Here are just a few of the reasons why our family believes Dr. Regueira is the best pediatrician in town. He always listens carefully and respectfully to what the parent and patient tell him, then he decides the best course of action. He does not try to be all things to all people, he readily makes referrals to specialists. He treats his patients as if they were his own children.
Dr. Butler says, "I would put to you that the bachelor's degree, which is what we all think going to college means, is completely inappropriate for the 21st century, every bit as much as what we had in the 18th century was for the 20th."
What!?!?! Yes, a person can get a job with only a two year degree but the variety of choices is so much wider (and the ability to adapt to change is easier) with a four year degree, not to mention the earning potential.
On a related note I have been distressed to learn that some of the students at VC are now being told they must get their associates degree before they can transfer to a four year university!! A lie!!!
Of course if the college can convince students that they must earn the associates they can claim higher completion numbers, but what does that do for the students who are fully capable of transferring to a quality four year university well before that. I was just reading an article about how successful community college transfer students are doing even at highly selective universities around the country, why would the college president want to hold back those students who are capable of moving on....
It is absolutely true that not every student needs a four year degree, there will always been a need for the one and two year programs, but for someone in Dr. Butler's position to state as fact that a four year degree is "inappropriate" is doing a disservice to the entire community.
We signed up to get them, at least I believe this is why we got the call. At the City of Victoria website, there is a link to sign up for emergency notification.
When the unemployment rate is already so high, what is going to happen when 100+ university undergraduates move in to town in the Fall? Where are these students going to find part-time work?
I have not seen new restaurants, or businesses that cater to university students, moving to the area close to where many will be living. I worry that not enough thought has been put into the university expansion. These students will need jobs to help pay for their living expenses. There are very few college students these days, even full-time students, who do not need some type of job.
SugarMagnolia,
If they did the testing as you remember I doubt people would be as upset. I also remember taking all of the tests you mention. But unlike what we remember where the tests were given with very little preparation if any, and in my opinion giving a much more valid measurement of what was being learned, today the teachers spend months teaching the students how to take the test. The students are given multiple practice tests, taught test taking strategies -- many of which are only valid for taking the TAKS. If the students do not do well enough on the practice tests they are subjected to weeks and weeks of tutoring, specifically geared to passing the test!, after and sometimes during school --taking away from their time in an actual classroom.
The entire school becomes stressed out from constant reminders about how important the tests are for the school and the children's futures. Even in elementary the children are told repeatedly how they must do well on the tests :-(
If the state could go back to just giving the IOWA or the Stanford Achievement Test or another of their ilk, without any preparation other than instruction on how to fill out bubble sheets, the teachers could get back to teaching their subjects in the best way they know how.
Testing students in itself is not a bad thing, it is the way the testing and preparation has been implemented that is the problem.
I would really love to know more details of the Advanced Learning Center, for instance: how will students get there? Once there, when and how do they get back to their home campus? What is going to be required for private and homeschooled students to attend?
And now Mr. Moore mentions an early college program. What is that going to be? How will it work? Who is eligible? Will the students spend their entire day at the college?
Why does Mr. Moore refer to these new programs in interviews but provide no details? Does anyone know where the details can be found?
Great questions JackDeuce and Suzy88. I have heard rumors that UHV is planning to purchase one of the apartment complexes across the street. They share the library and student center facilities with VC, so technically they do have those... I suppose they will start offering meal plans for the Subway station in the student center.
Speculating here, as for a training center for the athletes maybe they are planning to use the "new" high school athletic facilities. Isn't the current senior campus supposed to be converted to some type of sport facility?
I would love for someone from UHV to address these questions so parents of future students can decide if UHV is a place to be seriously considered.
In the mean time I have to agree it will be a very long time before UHV will resemble what most would consider a four year university. Maybe that is why one of their first decisions was to find a way to move the students through as quickly as possible.
Does anyone else find this disappointing?
Everyone worked so hard to get the legislature to approve UHV becoming a four year institution, and one of their first actions is to start promoting a short cut three year option. In my opinion, this announcement does not demonstrate that they are putting a real effort into creating a quality four year degree program.
"Hudson said. "We're almost to our goal of creating a true destination university in this wonderful location,"
Honestly, what is there here in Victoria that makes this a wonderful location for traditional aged university students? What are the students, who are theoretically going to move here from out of town, supposed to do when they are not in class or studying?
Congratulations Natasha!! This is a wonderful achievement and you and your family have every right to be proud.
Some students require more challenge than others to be happy. If finishing up her associates degree is what has helped her be happy and challenged, then no one has any right to question it.
The comments related to bar hopping and boyfriends have nothing to do with her studying at a university. Those things happen whether you are in high school or a university. If she would have been mature enough to make the right choices at home she should have no problem making them on campus.
Again, I wish Natasha and her family all the best in this endeavor.
Newsletter
Here are just a few of the reasons why our family believes Dr. Regueira is the best pediatrician in town. He always listens carefully and respectfully to what the parent and patient tell him, then he decides the best course of action. He does not try to be all things to all people, he readily makes referrals to specialists. He treats his patients as if they were his own children.
Dr. Butler says, "I would put to you that the bachelor's degree, which is what we all think going to college means, is completely inappropriate for the 21st century, every bit as much as what we had in the 18th century was for the 20th."
What!?!?! Yes, a person can get a job with only a two year degree but the variety of choices is so much wider (and the ability to adapt to change is easier) with a four year degree, not to mention the earning potential.
On a related note I have been distressed to learn that some of the students at VC are now being told they must get their associates degree before they can transfer to a four year university!! A lie!!!
Of course if the college can convince students that they must earn the associates they can claim higher completion numbers, but what does that do for the students who are fully capable of transferring to a quality four year university well before that. I was just reading an article about how successful community college transfer students are doing even at highly selective universities around the country, why would the college president want to hold back those students who are capable of moving on....
It is absolutely true that not every student needs a four year degree, there will always been a need for the one and two year programs, but for someone in Dr. Butler's position to state as fact that a four year degree is "inappropriate" is doing a disservice to the entire community.
We signed up to get them, at least I believe this is why we got the call. At the City of Victoria website, there is a link to sign up for emergency notification.
http://www.victoriatx.org/oem/gcregis...
When the unemployment rate is already so high, what is going to happen when 100+ university undergraduates move in to town in the Fall? Where are these students going to find part-time work?
I have not seen new restaurants, or businesses that cater to university students, moving to the area close to where many will be living. I worry that not enough thought has been put into the university expansion. These students will need jobs to help pay for their living expenses. There are very few college students these days, even full-time students, who do not need some type of job.
SugarMagnolia,
If they did the testing as you remember I doubt people would be as upset. I also remember taking all of the tests you mention. But unlike what we remember where the tests were given with very little preparation if any, and in my opinion giving a much more valid measurement of what was being learned, today the teachers spend months teaching the students how to take the test. The students are given multiple practice tests, taught test taking strategies -- many of which are only valid for taking the TAKS. If the students do not do well enough on the practice tests they are subjected to weeks and weeks of tutoring, specifically geared to passing the test!, after and sometimes during school --taking away from their time in an actual classroom.
The entire school becomes stressed out from constant reminders about how important the tests are for the school and the children's futures. Even in elementary the children are told repeatedly how they must do well on the tests :-(
If the state could go back to just giving the IOWA or the Stanford Achievement Test or another of their ilk, without any preparation other than instruction on how to fill out bubble sheets, the teachers could get back to teaching their subjects in the best way they know how.
Testing students in itself is not a bad thing, it is the way the testing and preparation has been implemented that is the problem.
I would really love to know more details of the Advanced Learning Center, for instance: how will students get there? Once there, when and how do they get back to their home campus? What is going to be required for private and homeschooled students to attend?
And now Mr. Moore mentions an early college program. What is that going to be? How will it work? Who is eligible? Will the students spend their entire day at the college?
Why does Mr. Moore refer to these new programs in interviews but provide no details? Does anyone know where the details can be found?
Great questions JackDeuce and Suzy88. I have heard rumors that UHV is planning to purchase one of the apartment complexes across the street. They share the library and student center facilities with VC, so technically they do have those... I suppose they will start offering meal plans for the Subway station in the student center.
Speculating here, as for a training center for the athletes maybe they are planning to use the "new" high school athletic facilities. Isn't the current senior campus supposed to be converted to some type of sport facility?
I would love for someone from UHV to address these questions so parents of future students can decide if UHV is a place to be seriously considered.
In the mean time I have to agree it will be a very long time before UHV will resemble what most would consider a four year university. Maybe that is why one of their first decisions was to find a way to move the students through as quickly as possible.
Does anyone else find this disappointing?
Everyone worked so hard to get the legislature to approve UHV becoming a four year institution, and one of their first actions is to start promoting a short cut three year option. In my opinion, this announcement does not demonstrate that they are putting a real effort into creating a quality four year degree program.
"Hudson said. "We're almost to our goal of creating a true destination university in this wonderful location,"
Honestly, what is there here in Victoria that makes this a wonderful location for traditional aged university students? What are the students, who are theoretically going to move here from out of town, supposed to do when they are not in class or studying?
Congratulations Natasha!! This is a wonderful achievement and you and your family have every right to be proud.
Some students require more challenge than others to be happy. If finishing up her associates degree is what has helped her be happy and challenged, then no one has any right to question it.
The comments related to bar hopping and boyfriends have nothing to do with her studying at a university. Those things happen whether you are in high school or a university. If she would have been mature enough to make the right choices at home she should have no problem making them on campus.
Again, I wish Natasha and her family all the best in this endeavor.