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Greetings!
The school year is in full swing. Interim grades have gone home for most students, extracurricular activities are underway, and many high school students are in the throes of the college search and SAT/ACT process. If your family is feeling overwhelmed by all of this, you aren't alone and we can help!
Wherever you are relative to the college selection process, check out the article below about the changes in American higher education - you might be surprised!
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The Changing Face of Higher Education
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Recent headlines in the Washington Post proclaimed "A Virtual Revolution is Brewing for College"(Sept. 22, 2009), "Funding Cuts Leave Areas Colleges Gasping" (Sept. 24, 2009), "and Rescuing Our Public Universities" (Sept. 27, 2009). Each article points to dramatic changes in the delivery of higher education.
The American rite of passage of leaving home to go off to college upon completion of high school is being challenged by new economic, demographic, and sociological factors. Online classes offer convenience, savings, and efficiency that appeal to adult learners, minorities and new entrants to higher education. Current economic pressures on students and institutions alike increase this appeal.
A major economic factor is the decrease in funding provided by local and state governments. Schools have resorted to increased class sizes, faculty layoffs, and other cost-cutting measures. Overall, state support for higher education has been reduced 20-30 percent in Virginia. Nationwide, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities reports that 28 states have proposed reductions in higher education funding during the current fiscal year.
So, where is the future of higher education heading? All indications point to community colleges, online universities, and other non-traditional avenues. Increased efficiency, reduced costs, and greater access by more people will become the norm. Students will have access to videotaped lectures, online classes, online syllabi, bulletin boards shared by other students, and free academic materials.
Higher education has long been the gateway to success for the upper and middle classes. That gateway has been difficult to access for minorities and those on the lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. Further, the median age of college students increases annually, and adult learners are returning to college. Distance learning makes higher education available to a wider spectrum of people from all levels of the economy.
At the forefront of this trend is America's community college system. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, 44% of U.S. undergraduates have enrolled in the nation's 1,132 two-year colleges. Community colleges have become a major source of training for many professions, including law enforcement, fire science, health-care, automotive technology, and other essential services.
No one is forecasting the demise of the four-year university degree as we have come to know it. However, these trends in the student body and the economy all point to a higher education system that will be exponentially different from the past. This is good news, for it points to true democratization of higher education.
- Dr. Ralph G. Perrino
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Fall Test Dates
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PSAT
SAT
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October 10
- November 7
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December 5
ACT
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How many hats does Dr. Perrino wear?
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· Volunteer: Dr. Perrino was honored with a James B. Hunter III Community Hero Award in the "individual" category, for his work in support of programs at Patrick Henry Elementary School, where he mentors students in fourth and fifth grades. The event was part of Arlington County's annual Neighborhood Day celebration. Perrino "is an outstanding example of giving back to the community," said Annie Frye, assistant principal at the elementary school, who made the nomination.
· Supportive Husband: Dr. Perrino traveled with his wife, Denise, and the cast of the McLean High School Theatre Department to Edinburgh, Scotland this past summer. Denise, who is the Theatre Arts Director at McLean High, took 16 students to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to perform "Alice in Wonderland." Dr. Perrino served as a chaperone and he even worked tech by running the spotlight during each of the four performances by this international thespian troupe!
· Educator: Dr. Perrino has been asked to participate in an international cultural exchange at Northern Virginia Community College - Alexandria Campus during the fall 2009 semester. This exchange will be a course on American culture and will cover topics in literature, history, sociology, psychology, religion, politics, economics, and foreign policy. This interdisciplinary course on American culture will be offered to students from the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar via video connection to the U.S. Embassy in Madagascar. Perrino will teach a section titled "American Music" covering musical genres from early minstrel music through contemporary hip-hop. Perrino also teaches a full semester course titled "The Sociology of Contemporary Music: From Rock 2 Pop 2 Hip-Hop", at the Alexandria Campus.
· Entrepreneur: Dr. Perrino, wearing his Chairman of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce hat, attended the Inaugural Reception of the Vietnamese American National Chamber of Commerce. The VietAmCham and the local Chamber are partnering in pursuit of Dr. Perrino's favorite goals for the Chamber-increasing diversity in membership and increasing member involvement in local schools. He was pleased to meet Congressman Cao, who wears a similar collection of hats.
Pictured (L to R): Linh Tran, Dr. Ralph Perrino, Ly Ly Hoang, Congressman Anh "Joseph" Cao, and Dr. Nguyen Dinh
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We are here to help. Please call on us if your family needs an assist with academics.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ralph G. Perrino
Northern Virginia Tutoring Service
703.534.5779
DrPerrino@nvtutoring.com
www.nvtutoring.com
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