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May 23, 2010 By Russell Nichols
provide everything they say it will provide."
To have such tools available to students gives them a better sense of their options, Bardwell said. He added that he has seen the rise of online applications motivate students to apply to more schools. Proponents say these portals also reflect the Obama administration's ongoing focus on college and career readiness.
"Many of our state's governments have recognized the critical importance of moving more students to college or a post-secondary degree program in order to sustain economic growth," said former acting governor of Massachusetts Jane Swift, who joined ConnectEDU as senior vice president of government solutions and strategy.
While a purpose-based, customized Web portal for students is not a complete solution, Swift said, the site helps "address important places where most students fail."
The idea for MiCAP came after Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm's education adviser learned that North Carolina's portal had boosted college participation among low-income students, according to Terry Stanton, public information officer for the Michigan Department of Treasury.
In 2008, Granholm designated the Treasury Department to administer the U.S. Department of Education's College Access Challenge Grant (CAGG), which provides the state with more than $4 million for two years -- about a quarter of which was set aside for MiCAP. But opponents argue that college students could have created the site themselves and saved the state hundreds of thousands of dollars.
"Students from a Michigan school could have built such a Web site to ease the government's needs," Michigan State's The State News opinion piece said. "These students also are most likely willing to be paid next to nothing to design the site, saving the state the ridiculous amounts of money being shoveled to the East Coast."
Only time will tell if the site proves to be successful. When asked about the portal's return on investment, Stanton pointed to the earning potential of students who can acquire more than a high school diploma.
"College graduates earn about a million dollars more than the average high school graduate," he said. "MiCAP will help make higher education more accessible for every student, something that is essential to building a strong economy and creating more jobs in Michigan."
You may use or reference this story with attribution and a link to
http://www.govtech.com/e-government/States-Bring-Purpose-Driven-Social-Networking-Tools.html
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Money being mis-spent when a product called Nixle already is in place and operating. So much going on in technology it is hard to follow but with the safety and secrity of students more people should know it is out there. 4000 LE agencies us it.
"It's tough to explain without seeing it." This is software vendor double speak for "We sure soaked you guys for an app that no one will use in a year".
If only there was a sort of internet BOOK that you can put your FACE on...
This comes from the bankrupt state that just abolished the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries, closed the Library of Michigan and dispersed its collections, and spent several hundred thousand on a website revamp.
I only learned to program a website in HTML, but $1.15 million seems a bit much considering it cost less than $3000 to have someone design a website for a business now days.
Purpose-driven platform that leverages social networks for depth of connectivity. This guy has Wally and Dilbert on his org chart.
College graduates earn about a million dollars more than the average high school graduate.. Not true now, and most likely never has been true. Look at the numbers, what $25K over 40 years? But look at the start cost: 4x years at $10K with interest for college. My high school grad flips burgers for 15k a year so the difference iis 100k at the end of 4 years. The pay off for college (ie red to black)occurs some where in the 20+ years range for most people, if ever.
what a waste..
What a waste of money this state doesn't have.
The higher earnings of college grads isn't entirely due to the college experience. The college / no college factor is significantly correlated to the individual's level of ambition. That motivation contributes heavily towards on-the-job success. Take the college experience out of the picture, the ones with the ambition to make the sacrifice of going to college is likely to out-earn the less interested group.
"We're not a social network like FaceBook; we're a purpose network
Who gave her the right to spend this kind of money when you have laidoff people, schools that are laying off teachers, and consolidating school because this state don't have the money and WHERE DOES OUR LOTTERY MONIES REALLY GO IF NOT FOR SCHOOLS.
And on top of this website of 1.15 million it was done in Boston MA What family memeber of Michigan Gov lives there that she supporte???
FYI the Library of Michigan has NOT been closed nor will it be. It will be downsized and SOME of its collections will be dispersed. Please get your facts right
I love the people that assume that building this kind of operation costs $3000.00. You have no idea what happens if this is executed properly. 1.15 million in alpha funding is not a ton of money, especially if you can think outside the box and consider impact ($ + jobs) in Michigan.
Man people complain about everything...This is not a waste if you are not working as a social network like face book you can do it by other name but you have to do that it will decide the future of your children.