Tony, Here is some news you might already have heard about. Kim Clark, Havard's B school Dean, is stepping down to take over as President of BYU-Idaho. http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=39&sid=210253
Smalls, Bing knows that I am a BYU alum (albeit from the Provo, UT campus), so he was just being kind. Bing, I was not aware of this news before today, so I appreciate the notice. I had no idea that Kim Clark was even considering the BYU-I presidency. That is even biggger news than having a BYU alum as the president of University of Utah and a U of U alum as BYU's president. Although BYU-I/Ricks College has had at least one previous president with a Harvard doctorate (Henry Eyring), Dr. Clark should boost BYU-I's credibility even higher. Cheers, Tony Piña Administrator, Northeastern Illinois University AA, BA, EdM Brigham Young University (UT) EdD La Sierra University (CA)
What does this have to do with Degreeinfo? Excellent question; I'm glad that you asked... From BYU-I's catalog: "To prepare students to function effectively in an online learning environment, students entering BYU-Idaho in Fall 2000 are required to have one online learning experience to graduate...These courses can also be used to fulfill general education, elective, or major course requirements. Online courses are to be completed during the regular semester (or term). Because the student controls the online learning experience, a high degree of self-discipline is needed to be successful. " Tony
Yep...well, BYU in Provo(are the BYU-I and the BYU-P diplomas the same?). 1985...feels like 1885 these days. So, likely a few years older than you. Got engaged there, had a blast, got a good education. My wife is alum, too. BTW, Clark's comment was..." Part of me is looking forward with sadness," said Clark, who called his current position leading Harvard's business school "one of the greatest jobs in the world." I can imagine the sadness. He is going from a top notch big deal in the world to BYU-I. Here is my guess, though. He looked at this like a calling from the church. Also, it will inject some non-BYU life into BYU, since Clark is not a BYUer. I think it will only help BYU-I to have Clark there. He can take it to some great heights. Maybe a selfless calling unless he has some insight to be an Apostle. I'm quite certain it would be a pay cut. On the other hand, I wondered if Clark wasn't ready to leave Harvard and do something else. Even BYU-I is not a crappy school in my opinion. It's not dinky either. I had once read where Clark was a big proponent of on-line and distance education. I don't think they had a ton of that in the B school but he could do big things with it at BYU. A BYU diploma in every pot. Just thinking out loud. By the way, did you guys get the last BYU alumni magazine...the one with the students taking pictures all over campus? One of the best ones I have seen in a while. Beautiful. How about that library?
The pay cut I was referring to was regarding the BYU-I Presidency...as compared to the Dean of Havard Business. I get ragged on in some other boards regarding BYU for sure. Many "raggers" are BYU alum themselves....who are most vengeful/hateful toward the church and anything that has to do with it. This hate has turned into clouded judgment on their part regarding the school. The Y is a top notch school...and not just my opinion either(see newsweek rankings). This reputation, this mechanism already in place, can be leveraged by Clark and he can start his dynasty of making BYU-I a major player in education. (think ncaa sports will ever be in byu-i's future?) It looks like they have already turned over some of the reigns on distance education to BYU-I. They already said they want the school to be a bigger player in Idaho. Maybe bigger competition for Moscow and Pocatello. Distance Master's in nursing would be one way to increase the reach and growth I think. Recall discussion, and conjecture, a while back regarding BYU bringing Southern Virginia into it's fold...a "BYU East". Maybe this is not so far fetched now as it once seemed. Maybe Clark will take over the whole shabang and grow it even bigger. (the BYU-Virginia thing is a longshot in my opinion). And...they already have BYU-TV. The infrastructure is in place. Maybe Clark, after being President of a university, will head back to Harvard and be their President one day.
Luther Rice people used to get all over Mormons and "Jaydubs"...and Masons. Now, LRS is more of a less odd crowd it seems. Generally, the raggers have been BYUers, UofUers, or other just disaffected LDS. One guy who was extremely hard on me was an ex-Mission President. Not sure if this dude was just upset that he didn't make the 70 or what. However, he's off the deep end these days. He was an MBA from the Y. I really don't get dumped on by other religious people about the Y. One guy at work is a Y grad but he has never been LDS. He's a Baptist. Aside from the major pressure of conversion there he said he had a good experience. His wife used to be LDS, though, and is a Y grad. She's never said anything, much, about it one way or the other. She tries to not talk about it much.
