Library Course closing down

Well there had been murmings for a while but I was finally called into the head's office yesterday to be given official word that the course will be closing down. Apparently we don't make enough profit for the university and in this new model of education which is based on making money not providing service, any courses which aren't considered to have a long term future of generating profit are being closed down.
I estimate our course generates almost half a teachers salary in additional profit each year... for a small course of 40 students I think thats quite good... after all costs have already been accounted for... but not good enough it seems.
The university is currently trying to determine a finishing date. The powers that be tell me that they want to do "the right thing" by exisiting students and give them a chance to finish off. However the course is a minimum of 2 years full-time and most students only study part-time. The university is keen to close the course by the end of 2011 (so most students will have no hope of finishing on time). So what options will be available to these students? I assume they will be forced to study completely online through other institutions and most of our students chose our course because of the mix of intensive workshops and online work... they seem to appreciate the comradeship of face to face classes and they are a great group of people who I have really enjoyed getting to know.

Desk Set Downunder - Library / book lovers group

Hi all,

Just thought I would let you know about this new group I have discovered. I think some of the members were at the library industry dinner I went to in Melbourne on Wednesday night... they all seemed too young and hip for librarians! LOL

Anyway they had another event on Friday which I only just found out about... not sure if I would have gone had I known in time anyway. But some of you younger ones might be interested even if it does mean a trip to Melbourne.

Check them out at: http://www.desksetdownunder.org/

Loretta

RSS feeds

So I decided to try utilizing some RSS feeds to help me in locating interesting job advertisements to use in a unit I am teaching in July - Develop Knowledge of the Library Industry. Students in this unit are required to apply for a library position and sit a mock interview as 2 parts of their 5 assessment pieces. I have located some interesting positions but would like more variety and I don't have the time to keep logging into the various jobs sites each week... thus I thought the RSS feeds would be good and I can learn some new skills in setting them up.
However I'm not sure if it has worked and don't know how I tell... guess I'll just wait a week and see if it has located anything new?
Maybe my students can help me???? CULLB602C comrades please help!

CULLB602C weekend workshop

Well after months of planning the first class of the overhauled unit is over and I think the students all seemed to enjoy it and be inspired. I look forward to following their journey into the world of Web 2.0 by reading their blogs.