financial and otherwise), that set up the student for success in higher education.
And other data sources suggest that -- once you get out into the work world -- successful employment simply doesn't have anything to do with where you went to school and what your major was. Getting hired -- and staying employed -- ultimately depends on proficiency in soft skills, like interpersonal communication and self-motivation; even if you land the "hot job" for which you are academically prepared.
But Forbes did come up with the following conclusions from its research:
Students strongly prefer smaller schools to big ones.
Big state schools performed poorly.
Small liberal arts schools faired very well.
Readers are reminded that the U.S. Department of Education, there are more than 4,000 college campuses in the U.S.. So the "decision set" is much larger than these rankings would suggest. The editors also recognize that it's fairly "absurd" to rank colleges with "mock precision", when the process of individual choice is so much more complex. But "when families have to make a decision with a six-figure price tag and lifelong impact, .....they deserve all the information they can get."
Jill Bernaciak
Owner
http://www.whatsyourmajor.net/
440-668-3446
What's Your Major? SM
P.O. Box 321
Berea, OH 44017-9918
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Job Growth in Computer Software Engineering to Continue; Local Colleges Offer Programs
The Computer Software Engineering profession will have much faster than average growth through 2016, according to The US Department of Labor. The number of jobs is projected to grow by 37.9% between 2000 and 2010. “There will be strong demand for software engineers as businesses and other organizations continue to adopt and integrate new technologies.”
As of May 2007, there were 18,860 computer software engineers in the applications category in Ohio, not including self-employed workers. Nationwide, the median average earnings are $79,780.
The following information was compiled from http://www.bls.gov/emp/
What’s the Job Like?
Computer software engineers “develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.”
As with most occupations, advancement opportunities for computer software engineers increase with experience. Entry-level computer software engineers often test designs, but ass they become more experienced, they begin to help design and develop software. They can advance to a project manager, manager of information systems, or chief information officer role, especially if they have business skills and training. With several years of experience or expertise, there are lucrative opportunities working as systems designers or independent consultants.
What Kind of Training, Education and Skills are Required?
You need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or computer science and practical experience working with computers. Nearly 85% of job holders aged 25-44 have a bachelor’s degree. The usual college major for applications software engineers is computer science or software engineering. Systems software engineers often study computer science or computer information systems. Graduate degrees are preferred for some of the more complex jobs. In 2006, about 80 percent of workers had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Academic programs in software engineering may offer the program as a degree option or in conjunction with computer science degrees. Because of increasing emphasis on computer security, software engineers with advanced degrees in areas such as mathematics and systems design will be sought after by software developers, government agencies, and consulting firms.
Most employers prefer applicants who have at least a bachelor’s degree and broad knowledge of, and experience with, a variety of computer systems and technologies. Students seeking software engineering jobs enhance their employment opportunities by participating in internships or co-ops. These experiences provide students with broad knowledge and experience, making them more attractive to employers. Inexperienced college graduates may be hired by large computer and consulting firms that train new employees in intensive, company-based programs.
People interested in jobs as computer software engineers must have strong problem-solving and analytical skills. They also must be able to communicate effectively with team members, other staff, and the customers they meet. Because they often deal with a number of tasks simultaneously, they must be able to concentrate and pay close attention to detail.
To help keep up with changing technology, workers may take continuing education and professional development seminars offered by employers, software vendors, colleges and universities, private training institutions, and professional computing societies. Computer software engineers also need skills related to the industry in which they work.
Where in Northeast Ohio can I Major in Computer Science or Software Engineering?
According to The College Board, the following colleges near Northeast Ohio offer a major in Computer Engineering, Computer Software or Software Engineering:
Allegheny College, Meadville, PA
Bowling Green State University: Firelands College, Huron, OH
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Cuyahoga Community College: Eastern Campus, Highland Hills, OH
North Central State College, Mansfield, OH
Ohio Business College: Sandusky, Sandusky, OH
Owens Community College: Toledo, Toledo, OH
Penn State Beaver, Monaca, PA
Penn State Shenango, Sharon, PA
Stark State College of Technology, North Canton, OH
University of Akron, Akron, OH
University of Toledo Toledo, OH
Wayne County Community College Detroit, MI
Youngstown State University,Youngstown, OH
In exploring these programs, it’s always a good idea to speak directly to the faculty and current or recently graduated students to fully understand:
- Whether the program has an applications or hardware emphasis,
- What the job placement rate is of the graduates
- What specials features, such as internship support, are provided by the college and what the “hallmarks” of the program are.
Academic program rankings are not easy to find, but contacting the professional development department in a trade association is usually a good way to get some unbiased opinions.
Who Employs Computer Software Engineers?
The industries that have the most openings for computer software engineers, in the applications classification, are as follows:
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
168,080 jobs
$41.40 average hourly wage
$86,110 average annual wage
Software Publishers
35,940 jobs
$42.77 average hourly wage
$88,970 average annual wage
Management of Companies and Enterprises
26,610 jobs
$40.93 average hourly wage
$85,130 average annual wage
Insurance Carriers
17,590 jobs
$37.98 average hourly wage
$79,000 average annual wage
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
15,360 jobs
$45.27 average hourly wage
$94,160 averqage annual wage
What are the Job Expectations?
In the Computer Systems Design and Related Services Industry, workers averaged 38.3 hours per week, compared with 33.9 for all industries combined. Many workers in this industry worked more than the standard 40-hour work week—about 19 percent work 50 or more hours a week. For many professionals and technical specialists, evening or weekend work is commonly necessary to meet deadlines or solve problems. Professionals working for large establishments may have less freedom in planning their schedule than do consultants for very small firms, whose work may be more varied. Only about 7 percent of the workers in the computer systems design and related services industry work part time, compared with 15 percent of workers throughout all industries.
Most workers in the computer systems design and related services industry work in clean, quiet offices. Those in facilities management and maintenance may work in computer operations centers. Given the technology available today, however, more work can be done from remote locations using fax machines, e-mail, and especially the Internet. For example, systems analysts may work from home with their computers linked directly to computers at their employer or a client. Computer support specialists, likewise, can tap into a customer’s computer remotely in order to identify and fix problems. Even programmers and consultants, who often relocate to a customer’s place of business while working on a project, may perform work from offsite locations.
Those who work with personal computers for extended periods may experience musculoskeletal strain, eye problems, stress, or repetitive motion illnesses, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Further information about computer careers is available from:
http://www.bls.gov/emp/
Association for Computing Machinery, 2 Penn Plaza, Suite 701, New York, NY 10121-0701. Internet: http://www.acm.org/
National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE., Bellevue, WA 98007. Internet: http://www.nwcet.org/
University of Washington Computer Science and Engineering Department, AC101 Paul G. Allen Center, Box 352350, 185 Stevens Way, Seattle, WA 98195-2350. Internet: http://www.cs.washington.edu/WhyCSE/
Jill Bernaciak
Owner
http://www.whatsyourmajor.net/
440-668-3446
What's Your Major? SM
P.O. Box 321
Berea, OH 44017-9918
As of May 2007, there were 18,860 computer software engineers in the applications category in Ohio, not including self-employed workers. Nationwide, the median average earnings are $79,780.
The following information was compiled from http://www.bls.gov/emp/
What’s the Job Like?
Computer software engineers “develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Design software or customize software for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency. May analyze and design databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.”
As with most occupations, advancement opportunities for computer software engineers increase with experience. Entry-level computer software engineers often test designs, but ass they become more experienced, they begin to help design and develop software. They can advance to a project manager, manager of information systems, or chief information officer role, especially if they have business skills and training. With several years of experience or expertise, there are lucrative opportunities working as systems designers or independent consultants.
What Kind of Training, Education and Skills are Required?
You need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or computer science and practical experience working with computers. Nearly 85% of job holders aged 25-44 have a bachelor’s degree. The usual college major for applications software engineers is computer science or software engineering. Systems software engineers often study computer science or computer information systems. Graduate degrees are preferred for some of the more complex jobs. In 2006, about 80 percent of workers had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Academic programs in software engineering may offer the program as a degree option or in conjunction with computer science degrees. Because of increasing emphasis on computer security, software engineers with advanced degrees in areas such as mathematics and systems design will be sought after by software developers, government agencies, and consulting firms.
Most employers prefer applicants who have at least a bachelor’s degree and broad knowledge of, and experience with, a variety of computer systems and technologies. Students seeking software engineering jobs enhance their employment opportunities by participating in internships or co-ops. These experiences provide students with broad knowledge and experience, making them more attractive to employers. Inexperienced college graduates may be hired by large computer and consulting firms that train new employees in intensive, company-based programs.
People interested in jobs as computer software engineers must have strong problem-solving and analytical skills. They also must be able to communicate effectively with team members, other staff, and the customers they meet. Because they often deal with a number of tasks simultaneously, they must be able to concentrate and pay close attention to detail.
To help keep up with changing technology, workers may take continuing education and professional development seminars offered by employers, software vendors, colleges and universities, private training institutions, and professional computing societies. Computer software engineers also need skills related to the industry in which they work.
Where in Northeast Ohio can I Major in Computer Science or Software Engineering?
According to The College Board, the following colleges near Northeast Ohio offer a major in Computer Engineering, Computer Software or Software Engineering:
Allegheny College, Meadville, PA
Bowling Green State University: Firelands College, Huron, OH
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Cuyahoga Community College: Eastern Campus, Highland Hills, OH
North Central State College, Mansfield, OH
Ohio Business College: Sandusky, Sandusky, OH
Owens Community College: Toledo, Toledo, OH
Penn State Beaver, Monaca, PA
Penn State Shenango, Sharon, PA
Stark State College of Technology, North Canton, OH
University of Akron, Akron, OH
University of Toledo Toledo, OH
Wayne County Community College Detroit, MI
Youngstown State University,Youngstown, OH
In exploring these programs, it’s always a good idea to speak directly to the faculty and current or recently graduated students to fully understand:
- Whether the program has an applications or hardware emphasis,
- What the job placement rate is of the graduates
- What specials features, such as internship support, are provided by the college and what the “hallmarks” of the program are.
Academic program rankings are not easy to find, but contacting the professional development department in a trade association is usually a good way to get some unbiased opinions.
Who Employs Computer Software Engineers?
The industries that have the most openings for computer software engineers, in the applications classification, are as follows:
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
168,080 jobs
$41.40 average hourly wage
$86,110 average annual wage
Software Publishers
35,940 jobs
$42.77 average hourly wage
$88,970 average annual wage
Management of Companies and Enterprises
26,610 jobs
$40.93 average hourly wage
$85,130 average annual wage
Insurance Carriers
17,590 jobs
$37.98 average hourly wage
$79,000 average annual wage
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
15,360 jobs
$45.27 average hourly wage
$94,160 averqage annual wage
What are the Job Expectations?
In the Computer Systems Design and Related Services Industry, workers averaged 38.3 hours per week, compared with 33.9 for all industries combined. Many workers in this industry worked more than the standard 40-hour work week—about 19 percent work 50 or more hours a week. For many professionals and technical specialists, evening or weekend work is commonly necessary to meet deadlines or solve problems. Professionals working for large establishments may have less freedom in planning their schedule than do consultants for very small firms, whose work may be more varied. Only about 7 percent of the workers in the computer systems design and related services industry work part time, compared with 15 percent of workers throughout all industries.
Most workers in the computer systems design and related services industry work in clean, quiet offices. Those in facilities management and maintenance may work in computer operations centers. Given the technology available today, however, more work can be done from remote locations using fax machines, e-mail, and especially the Internet. For example, systems analysts may work from home with their computers linked directly to computers at their employer or a client. Computer support specialists, likewise, can tap into a customer’s computer remotely in order to identify and fix problems. Even programmers and consultants, who often relocate to a customer’s place of business while working on a project, may perform work from offsite locations.
Those who work with personal computers for extended periods may experience musculoskeletal strain, eye problems, stress, or repetitive motion illnesses, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Further information about computer careers is available from:
http://www.bls.gov/emp/
Association for Computing Machinery, 2 Penn Plaza, Suite 701, New York, NY 10121-0701. Internet: http://www.acm.org/
National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE., Bellevue, WA 98007. Internet: http://www.nwcet.org/
University of Washington Computer Science and Engineering Department, AC101 Paul G. Allen Center, Box 352350, 185 Stevens Way, Seattle, WA 98195-2350. Internet: http://www.cs.washington.edu/WhyCSE/
Jill Bernaciak
Owner
http://www.whatsyourmajor.net/
440-668-3446
What's Your Major? SM
P.O. Box 321
Berea, OH 44017-9918
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Ethical Standards Evolve in College Consulting
According to two recent articles in “Inside Higher Ed,” the College Consulting profession continues to be defined -- and refined -- by market responses to practices in the field.
No longer is it acceptable for members of IECA (the Independent Education Consultants Association, which is the leading professional association) to serve in dual roles as an “insider” (my word for a college admissions officer) and also as a Independent College Consultant. IECA members are practitioners who provide objective guidance in helping students find the college that fits them best.
This is good news for practitioners and clients alike. Some of us practice in regions that are not well penetrated by consultants, nor well understood by prospective clients. Our region needs trust-worthy and low-cost services to meet the needs of an under-served student population. IECA’s revised ethics code supports us in gaining trust from clients.
The articles and sources follow.
New Ethics Rules for Admissions Consultants
When news broke this spring that some college admissions counselors also were moonlighting as private admissions consultants, many college admissions experts were angry not only at the conflict of interest, but at the fact that the ethics code for private admissions consultants didn’t ban the practice.
Now it does. The Independent Educational Consultants Association has changed its ethics code to bar people who work in college admissions from also working as private college admissions consultants. This represents a major shift for the association, which until now has only required that consultants report such dual roles and pledge to avoid conflicts. Critics have charged that it is fundamentally wrong for someone who has access to inside information about admissions practices to simultaneously be advising clients on the admissions process, however much disclosure is involved.
The association has made other changes in its ethics rules as well. Gifts from colleges that have a value of more than $50 will now be banned. In addition, it will now be official association policy that Web sites and other promotional material must be designed to decrease, rather than encourage, anxiety over the admissions process. That means that boasting about admit rates of clients or scary text about the high rejection rates at many elite colleges will disqualify private counselors from group membership.
In the month since it enacted the new rules, the association has already turned away about six prospective members, saying that they don’t meet the new standards.
“We think colleges should only want to work with consultants that are above reproach,” said Mark Sklarow, executive director of the association. The idea of the tougher rules, in the wake of criticism over conflicts of interest, is to show that “we’re not doing anything unethical, immoral, underhanded. If we are not playing to parent anxieties, we can work together more effectively.”
The dual role — of college admissions counselors simultaneously working as consultants — captured attention this spring. But Sklarow said that the association went beyond that because of other problems that have been surfacing. For example, he said that the ban on gifts in excess of $50 is being adopted because of an escalation of “giving” to consultants by some admissions officers.
Many of the gifts were associated with visits to campuses arranged by admissions offices. While reimbursement for travel expenses associated with those visits will still be permitted, gifts that are added on will not. For example, Sklarow said that admissions consultants reported being offered tickets to National Football League games by one college, or offered professional massages while visiting another college. (He declined to identify the colleges, and said that the massages were literally just that, and were not a euphemism for other services.)
While Sklarow said he wasn’t bothered by colleges giving admissions consultants a T-shirt or hat, or paying for educational visits, the trend has been “from being about educational expenses to gratuitous giving.” The ban on giving goes both ways — so admissions offices that have been receiving swag from consultants may need to expect more modest fruit baskets this Christmas.
The other new ethics requirement — that counselors have a responsibility to reduce student and parent anxiety — is more subjective than the measures about conflict of interest. But Sklarow said it may be particularly important. Some private admissions consultants — including some of the most prominent — regularly give talks or have material on their Web sites that play off of the frenzy that some parents feel about the college admissions process. Sklarow said that eventually, the association will review all materials used by all members — and that for now, it will review any materials from those seeking membership — and will use this to block such material.
“If we look at a Web site or materials that emphasize getting in as opposed to a good match, that is immediate grounds” for rejection, Sklarow said. Already, he added, a number of members have changed their Web sites. Sklarow stressed that he doesn’t view removal of such materials as hurting anyone. Many critics have noted that the highest end consultants tend to specialize in exceptionally talented, well educated clients — those who would have gotten in anyway in many cases, so having a high admit rate may not say much.
“I’d rather know how many of you have kids you have worked with who are happy and thriving,” Sklarow said.
Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, has been a leading critic on conflict of interest in admissions, and he applauded the tougher stance being taken by the private counselors. He said it was “astonishing” that some of these rules haven’t been in place previously, but that he found the new rules “quite positive” and “necessary ingredients for ethical behavior.”
Nassirian said that the rules on minimizing family anxiety may be among the most significant changes. Far too many counselors, he said, have built their businesses on “ominous information” and “cynical capitalizing on the fears and lack of information of families.”
At the same time, Nassirian said that he has concerns about the private counseling industry, even as practiced by “the most ethical” of its members, under these new guidelines. “This is something that is done for a fee, and inherently the ‘haves’ benefit,” he said. When the college admissions process for wealthier students is eased and enhanced by private counselors — while others don’t have access — “is this equitable?” he asked.
— Scott Jaschik
The original story and user comments can be viewed online at http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/07/29/ethics.
Source: http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/print/news/2008/07/29/ethics
Admissions Official and Consultant — at the Same Time
Some in college admissions worry about a “revolving door” ethics problem in which officials of top colleges leave their positions to set up or join companies that advise students and families on how to get into college.
At the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a senior admissions official didn’t quit; she set up a consulting business for applicants while working in admissions at Penn. Judith S. Hodara even noted her Wharton job title (senior associate director of admissions for the M.B.A. program) on the Web site of her company, IvyStone Educational Consultants.
On Thursday, shortly after receiving a voicemail and e-mail from a reporter about her consulting job, Hodara took down her company’s Web site. Later Thursday, Penn released a statement: “This matter came to our attention yesterday and we have since reviewed the situation. In order to avoid even an appearance of conflict of interest, Ms. Hodara has resigned from all outside consulting activities.”
Asked if Penn considered the arrangement appropriate, a university spokeswoman said via e-mail: “Penn does not consider this type of situation to be appropriate, which is why it has been ended.”
Penn officials and Hodara did not respond to questions about whether IvyStone clients ever applied to Penn.
For Hodara, this is the second gig outside of Penn she gave up this week. After Inside Higher Ed reported that she had been serving on an advisory board for a company in Japan that is paid by clients to help them win admission into top M.B.A. programs in the United States, she resigned from that position. In a statement, she said: “Since accepting this position, I’ve done no work with the company, I have attended no meetings, and I have received no compensation. To avoid the appearance of any possible conflict of interest I’ve resigned from the committee effective immediately.”
Earlier, she had defended her role on the company as ethical because she was not involved in counseling clients, only providing advice to company employees who did so.
IvyStone, however, offered services that were direct consulting. While Hodara took down the company’s Web site, archived versions of it are available online through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine and show that the company offered counseling on a per-visit arrangement up through a three-year package, that counseling covered developing a list of colleges, planning for campus visits, simulated admissions interviews, and help to “present the ‘best you’ there is.” Material on the company’s Web site as of Thursday morning noted that Hodara had previously worked in undergraduate admissions at Penn.
“I have first-hand admissions experience as Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania where I read and counseled more than 10,000 applicants, both from the U.S. and abroad. I am currently a Senior Associate Director of Admissions at the Wharton School M.B.A. Program, and I also maintain a strong pulse on the undergraduate process,” said Hodara in a Q&A posted on the company’s Web site.
Lloyd Thacker, founder of the Education Conservancy, a group committed to reforming college admissions, said he was shocked to hear that an admissions officer had a consulting business for applicants on the side. “I would hope anybody in the profession would say that this is unethical, wrong and should not happen,” he said.
There is no evidence that Hodara in any way hid her outside activities. In a biography for a podcast, she noted both her Wharton job and her business.
Thacker said that the situation leaves him with many questions: “Why didn’t the college know about her doing business on the side. If people did know, why didn’t the college do something about it?”
— Scott Jaschik
The original story and user comments can be viewed online at http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/02/01/wharton.
Source: http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/print/news/2008/02/01/wharton
No longer is it acceptable for members of IECA (the Independent Education Consultants Association, which is the leading professional association) to serve in dual roles as an “insider” (my word for a college admissions officer) and also as a Independent College Consultant. IECA members are practitioners who provide objective guidance in helping students find the college that fits them best.
This is good news for practitioners and clients alike. Some of us practice in regions that are not well penetrated by consultants, nor well understood by prospective clients. Our region needs trust-worthy and low-cost services to meet the needs of an under-served student population. IECA’s revised ethics code supports us in gaining trust from clients.
The articles and sources follow.
New Ethics Rules for Admissions Consultants
When news broke this spring that some college admissions counselors also were moonlighting as private admissions consultants, many college admissions experts were angry not only at the conflict of interest, but at the fact that the ethics code for private admissions consultants didn’t ban the practice.
Now it does. The Independent Educational Consultants Association has changed its ethics code to bar people who work in college admissions from also working as private college admissions consultants. This represents a major shift for the association, which until now has only required that consultants report such dual roles and pledge to avoid conflicts. Critics have charged that it is fundamentally wrong for someone who has access to inside information about admissions practices to simultaneously be advising clients on the admissions process, however much disclosure is involved.
The association has made other changes in its ethics rules as well. Gifts from colleges that have a value of more than $50 will now be banned. In addition, it will now be official association policy that Web sites and other promotional material must be designed to decrease, rather than encourage, anxiety over the admissions process. That means that boasting about admit rates of clients or scary text about the high rejection rates at many elite colleges will disqualify private counselors from group membership.
In the month since it enacted the new rules, the association has already turned away about six prospective members, saying that they don’t meet the new standards.
“We think colleges should only want to work with consultants that are above reproach,” said Mark Sklarow, executive director of the association. The idea of the tougher rules, in the wake of criticism over conflicts of interest, is to show that “we’re not doing anything unethical, immoral, underhanded. If we are not playing to parent anxieties, we can work together more effectively.”
The dual role — of college admissions counselors simultaneously working as consultants — captured attention this spring. But Sklarow said that the association went beyond that because of other problems that have been surfacing. For example, he said that the ban on gifts in excess of $50 is being adopted because of an escalation of “giving” to consultants by some admissions officers.
Many of the gifts were associated with visits to campuses arranged by admissions offices. While reimbursement for travel expenses associated with those visits will still be permitted, gifts that are added on will not. For example, Sklarow said that admissions consultants reported being offered tickets to National Football League games by one college, or offered professional massages while visiting another college. (He declined to identify the colleges, and said that the massages were literally just that, and were not a euphemism for other services.)
While Sklarow said he wasn’t bothered by colleges giving admissions consultants a T-shirt or hat, or paying for educational visits, the trend has been “from being about educational expenses to gratuitous giving.” The ban on giving goes both ways — so admissions offices that have been receiving swag from consultants may need to expect more modest fruit baskets this Christmas.
The other new ethics requirement — that counselors have a responsibility to reduce student and parent anxiety — is more subjective than the measures about conflict of interest. But Sklarow said it may be particularly important. Some private admissions consultants — including some of the most prominent — regularly give talks or have material on their Web sites that play off of the frenzy that some parents feel about the college admissions process. Sklarow said that eventually, the association will review all materials used by all members — and that for now, it will review any materials from those seeking membership — and will use this to block such material.
“If we look at a Web site or materials that emphasize getting in as opposed to a good match, that is immediate grounds” for rejection, Sklarow said. Already, he added, a number of members have changed their Web sites. Sklarow stressed that he doesn’t view removal of such materials as hurting anyone. Many critics have noted that the highest end consultants tend to specialize in exceptionally talented, well educated clients — those who would have gotten in anyway in many cases, so having a high admit rate may not say much.
“I’d rather know how many of you have kids you have worked with who are happy and thriving,” Sklarow said.
Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, has been a leading critic on conflict of interest in admissions, and he applauded the tougher stance being taken by the private counselors. He said it was “astonishing” that some of these rules haven’t been in place previously, but that he found the new rules “quite positive” and “necessary ingredients for ethical behavior.”
Nassirian said that the rules on minimizing family anxiety may be among the most significant changes. Far too many counselors, he said, have built their businesses on “ominous information” and “cynical capitalizing on the fears and lack of information of families.”
At the same time, Nassirian said that he has concerns about the private counseling industry, even as practiced by “the most ethical” of its members, under these new guidelines. “This is something that is done for a fee, and inherently the ‘haves’ benefit,” he said. When the college admissions process for wealthier students is eased and enhanced by private counselors — while others don’t have access — “is this equitable?” he asked.
— Scott Jaschik
The original story and user comments can be viewed online at http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/07/29/ethics.
Source: http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/print/news/2008/07/29/ethics
Admissions Official and Consultant — at the Same Time
Some in college admissions worry about a “revolving door” ethics problem in which officials of top colleges leave their positions to set up or join companies that advise students and families on how to get into college.
At the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a senior admissions official didn’t quit; she set up a consulting business for applicants while working in admissions at Penn. Judith S. Hodara even noted her Wharton job title (senior associate director of admissions for the M.B.A. program) on the Web site of her company, IvyStone Educational Consultants.
On Thursday, shortly after receiving a voicemail and e-mail from a reporter about her consulting job, Hodara took down her company’s Web site. Later Thursday, Penn released a statement: “This matter came to our attention yesterday and we have since reviewed the situation. In order to avoid even an appearance of conflict of interest, Ms. Hodara has resigned from all outside consulting activities.”
Asked if Penn considered the arrangement appropriate, a university spokeswoman said via e-mail: “Penn does not consider this type of situation to be appropriate, which is why it has been ended.”
Penn officials and Hodara did not respond to questions about whether IvyStone clients ever applied to Penn.
For Hodara, this is the second gig outside of Penn she gave up this week. After Inside Higher Ed reported that she had been serving on an advisory board for a company in Japan that is paid by clients to help them win admission into top M.B.A. programs in the United States, she resigned from that position. In a statement, she said: “Since accepting this position, I’ve done no work with the company, I have attended no meetings, and I have received no compensation. To avoid the appearance of any possible conflict of interest I’ve resigned from the committee effective immediately.”
Earlier, she had defended her role on the company as ethical because she was not involved in counseling clients, only providing advice to company employees who did so.
IvyStone, however, offered services that were direct consulting. While Hodara took down the company’s Web site, archived versions of it are available online through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine and show that the company offered counseling on a per-visit arrangement up through a three-year package, that counseling covered developing a list of colleges, planning for campus visits, simulated admissions interviews, and help to “present the ‘best you’ there is.” Material on the company’s Web site as of Thursday morning noted that Hodara had previously worked in undergraduate admissions at Penn.
“I have first-hand admissions experience as Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania where I read and counseled more than 10,000 applicants, both from the U.S. and abroad. I am currently a Senior Associate Director of Admissions at the Wharton School M.B.A. Program, and I also maintain a strong pulse on the undergraduate process,” said Hodara in a Q&A posted on the company’s Web site.
Lloyd Thacker, founder of the Education Conservancy, a group committed to reforming college admissions, said he was shocked to hear that an admissions officer had a consulting business for applicants on the side. “I would hope anybody in the profession would say that this is unethical, wrong and should not happen,” he said.
There is no evidence that Hodara in any way hid her outside activities. In a biography for a podcast, she noted both her Wharton job and her business.
Thacker said that the situation leaves him with many questions: “Why didn’t the college know about her doing business on the side. If people did know, why didn’t the college do something about it?”
— Scott Jaschik
The original story and user comments can be viewed online at http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/02/01/wharton.
Source: http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/print/news/2008/02/01/wharton
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)