I bought the first version of the book, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, which was written by Chip and Dan Heath and published in 2007.  I just read on the authors’ blog that the new version is available which essentially adds a chapter and some additional 30 pages of content.

Chip Heath is a professor of organizational behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.  Dan Heath is a consultant at Duke Corporate Education and is a co-founder of Thinkwell, an enterprise dedicated to figuring out how to build a textbook without text but with using videos and other technologies.  Chip’s research led him to wonder why urban legends and conspiracy theories had a way of spreading around socially, “sticking” so to speak.  Dan’s research at Thinkwell led him to conclude that the best professors and lecturers had a similar way of conveying the point to their students and classes.  Being brothers with a keen interest in education, the two decided to write and publish this book.

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Earlier this month, I posted an article on The College Board’s annual report, Trends in College Pricing.  There is a companion report to Trends in College Pricing, Trends in Student Aid.   Published since 1983, this year’s Trends in Student Aid report is only 20 pages long but is supplemented by a website that provides detailed information on all aspects of student aid.  As I mentioned in my article on the Trends in College Pricing report, The College Board encourages individuals like me to share the information in their articles as long as the College Board is given credit for the data discussed.

There are some interesting trends described in this year’s report that show positive government support of higher education.  For example, over the past decade, there has been a 78% increase in the use of federal Pell Grants to fund higher education.  Since Pell Grants do not require repayment, they offer an obviously ideal opportunity for students.  Unfortunately, many students do not qualify for Pell Grants and have to use federal and private loans to pay for their education.  The percentage of students at elite institutions who qualify for Pell Grants is often 10% or less.  A much higher percentage of community college students qualify for Pell Grants than at other institutions.  The report also calculates the benefits received from education tax credits.  These credits have increased 86%, from $3,791 per student during the 1998-1999 academic year (the program did not exist prior to 98-99) to $7,040 during the 2007-2008 academic year.

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In response to my article on Veterans Day last week, I received a note from a retired general, Brig. Gen Joe Schafer.  Joe is a professor at American Military University and an alumnus as well and he shared his thoughts about Veterans Day.  I thought that his piece not only embraced many of my thoughts about those who serve our country, but also provided a great perspective on the attitude of the professional soldier toward the change in administrations and our Commanders in Chief.  Given the orderly transition that we are currently going through after the recent election, you have to respect the way our democracy works regardless of who you voted for in the election.  With Joe’s permission, I have provided the text of his note below.

11 Nov 2008
           
It is a private matter who you or I voted for to be the President of the United States one week ago.  It is a public responsibility, however, no matter how we voted, to now offer our support and best wishes for the new President’s success in keeping this nation strong, ensuring the liberties we have fought and died for, and making the country better every single generation for the generation that follows.
 
I take great pride in having served under 7 Presidents while in uniformed service.  (I missed Lyndon Johnson by 2 months, but served under Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, James Earl Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William Clinton, and George W. Bush.)  Though those 7 men were the Commander in Chief, as a member of the United States Army and the United States Air Force, I worked not for them as men, but for the American people.  My duty, my allegiance, and my sworn oath were to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.  I will do so until I draw my final breath, in uniform or not.    

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