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Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]

Scrutinizing free tuition programs

To determine the true impact. Most of the criticism of last dollar scholarships revolves around subsidizing students who could afford to attend anyway, while not providing enough support to low income students. While they could do more for low income students, it's hard to imagine they aren't improving access to higher education. From CBSnews.com.

Free college programs sound great, but do they work?

Free college programs, however, have their limits. For one thing, tuition makes up only 20 percent of the cost of attending a two-year public college and living off-campus. States like Oklahoma and Louisiana provide aid dollars in excess of tuition directly to students to use for other costs such as room and board and transportation, but many others don't.  

Nine of the 15 existing free college programs and 10 of the 16 proposed plans kick in only after a student has exhausted other potential funding sources such as Pell Grants, limiting the numbers of students who would potentially benefit from them. 

"Clearly, states are faced with difficult choices," an Education Trust report said. "One appeal of free college may be that middle-income families deeply concerned about the cost of college can receive tuition assistance. At the same time, it may be challenging given limited state resources for free college to both cover tuition for all and more than tuition for low-income students."  

Another question concerns the programs' effectiveness, and the answer isn't clear. A Brookings Institution study of a program in Milwaukee in which randomly selected students received $12,000 in college funding found its impact was muted. 

"We are continuing to track these effects; however, it seems clear at this point that many of the potential benefits, during and just after high school, did not emerge," the think tank said, adding that the program was poorly designed. 

As the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities noted, state spending on public colleges and universities remains below historic levels. States have made up the funding shortfalls by hiking tuition and cutting instruction, rendering higher education increasingly unaffordable for many middle class families.

Infographic Friday

From Visually.

The shrinking international student market

A tough political climate and increased competition work make it difficult to attract more international students. Surprisingly, at least to me, some universities don't charge out of state fees for international students. But even that doesn't guarantee your numbers won't drop. From the Huffington Post.

As Students Head To Campus, Colleges Fear International Student Decline

Overall international student enrollment increased by more than two-thirds in the United States over the past decade, hitting a high of more than 900,000 students during the 2016-17 academic year, according to a survey of college officials conducted by the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit based in New York City. But the number of newly enrolled students that same year declined by 3 percent. Preliminary figures for 2017-18 suggest a further decline of almost 7 percent. 

Visa numbers tell a similar story. According to the State Department, the number of student visas issued dropped by 17 percent between 2016 and 2017, to 393,573. That’s nearly 40 percent fewer than in 2015, when visa numbers peaked.

The slowdown has been most pronounced in the Midwest and Texas, said Rajika Bhandari, a senior adviser at the Institute of International Education who leads its survey. That’s possibly because many of the institutions in those regions aren’t well-known overseas, or — in Texas’ case — because students are nervous about a state law allowing guns on campus.

Bhandari said there are three major factors driving the decline. First, the Saudi and Brazilian governments have scaled back scholarship programs that allowed tens of thousands of their citizens to go to college overseas. 

Second, other countries — such as Australia, Canada and Germany — have stepped up their efforts to attract international students and make it easy for them to remain in the country and work, which increases the competition American colleges and universities face. 

And third, restrictions to international student visa programs and Trump’s vows to reduce immigration overall have made students wary of coming to the United States. “Students, when planning their studies in a country, are thinking about a longer-term trajectory,” Bhandari said.

Social Notworking

I guess I can't make fun of Millennials anymore. After all, Millennials are filling middle management positions now. Now, Millennials are faced with hiring and working with Generation Z. From Studyportals.com.

How higher education can engage with Generation Z online

Generation Z, born between the mid-1990s and 2010, grew up in an entirely digital world. Thus, it comes as no surprise that this generation is increasingly active on all kinds of social media channels, such as YouTube, Facebook and Snapchat. In our last article about Gen Z, we discovered that they are more motivated than ever to study abroad. For institutions, this offers a valuable opportunity to target prospective students not only on their website, but to adapt to a multi-channel strategy with a focus on social media in order to reach out to them. Social media channels are particularly useful towards the end of the study choice journey, when students compare multiple study options they have shortlisted, or have already received their confirmation letter and are trying to envision life on campus. 

For Gen Z, social media is an important way to interact and connect with friends in order to share the latest news and happenings. Interestingly, high school students are increasingly using the online platforms to research information about higher education institutions to gather tips and help them decide where to enrol. Your university can take advantage of this search behaviour by establishing a solid online presence and providing the digital natives with the information they are looking for.

Social media use by Gen Z 

However, not every online platform gains the same popularity among Gen Z. We stumbled across an infographic that shows which social media channels are used the most: YouTube is used by a stunning 95% of Gen Z-ers, and half of the asked high school students indicated that they cannot live without the video-sharing website. A significantly smaller but still impressive number uses Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat to connect with other users. For the digital natives, however, social media goes far beyond entertainment only. They use social media to get educated, relief stress, and identify themselves with other users, bloggers and vloggers (video bloggers). Even though the mentioned platforms are the four most popular among Gen Z, it is not advisable to embed all channels in your recruitment strategy that are out there. That’s why institutions are required to choose their channels wisely to be able to attract the right target group. Settling for only a few networks can increase the effectiveness and success of your social media activities because you are able to match and target the interest of a particular group of prospective students.

What I want to know is what comes after Generation Z?

Generation Z in the workplace: 10 things you need to know - An infographic by Sage

Tennessee is moving in the right direction

But it's still ways behind in bachelor degree attainment. The Drive to 55 is surely helping, but its focus is on postsecondary credentials of all sorts, including certificates and associate degrees. West Virginia is last (How many times have I written that?) and Massachusetts is first at 43.4%. From 24/7 Wall Street.

39. Tennessee
> Pct. of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 27.3%
> Median earnings for bachelor’s degree holders: $46,779 (12th lowest)
> Median household income: $51,340 (10th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment: 3.7% (tied — 16th lowest) 

While the share of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree in Tennessee rose from 26.1% in 2016 to 27.3% in 2017 — one of the largest increases of any state — the state’s college attainment rate remains far below the 32.0% national rate. College graduates report higher incomes than those with less education on average, likely contributing to the increase in incomes in the state. The median household income in the state rose from $49,524 in 2016 to $51,340 in 2017 — one of the largest increases nationwide. Still, Tennessee remains one of the less wealthy states, with a median income far below the $60,336 national median.

Infographic Friday

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We could be happier

According to WalletHub, the happiest states in 2018 are Hawaii and Utah. I've been to both, but I was happier in Hawaii. Ba-doom Pshh. Tennessee is 40th. The unhappiest state is West Virginia. 

2018’s Happiest States in America

Happiness comes from a combination of internal and external factors. We can influence it somewhat by approaching situations positively or choosing to spend time with people we love, doing activities we enjoy. 

One thing that doesn’t drive happiness is money. Happiness only increases with wealth up to an annual income of $75,000. But one thing that can have a big influence on how we feel about life is where we choose to live. 

In this study, WalletHub drew upon the findings of “happiness” research to determine which environmental factors are linked to a person’s overall well-being and satisfaction with life. Previous studies have found that good economic, emotional, physical and social health are all key to a well-balanced and fulfilled life. 

To determine where Americans exhibit the best combination of these factors, we examined the 50 states across 31 key metrics, ranging from depression rate to sports participation rate to income growth. 

Source: WalletHub

Improving your day at work

The Muse has some tips on things you can do to change the trajectory of your bad day at work. Actually, these are good ideas even when your day isn't so bad. Especially if you're a boss.

12 Things You Absolutely Won't Regret Doing at Work Today

Have you ever had one of those days when absolutely everything went wrong? When it felt like the universe was not only against you—but actually laughing in the face of your misfortune? 

Sigh. We all have, and those workdays can be paralyzing. You’re afraid to check your inbox, complete a project, or even so much as sneeze, because you’re convinced that it will only end in misery for you. 

In those moments, you (and your ego) need some easy wins. You need some productive and beneficial things you can do that have little to no chance of backfiring on you. 

Where do you start? Well, I’ve pulled together some different tasks you can complete, depending on the amount of disposable time you currently have. Don’t worry—these all have a very low risk of regret.

What To Do
If You Have Five Minutes

1. Grab Your Co-worker a Coffee
Doing something thoughtful hardly ever works against you. Heading to the breakroom for a coffee refill or a mid-morning treat? Snag something for your colleague or deskmate too. It’s a small gesture that’s sure to be appreciated.


2. Send a Networking Note
When our workdays get so busy, nurturing our professional relationships is often pushed to the back burner. Take a few minutes to send a LinkedIn message, an email, or even a handwritten note to a contact you haven’t reached out to in a while. You’ll keep that connection strong (and maybe even open some new doors for yourself), with very little effort.


3. Get Some Fresh Air
It’s easy to feel cooped up when you’re spending hour after hour working away in your office. Even just a couple minutes of some time outdoors can work wonders. Heading outside for just a brief break and a change of scenery can quickly refresh your attitude—particularly when you’re having a bad day.


4. Pay Someone a Compliment
Compliments have a way of making people’s days—and offering them sometimes feels just as good as receiving them. So, tell your co-worker that she did a solid job on her presentation or that you love the homemade cookies he brought in to share with the team. Spreading a little positivity never hurts.

Happy Boss's Day

This infographic was created by Unum UK. Unum provides employee benefits that protect businesses and their staff.

My iPhone 6's days are probably numbered....

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Infographic Friday

Leaving Newport

Heading to Maine

And using a few days of annual leave. I've never visited the state, so it's another checked off my list. This is from the Movoto Blog. The pictures correspond to the numbered list: i.e., the first picture is from Portland, etc. We're actually staying in number 6, the city of Bath.

These Are The 10 Most Exciting Maine Cities

Well, according to our research here at the Movoto Real Estate Blog, there’s plenty of excitement in the Pine Tree State—especially in the 10 places below, starting with our clear winner, Portland.

1. City of Portland
2. City of Rockland
3. Town of Orono
4. Village of Gorham
5. Town of Old Orchard Beach
6. City of Bangor (tie)
6. City of Bath (tie)
8. Town of Brunswick
9. City of Biddeford
10. City of Westbrook

The 10 Most Exciting Places In Maine By Movoto Real Estate

Celebrate World Mental Health Day!

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2018

Imagine growing up in our world today. Constantly battling the effects of human rights violations, wars and violence in the home, schools and businesses. Young people are spending most of their day on the internet – experiencing cyber crimes, cyber bullying, and playing violent video games. Suicide and substance abuse numbers have been steadily rising, LGBTQ youth are feeling alone and persecuted for being true to themselves and young adults are at the age when serious mental illnesses can occur and yet they are taught little to nothing about mental illness and wellbeing. 

The World Federation for Mental Health is focusing the 2018 WMHDAY campaign on Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World.  We want to bring attention to the issues our youth and young adults are facing in our world today and begin the conversation around what they need in order to grow up healthy, happy and resilient. 

Lets all use this year to emphasize the needs of our young people. Its time to take a stand and demand more for this vulnerable population – our future depends on it!
#worldmentalhealthday

At the ACHE Annual Conference and Meeting

In Newport, Rhode Island. Hope to make it back to the White Horse Tavern one evening. This is from the tavern's website.

America’s Oldest Tavern 

It’s hard to imagine life in 1673 when The White Horse Tavern opened.  The new world was an unruly collection of English colonies, and colonial Newport was particularly harsh with long frigid winters, no heat, electricity or other modern conveniences. Taverns played an important role in those early days, and The White Horse was a regular haunt for Colonists, British soldiers, Hessian mercenaries, pirates, sailors, founding fathers and all manner of early American folk. Take a look at this video to see why many consider us a “bucket list bar.” 

Originally constructed in 1652, the tavern began as the two story residence of Francis Brinley, “the massively framed building and quarter acre of land fenced with Pailes at the corner of Farewell and Marlborough Streets” was acquired by William Mayes, Sr. in 1673 and he converted it to a tavern. Not everyone read in those early days, and public establishments identified themselves with symbols – a white horse signified tavern. 

A Meeting Place for More Than 100 Years 

For the next one hundred years, before the Colony House was constructed, this large and comfortable tavern was the meeting place of the Colony’s General Assembly, Criminal Court and City Council. In 1702 William Mayes, Jr. succeeded his father as innkeeper and was granted a license to sell “…all sorts of Strong Drink.” William was a notorious pirate, who had just returned to Newport with his bounty. Openly welcomed and protected by the townspeople, Mr. Mayes caused much embarrassment to officials of the British Colony. Mary Mayes Nichols, William’s sister, and her husband, Robert, shortly followed as innkeepers.

At the ACHE

Annual Conference and Meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. Looking forward to exploring the area and seeing more lighthouses. This is picture we took from the last ACHE conference in Newport. Castlerock lighthouse.

Infographic Friday

From Visually.

Driving to

The ACHE Annual Conference and Meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. It should be a beautiful drive! This foliage forecast from from Thrillist.

THIS YEAR'S FALL COLORS WILL BE STUNNING. HERE'S WHEN & WHERE THEY'LL PEAK NEAR YOU.

October 8
Where: Peak finally arrives in much of New York, Vermont, and northern parts of Pennsylvania, while most of the surrounding areas will reach "near peak," so that's likely where you'll want to be to see the most colorful displays. The forecast also calls for the leaves to reach peak in northern Minnesota and central parts of Colorado and New Mexico. Additionally, only states in the South will still be waiting for leaves to change at this point.

October 15
Where: Even larger expanses of the same regions will see peak, including several additional states like Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. Meanwhile, the areas that reached peak in the prior week are forecast to be "beyond peak" at this point and only small areas of the South remain unchanged. 

TIme to disconnect

Cutting the wireless cord can be tough. We're always connected to work these days. From The Muse.

7 Scary Cell Phone Facts That'll Make You Question Your Addiction

So, maybe you spend a little too much time on your phone. Or a lot too much time. And you know you do. But does that mean you’ve stopped? I’m going to guess. Probably not.
You may also feel like you’ll never find enough time in the day to get all your work done and fit in family, friends, exercise, hobbies, and all the rest. But maybe, just maybe, if you weren’t on your phone so much, you could take a few steps toward that elusive state of work-life balance people say exists. 

Now, just because you’ve realized that your small screen’s become your most loyal companion or the object of your most unconditional devotion—and even if you’ve realized that might not be the best thing for you or anyone around you—doesn’t mean you’ve done anything to change it yet. 

If that gnawing awareness isn’t enough, maybe these facts will help motivate you to finally make a change.

1. iPhone Owners Unlock Their Devices an Average of 80 Times Per Day

I’d bet that your phone is within arm’s distance (if not finger distance) of you right now—even if you’re at your desk at work. So it’s not surprising that you’ll probably end up unlocking it dozens upon dozens of times a day. 

Apple revealed this statistic in 2016 while expounding on the security and user benefits of its Touch ID feature. Spread over a 24-hour period, that’d mean the average owner unlocks their phone every 18 minutes. But when you account for the hours you’re asleep, that means it’s even more frequent.

2. 89% of Undergraduates in a Study Experienced Phantom Vibrations

Have you ever thought your phone was vibrating only to realize it wasn’t? The vast majority of the 290 undergrads who participated in a study conducted at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne and published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior in 2012 did.

3. 53% of Millennials Wake Up at Least Once Every Night to Check Their Phones

You know that sleep is important to having a productive workday. But more likely than not (if you’re a Millennial), you’re interrupting your own rest to check your phone—in the middle of the night! 

According to a survey by Qualtrics and Accel Partners, 79% of Millennials put their phones right by them when they sleep and 53% wake up at least once every night to check them.

 Not only that, but nearly 60% check their phones even before they use the bathroom in the morning. The same study found that close to half (42%) haven’t spent more than five waking hours without taking a look at social media.

I, for one, welcome our robot overlords....

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Happy International Music Day!

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Happy International Coffee Day!

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