Author Profile

Shannon Blosser

Shannon Blosser worked as a staff writer at the John W. Pope Center for Higher Education Policy from 2004 to 2007, covering higher education issues across North Carolina and the nation.

Blosser began his career as a journalist working as a sports and news writer in West Virginia and North Carolina. Blosser graduated from West Virginia University in 2002 with a B.S. in journalism.

Articles by Shannon Blosser

Broad announces retirement

Apr 7, 2005 ·

CHAPEL HILL -­ UNC President Molly Broad announced her retirement Wednesday in a letter to Board of Governors Chair Brad Wilson. The announcement comes two days after a Senate GOP letter lobbied to name former Clinton Administration Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles the system’s next president.

Broad’s retirement is effective at the end of the 2005-06 school year or once a successor is named. An economist by training, Broad came to the UNC system in 1997 after serving as the executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer for four years with the California State University system.

Supreme Court Decision Harms Title IX Reform

Apr 5, 2005 ·

In Birmingham, Ala., a high school girl’s basketball coach, Roderick Johnson, noticed something he believed was a violation of Title IX regulations. The girl’s program was receiving fewer resources than the comparable men’s program, leaving Johnson’s program at a competitive disadvantage, in his opinion.

Historically, Title IX has been used as a way to increase the number of women’s athletics programs across the country. It has had an adverse affect, owing to Title IX enforcement by the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, at cutting the number of athletic opportunities for men on college campuses.

Student grievance terribly mishandled at N.C. State

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When the 2001 spring semester began at North Carolina State University, Robert Boren was just a student looking forward to beginning his pursuit of a masters in education counseling. Little did Boren know, however, that one interaction with a professor would lead his grades being altered on his transcript, his chances at graduate education crippled, his pleas for answers about those being ignored, and his being threatened with arrest for trespassing.

Clarification eases Title IX requirements

Mar 24, 2005 ·

A recently released clarification by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights makes it easier for college and universities to comply with Title IX regulations regarding athletics.

The March 17 clarification, signed by Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights James F. Manning, specifically deals with the “fully and effectively” test, the third of three prongs to determine if a school is in compliance with the 1972 regulation that bans discrimination on the basis of sex from institutions that receive federal funding. The clarification was published on the Office of Civil Right’s Web site.

On higher education reform

Mar 15, 2005 ·

RALEIGH – Intercollegiate Studies Institute Vice President for Programs Mike Ratliff uses a story about a University of Colorado student to discuss what he considers to be some of the problems with higher education today.

The student had originally intended to study engineering. However, some friends convinced him to change majors to communication studies in order to have more fun in college. When the student graduated, he found out that the only job he could gain were ones that required a high school degree. Even the military would only allow him to enter as an enlisted solider and not the officer training program.

Sports or Academic Freedom

Mar 8, 2005 ·

March is the month sports fans refer to as “March Madness,” for good reason. The month is filled with conference basketball tournaments only to be followed by the annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament, along with a scattering of other events along the way.

But the “main event,” so to speak, is the NCAA tournament. Sixty-four college basketball games over the course of three weeks are enough to wet any sports fan’s appetite.

The attention placed on those games is what makes college administrators giddy with excitement. To the college administrators of the 65 teams selected for the tournament, it means more visibility they hope will eventually turn into increased alumni contributions or a higher number of college applicants.

Yes, it’s fun to sit down on the couch with your favorite adult beverage in one hand, the remote control in the other and a bowl of chips in your lap and watch every game from the play-in game to the championship game. However, do we pay similar attention to the academic failings of today’s colleges and universities as we do college sports? Chances are few if any understand the true landscape of the American public university system and some of the problems that it currently faces.

Show Us the Money

Mar 4, 2005 ·

RALEIGH – University, community college, and state budget office officials have spent part of the week lobbying state legislators for more funding for higher education, while arguing against proposed line-item budget cuts.

University of North Carolina President Molly Broad, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser, and North Carolina A&T Chancellor James Renick have been among those making presentations to members of the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. The presentations, including those made by representatives from the community college system, focused on the theme of making college more affordable while increasing funding for university and community colleges needs.

Show Us the Money

Mar 2, 2005 ·

RALEIGH – University, community college, and state budget office officials have spent part of the week lobbying state legislators for more funding for higher education, while arguing against proposed line-item budget cuts.

University of North Carolina President Molly Broad, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser, and North Carolina A&T Chancellor James Renick have been among those making presentations to members of the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. The presentations, including those made by representatives from the community college system, focused on the theme of making college more affordable while increasing funding for university and community colleges needs.

Easley lays out higher education budget

Feb 25, 2005 ·

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley’s proposed budget would give substantial increases in funding to the state’s public universities, as well as the community college system.

Easley’s proposed budget was released Wednesday during a presentation with members of the Joint Appropriations Committee. Funding for the University of North Carolina represents 8.7 percent of the proposed $16.9 billion general fund budget.