From the News You Can Use Archives 05/01/07
April News Digest
By Ian Crawford, Web Communications Editor
- An Education for Life
- Pay Gap Starts Soon After Graduation
- A Growing Demand for Graduates
- More and More Students Rejected by Colleges
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An Education for Life
Two stories this month portray learning opportunities for both young and older people, and at contrasting rates of progress!A 19-year-old from suburban Detroit is about to graduate from the University of Michigan after just one year of study.
Nicole Matisse will graduate in the summer with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She finished her high school studies early, passed eight AP courses and took another eight classes at community college. With the additional credits, Nicole was able to enter the university last fall as a junior. She then took as many credits in one semester as a normal student would in two semesters.
On the other hand, Nola Ochs will graduate next month at the age of 95 making her the world's oldest college graduate. It took her 45 years to complete her studies.
Nola started taking classes at a community college after her husband died in 1972. Over the years she took the occasional class and is now just a few hours short of earning her undergraduate degree in general studies with an emphasis in history at Fort Hays University in Kansas.
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Pay Gap Starts Soon After Graduation
According to a new report, just one year into their careers, women graduates already earn less than their male counterparts, even though they work in the same field. This pay gap grows worse over the years.The report, Behind the Pay Gap by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Education Foundation, found that:
- One year after college graduation, women earn only 80 percent of what their male counterparts earn.
- Ten years after graduation, women fall further behind, earning only 69 percent of what men earn.
The report accounted for hours, occupation, parenthood and other factors known to affect earnings, and estimated that one-quarter of the pay gap remains unexplained and is likely due to sex discrimination.
News release: Pay Gap Exists as Early as One Year out of College, New Research Says - American Association of University Women Education Foundation
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A Growing Demand for Graduates
This year's graduates are in demand. More will be recruited despite a low unemployment rate of 4.4 percent and much competition for skilled workers.That's the rosy outlook of the Job Outlook 2007 Spring Update by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Members of the association say they will hire 19.2 percent more graduates this year than they did in 2006.
"Employers cited business growth and expansion as reasons for the increase in hiring," says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. "In addition, many reported plans to put more emphasis on college hiring this year."
News release: Employers Revise College Hiring Projections Up to 19.2 Percent - National Association of Colleges and Employers
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More and More Students Rejected by Colleges
More students are applying to more colleges and getting more rejection letters. But students are also being more selective in their choice, looking beyond the top universities.In a News You Can Use article this month, we took a look at how a number of top-tier state schools and smaller liberal arts colleges say they received more applications this year from well-qualified students and so have to write a lot more rejection letters.
Complete article: More and More Students Rejected by Colleges
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Story posted May 1, 2007.
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