School Spirit?

I think we've progressed nicely from the early days of DL, but still have a ways to go to gain the respect rendered to B&M schools. One thing I note missing from DL schools is any attempt at school spirit/pride. Traditional schools offering coursework online at least direct students to a web site offering logo products, and make some attempt to integrate those students. The new DL schools, however, make little attempt to establish an identity, online or otherwise. There was one degree mill (don't remember which one now) that did offer a sweatshirt and coffee mug, key ring, that sort of thing-pretty funny, actually. However, the legit RA DL schools don't seem to realize that students still want that identity with their alma mater. We have a label-crazed society here just begging for T-shirts!!

 

My philosophy is not to tell them how smart you are. Make sure you succeed in your studies. Be proud of the fact that your school is recognized and accredited......and when someone questions your DL studies, show them your SRU T-shirt.

 

Excelsior College sells all that stuff:

http://www.excelsior.edu/pdf/form_order_memorabilia.pdf

But maybe they need a cheer song.

 

The "spirit" issue is one that people that are attending my institution are still dealing with, the "efforts" of university administration and the students' union notwithstanding.

I really do not know of a simple solution to this problem. Is it one of building "brand recognition" for a particular university's name? (ie: getting plenty of favourable coverage in the news media; alumni being nationally recognised for their academic and professional endeavours) Is it one of bringing students together at events throughout the year (not including convocation) that allow them to network? I do know that solutions will have to vary by the type and size of institution, though.

 

Actually, a lot of them do. Not only do they make a few extra bucks on some merchandise sales, but it makes the school seem more legitimate to prospective students.

 

I post a lot. In that, I get a lot of flack from stalkers and spammers. One of the areas I'm criticized for is the nature of my degrees, even though they represent exactly the subject matter of this board.

(My National MBA was earned mostly in the classroom, but on NU's compressed schedule, with some independent study and computer-based courses tossed in.)

I get a lot of "4th tier" crap, as if that stuff applied to distance learning.

That said, I'm extremely proud, not of the degrees or the level of them, but of my affiliation with these schools. USNY/Regents was the model for TESC and COSC, and was a real ground-breaker for adults being able to complete their degrees while still working. National revolutionized the night school process; you couldn't earn an MBA part-time in San Diego until NU broke down the barriers. And Union--through the Union Graduate School and the University Without Walls programs--was a catalyst for learner-centered education.

Someone once referred to earning a Ph.D. as entering the "invisible college." I'm thrilled to have done that with Union.

 

Well said Rich. As a fellow Union alum, I can proudly say that I wore my first Union sweatshirt to death (my wife forcefully had to retire it after it disintegrated to roughly a half-dozen loosely associated sweatshirt molecules). Fortunately, my kids got me a new sweatshirt which has been happily broken in

Actually, for matters of school spirit, a more significant issue for distance based schools is one of not having sports teams to rally around. I say we start the Union Institute fantasy football league. Next best thing to being there.

Cheers,
Tony Maranto

 

Most schools have some merchandise, CCU sent me a $500 t-shirt plus some courses. I haven't worn it yet.

 

A SONG FOR TESC

A SONG FOR THOMAS EDISON STATE COLLEGE

In 1992, for my "Written Expression" portfolio, I wrote the following. To date it has not been put to music, nor officially adopted by TESC. However, I have dusted it off, scanned it and now I again 'umbly offer it to my 'Alma Mater,' but now for posterity, not for credit:


THOMAS EDISON STATE COLLEGE

'It can't be done', the pundits said, ‘On stony ground so bare,
A college without a campus, You can't grow ivy there!'

'And time will tell', the pundits said, 'It'll wither on the vine,
At a college with no teaching, You have to draw the line'.

As time went by the pundits felt, That something must be wrong.
For a college without Foundation, It seemed remark'bly strong.

And in a while the pundits said,'We're sure it can't be right,
But we have seen the product And it seems extremely bright'.

They shook their heads, those pundits did, Their cynicism mute,
For now they saw the reason why, The College had repute.

For they had seen, through pundit eyes, The Ed'son Student corps,
With Life as its Foundation, And Experience to the fore.

And thus it is, those pundits know, Though may not choose to speak,
That Edison State is tall and strong, - An academic peak.



© M.G. Spillane June 1992

 

I think it was Steve who reported that Union's store is no longer operating. There doesn't seem to be anywhere on their site to purchase memorabilia--do you know of a third-party source?

 

Re: Re: School Spirit?

I would so kill for an SRU sweat shirt and a Berne sweat shirt! They would look great in my closet with my Harvard sweatshirt.....

 

Saint Regis University sweatshirt

http://www.cafeshops.com/saintregis

 

One thing that can be said for Excelsior, Thomas Edison and Charter Oak is that they have never been defeated on the athletic field.

John

 

OUCH $26 for a sweatshirt?
I think i am going to have to steal the graphics and make my own stinking sweatshirt

 

How much did you pay for your Harvard sweatshirt? It's $40 at http://www.harvard.com/insignia_clothing.html#mynav

And what is the maximum amount of money you'd be willing to pay for something that you "would so kill for"?

 

at the time i got my harvard sweat shirt it was like $20 or so. I guess I don't feel that SRU Sweatshirts are worth $26. Nor are their coffee mugs worth $16. No coffee mug is worth that.

 

That's being done everywhere.

 

There are no pockets on those t-shirts. Man, is that elitist!

 

No pocket = no pocket protector.

You an engineer???

Can you still get the quick draw holsters for slide rules?

 

Engineer? You would call me an engineer? You talkin' a me?

Engineers wear buttoned-down shirts with pockets. I wear pocket t-shirts.