I couldn't care less if Tressel has a Doctorate Degree. I stated so on SEVERAL occasions back when the process of hiring new President was being discussed. I said Tressel was the best person for the job among those who applied. Then, hire as highly qualified a person as possible as the Provost. I have no idea why some people on this board, yourself included, seem to feel a need to make ASSUMPTIONS about other's who post on this site.
I'm not sure why it is so hard for you to understand the points I am trying to make, or why you are so defensive toward YSU. Did you not read where I wrote that I'm a graduate of YSU? Do you realize I went to YSU by CHOICE, not because it was my only option? That I returned to YSU 6 years after earning my Business Administration Degree to pursue teacher certification in Elementary Education? I'm proud to have graduated from YSU, but I'm not so proud as to overlook the deficiencies of the University. The PERCEPTION(right or wrong) is that YSU is not as good of a school academically as those in the MAC. If the Presidents of the MAC voted to allow YSU to join the conference for athletics, that would give the PERCEPTION that YSU is just as good as those in the MAC, both academically and athletically. That would make recruiting NON-ATHLETES who are interested in YSU more difficult for the schools in the MAC. I do not see why this is so hard to understand, or why it is so hard to understand that is the MAIN point I have been making in the past few posts?
A degree from YSU is not going to open as many doors as a degree from a whole host of other schools. That is just reality. Does not necessarily mean a person cannot get a top quality education at YSU. Does not mean a graduate of YSU will not be as good or better of an employee as a person with a degree from the perceived higher prestige schools. It just means the degree is not going to carry as much weight with employer's as a degree from a whole host of other schools, especially the further one get's from Youngstown geographically.
The 4 year graduation rate as of 2013 was 10%, which is awful.... 6 year graduation rate 34% and 8 year graduation rate 39%. ALL of those numbers are unacceptable, and need to be addressed if the reputation of YSU is to improve. And, this is where EGCC comes into play. Several schools in the MAC have satellite campus. It is not uncommon for students to start out at a place such as Kent-Trumbull, and then after 1-2 years transfer to the main campus. Others are able to get the education/training they need at Kent-Trumbull.
YSU has a partnership with Eastern Gateway, and for the first time has started to move away from being an open admissions university. This is good for YSU. This is good for Eastern Gateway, and it is good for the ENTIRE Mahoning Valley. A 4 year college is not for everyone, but in today's economy, it is imperative that a person have some kind of post high school training. It can be in a skilled trade, computers, cutting hair or any number of things that do not require going to a traditional, 4 year college. And, as less students enter YSU needing to make up severe deficiencies from high school, or testing into remedial math and English, the retention rates ought to increase, as well as the graduation rates. Eastern Gateway is not a true satellite campus of YSU. But, the school does have partnerships with YSU. And, that is to the benefit of both schools. I know YSU has had plans to develop a Youngstown based Community College, just not sure if/when that is going to happen, or if it has happened, as I now live in in Las Vegas
Community College Education in the Mahoning Valleyhttp://www.ysu.edu/cc/Again, this is not difficult to understand, and I'm not sure why it is taken as me demeaning YSU?
