It may be a new year full of new promises, but this edition of the Boxers likes to think that the classics never go out of style, especially when Pixar is involved.
Monsters U takes over the BCS
In some of the best ad placement ever, Disney used the college football bowl season to unleash a Monsters Inc.-related blitz of advertisements for Monsters University, an amazing site that spoofs higher ed and subtly promotes the 3D release of the classic movie. The commercials for the “college” were great enough, but the website is film advertising taken to a new level. For us Notre Dame grads, it probably was the highlight of the night. (Ooof. But I digress.) Spend some time with the website and laugh. From Greek Life to admissions to the choir, Monsters U sure sounds wonderful. And you just may see me sporting four-armed hoodie at the next conference.
Endangered Species: The student who graduates in four years
[pullquote]Time Magazine this week reports on a disturbing trend: college students aren’t graduating in four years.[/pullquote]Time Magazine this week reports on a disturbing trend: college students aren’t graduating in four years. Time examined Department of Education data that shows fewer than 40 percent of students who enter college each year graduate within four years, while almost 60 percent of students graduate in six years. At public colleges and universities, less than one-third of students graduate in four years. Reasons cited include overcrowding in classes, internships schedules that may make it harder for a student to fit in required classes and changing academic majors. One expert Time interviewed says the delays not only impact students who pay more in tuition and have to wait longer for their first paychecks; taxpayers end up paying more in financial aid and students who would otherwise be paying taxes on incomes from full-time jobs aren’t, putting more stress on the treasury.
The Shortys go to School
For the first time, this year’s Shortys, the awards that drive everyone on Twitter to blatant self-promotion, have added a college category. Barnes & Noble and the Shorty people are teaming up to present an award to the Barnes & Noble College campus “that most effectively uses social media to drive campus engagement with students, faculty and the entire campus community while, most importantly, celebrating the school’s authentic spirit and attitude,” reports The Huffington Post. Voting is underway now, which you probably already knew if you’ve spent 11 seconds on Twitter since the new year. May the best campus win.