COLLEGE NEWS
- Ag ambassadors trained
- Honor to AST Club
COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
- What employees want
INFOGRAZING
- Providing computers to freshmen
- Requiring computers for freshmen
EXTERNAL VOICES
- Effective recruitment/retention
MARGINALIA
- Dean for a day
- Rural anthropology
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
C O L L E G E N E W S
AG AMBASSADORS TRAINED
Forty-seven students attended a Nov. 16 training session for the
Agricultural Student Ambassador Program. Ag ambassadors visit
high schools, giving presentations to students on the College
of Agriculture and answering questions about college life and
career opportunities. In the training session, ambassadors receive
information on the college, admission policies, financial aid,
job opportunities and presentation skills.
HONOR TO AST CLUB
Add the Agricultural Systems Technology Club to the list of student
groups receiving honors this fall. The club was first runner-up
for student technology and management branches in the annual Equipment
Manufacturers Institute trophies competition. Awards go to American
Society of Agricultural Engineers clubs with outstanding records
of activities and achievements.
C O M M U N I C A T I O N S K I O S K
WHAT EMPLOYEES WANT
Managers rate good pay and job security at the top of the list
of what employees want from their jobs, according to studies of
employee communication and staff morale. But employees often put
those two items in the middle of their top-10 needs. Most studies
show they desire recognition for work performed, a feeling of
being "in" on things and interesting work. (From Communication
Briefings.)
I N F O G R A Z I N G
PROVIDING COMPUTERS TO FRESHMEN . . .
The University of Washington has granted 65 first-year students
a free Apple Powerbook and software as part of the "UWired"
project, demonstrating the value of computerized information services
and their incorporation into teaching and learning. Students can
buy their machines next summer or turn them in. If the project
is successful, officials hope to expand it to all freshmen, but
not necessarily by providing them all with $4,300 laptops. The
university is working with vendors to come up with affordable
options. (Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 9.)
. . . REQUIRING COMPUTERS FOR FRESHMEN
In California, three state universities have requested permission
to require that incoming students have their own PCs, potentially
doubling first-year expenses. If approved, Humboldt State, Sonoma
State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo could set the trend for other
public schools. Some educators say the prerequisite could be a
financial hardship for lower-income families. (San Jose Mercury
News, Sept. 8)
E X T E R N A L V O I C E S
EFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT/RETENTION PROGRAMS
David R. Treadwell, Jr., president of a Massachusetts communications
company, says research shows reputation, cost and location are
the most important factors in selecting a college. He estimates
a top-notch recruitment/admissions program can result in a maximum
10-percent gain in admissions, compared with a run-of-the mill
program. What can hurt admissions: Student word of mouth, bad
publicity (campus crime, academic dishonesty), bad job market
in campus specialty areas, ranked sports teams at rival campuses
and bad weather on prospective student days. What to do: Conduct
research and evaluate whole recruitment/retention picture honestly;
concentrate on retention -- it's easier to keep students than
attract them. (Chronicle of Higher Education, Nov. 2.)
M A R G I N A L I A
DEAN FOR A DAY
While Korry Hintze, a junior in animal science (pre-vet), led
the Ag Cabinet meeting today (Friday), Dean Topel attended Chemistry
331. Korry won the drawing for Switch-A-Day with the Dean of Agriculture.
RURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
In the July 1994 issue of Harper's, David Foster Wallace describes
a visit to the Illinois State Fair. "I suspect," he
writes, "that every so often editors at East Coast magazines
slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the
United States lies between the coasts, and figure they'll engage
somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something
rural and heartlandish."
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO AG ONLINE
Send your name, e-mail address and the message "Ag Online
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server, AGCOLLEGE/BMEYER). To unsubscribe: Same thing, with "Ag
Online unsubscribe." Comments? Call, write, e-mail or fax
to the addresses below.