World Workshop #23: "HIGHER ED IN CRISIS (2)" (+ Dinner)

2/28/14 @6:00 pm in CSUF Hum 123. This event is part of the Left Bank's "World Workshops" series on Friday evenings. Today's theme: HIGHER ED IN CRISIS (Part 2) following up on our workshop #16 on 5/5/2013. Hosted by Dr. Hélène Domon.

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Public higher education is in crisis in the US. To measure the nationwide extent of this crisis, read student activist Ethan Miller's article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ethan-miller/the-crisis-in-higher-educ_b_2727653.html

The crisis of higher education severely affects the CSU system. This workshop will address the concerns of faculty, students and citizens of California regarding the future of their public higher education. Topics will include:

• automation, online courses (CSU Online and "the 24th campus") and MOOC's;

• commoditization of students and education;

• privatization of public space (Starbucks at library, etc);

• degree unit reduction and threats to General Education;

• growth of part-time vs. full-time faculty ratio;

• drastic reductions in the corps of full professors;

• loss of "collegial governance" (= faculty involved in university-wide decisions), particularly in curriculum and hiring policies;

• crowded classes and increasing student-faculty ratio (SFR), now one of the worst in the nation;

• unfair faculty wages, benefits and workload;

• student fee hikes (300% in past few years), student debt, poor equity and access;

• growth of administrators vs. faculty hirings;

• dismantlement of smaller academic programs in the arts, humanities and theoretical science;

• police repression of student protests;

• California's responsibility for higher education.

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PROGRAM:

(If you want to be a speaker, please see instructions below.)

• Dr. Hélène Domon, professor of French Studies at CSUF: "A Footnote on Online Courses."

•(Your name!)

• Round-Table Discussion: “CSU Strategic Plans: Read Between the Lines.”

• Round-Table Discussion: "What do faculty and students really NEED?"

After the workshop, we will have dinner in Fullerton. Details later.

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• Give a talk! Anyone at the Left Bank is welcome to submit a proposal for a 10-minute presentation on this topic. You do not need to be an expert, a teacher or a published writer - just an informed citizen of the Earth who would like to provide insights.

Rules of the game:

1. Email a title and short summary to Helene at hdomon@fullerton.edu at least a few days before the workshop date;

2. Focus your topic on one theme you would like to emphasize;

3. Your presentation is 10 minutes max, followed by an informal group discussion;

4. A PowerPoint is welcome, but not mandatory. Lectures, round tables, videos, poetry, slam, spoken word, songs, art, performance and other forms of expression are all welcome.

Cheers, come on, don't hesitate! Share your knowledge and hopes! Be part of the people's university where we learn and grow from each other and build tomorrow's world!

Cost: The workshop is FREE.

Directions and Parking: From FWY 57, take Nutwood Exit to the west. Make a right on Folino Dr. and an immediate left into Parking lot F. Drive around the curve and park close to Humanities building, which is the tallest building near the parking lot, with a beehive-like wall pattern. Parking is free on Fridays after 5:00pm.