Bro. Joe Wiley Already on the Job at FHU
5April 22, 2008 by Tyson Wynn
Though RSU President Joe Wiley’s days at RSU can’t end too soon for some folks, he’s officially still at RSU until June 30 (according to announcements made by RSU and FHU). It appears, however, that he’s already making some decisions at FHU and being quoted in press reports, most notably this Christian Chronicle report that FHU will be “giving” Mac laptops and other Apple items to students.
[UPDATE: Shortly after posting this, I discovered that President Wiley took the helm of FHU, April 14, 2008. But, he's still listed as President of RSU on the RSU website. I guess Claremore really isn't shed of him yet.]
The only problem is that “giving” is used in the loosest sense of the word. You know that sense where it means the complete opposite of what it normally means.
The article states:
Beginning this fall, Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn., will give all students an opportunity to have an Apple MacBook and an iPhone or iPod Touch.
Note that the students are given an opportunity; the equipment will cost. Big time.
According to the article, the program, called iKnow,
will cost students the equivalent of one additional hour per semester.
And according to the FHU iKnow website, the average college student will spend approximately $1718 on technology in four years. Have no fear, though, because FHU has come up with a plan that costs only $349…per semester. Yes friends and neighbors, Bro. Joe and the brilliant minds at FHU have come up with a plan that will do away with that $1718 figure and replace it the much lower $2792!!! Oh wait, only in the land of higher ed is that a good deal. And, as a bonus, Apple will have the pleasure of having its products subsidized by federal grants and student loans! Nice work if you can get it.
But it’s OK. President Wiley’s glad they’re enhancing the “experience.”
Freed-Hardeman President Joe Wiley said the move isn’t about the equipment; it’s about the overall campus experience.
“I have always tried to look at new, innovative ways of learning,” said Wiley. “I am a big believer in using technology to enhance learning.”
I guess if I came up with a plan to cost my students over $1000 more than they used to pay I would focus on the “experience” rather than the price, too.
T-minus 69 days and counting (as of post time) until Dr. Wiley and his superlative math skills are all theirs.
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One other thing that’s interesting to note is that if you look around the FHU iKnow site, you find that the FHU staff believes that the MacBooks are the best laptops out there.
There was a time when RSU TV requested some Mac computers to do video editing and rendering on. Macs are the industry standard for these things. It was reported to me that their request was denied by Jan Carroll, who reportedly said that no one uses Macs for that.
I think the iKnow program is available at all the Church of Christ affiliated private colleges. Oklahoma Christian also instituted the same program for the coming fall. I’m not sure how they implemented the cost factor, though.
Is he taking along the entourage from Southeastern which he brought to RSU when he came here – particularly those SEOSU people that were involved in either the accusing of the computer science students or those who he appointed to the appeal committee? BTW whatever happened to Debra Hedrick, the woman involved in that whole affair who headed up the computer dept and was then elevated to the position of “Assistant to the Pres” — I would love to know what her job description was and how many of these people from Durant are still working at RSU.
Yes, Wylie is such a wonderful “techie!” We may even get wireless here someday in some other universe!
Why do we not know anything yet about this Dept of Ed Report and WHERE THE HECK IS MARILYN GOFF?
We understand there is a new “interim” person in Hukill’s position who has already drank the Kool-aid! This person comes from a K-12 background! Seems like a great person but what does she know of the horror that we have been through trying to slog along with that concept from Hukill. The woman has lots of Hukill’s ideas about “blending” the grants and sharing resources!
DEAR LORD ARE YOU LISTENING! WE ARE PRAYING FOR WISDOM AND PATIENCE. Please, please.