By Philip Morgan, St. Petersburg Times, March 18, 2011. Mario Mirabal wears tributes to his trade prominently on his skin. The tattoo of a wrench on the inside of one forearm is labeled "Horsepower.'' The wrench on the other celebrates "Torque.'' When it comes to auto mechanics, he lives what he teaches: "This is a career that is truly for the passionate. You've got to come in this and love cars.'' A mechanic for 11 years, the 29-year-old Mirabal teaches the new auto repair course for Hillsborough Community College. Administrators added the course after hearing from Tampa Bay area car dealers who said they had trouble finding and keeping competent young mechanics. Built with the help of a matching federal Economic Development Administration grant, the college's new $3.2 million auto service center lab opened in January with the latest in computer diagnostics equipment. The 17 students in the first class started in August, sharing space in the auto body repair lab until their new building near 56th Street and Columbus Drive was ready. They come from all over the county — Westchase, South Tampa, Riverview. Learn more…
Education and Women in the Labor Market
By Laura D'Andrea Tyson, The New York Times, March 11, 2011. In an American workplace reshaped by recession, globalization and automation, a college education may no longer seem to offer a clear path to economic success. But my experience over 35 years as a full-time worker (with an undergraduate degree from Smith and a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) – and the experience of millions of other women in the labor force during the same period – indicate otherwise. Learn more…
What Role Should Community Colleges Play?
By Katherine Schulten, The New York Times, March 4, 2011. About three-quarters of the freshmen at the City University of New York’s six community colleges this year have needed remedial instruction in reading, writing or math. This “rising tide” of students needing to get academically up to speed before they can take college classes is changing what and how these colleges teach. What is the role of community colleges in your community? To what extent do you think these colleges should be expected to offer remediation for students not prepared for college work? Why? Learn more…
Education and Women in the Labor Market
By Laura D'Andrea Tyson, The New York Times, March 11, 2011. In an American workplace reshaped by recession, globalization and automation, a college education may no longer seem to offer a clear path to economic success. But my experience over 35 years as a full-time worker (with an undergraduate degree from Smith and a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) – and the experience of millions of other women in the labor force during the same period – indicate otherwise. Learn more…
What Role Should Community Colleges Play?
By Katherine Schulten, The New York Times, March 4, 2011. About three-quarters of the freshmen at the City University of New York’s six community colleges this year have needed remedial instruction in reading, writing or math. This “rising tide” of students needing to get academically up to speed before they can take college classes is changing what and how these colleges teach. What is the role of community colleges in your community? To what extent do you think these colleges should be expected to offer remediation for students not prepared for college work? Why? Learn more…
