On grades and grading in colleges and universities

My two posts subsequent to the end of spring semester are still very much on my mind. One extraordinary comment added today to my post, “Spring semester is history, except for Millennials upset about their grades,” added deep insight into the discussion from a Millennial student’s perspective. I am grateful for this comment.
I can’t let [...]

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Lessons in financial management, or, where’s the cheap barbecue?

It’s that time of the year again. It’s the end of the second quarter, so it’s time to pay estimated taxes.
Being an erudite and highly paid college professor (neither of those is true really) does not exempt me from paying Uncle Sam his quarterly due.
As usual, I did not have enough cash on hand to [...]

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More excellent advice for students — and working practitioners

After posting the previous “Spring semester is history…”, I had a conversation with my pal, Facebook Friend, and terrific communicator Michael Gary Clendenin. Michael is with Freddie Mac, where he is transitioning from his role in Online Marketing and Communications serving public policy, public relations, Office of the Chief Economists, and other business areas to a [...]

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Spring semester is history, except for Millennials upset about their grades

The last two weeks have been busy ones. I graded over 100 final exams, 25 strategic public relations plans, seven team case studies, 80 end-of-course writing assignments, nine internship portfolios, and three independent study projects.
I recorded grades and took a deep breath. Now the phone calls and emails begin to come in.
Student: “I just checked [...]

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More on legal/ethical issues of employers checking applicants’ social networking sites

Many of my students graduate this month and begin searching for that elusive first job. They will enter a very competitive marketplace. Every competitive advantage they have must be exploited. And any competitive disadvantages must be minimized. As we’ve said here before, it’s time to scrub Facebook and MySpace pages for anything that might be unflattering or unprofessional.
This came [...]

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What makes a successful communication/PR/IMC practitioner?

As graduation day nears, I have been thinking about this question. I am sure that many soon-to-be grads are thinking about it, too.
They had better be. School is literally out. It’s time to go to work.
Some of my most exemplary students are graduating. And weekly, I hear from graduates who are now successfully working but [...]

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IABC’s Natasha Nicholson advises Towson PR Millennial students on entering the work force

Natasha Nicholson says today’s graduating Millennial students will be working with four generations in the U.S. work force. Communicating with these various generations presents unique challenges for communication/PR professionals, both personally and professionally.
And that was just the beginning.
Natasha was keynote speaker at Towson’s Student PR Group’s annual Networking Fair April 30. The Fair links soon-to-be graduates with employers and [...]

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