UrbanED offers a new read on what’s real and relevant to college-bound students — from college prep to campus life and all things in between. We understand how to reach this constantly connected consumer, who often renders more traditional products irrelevant and avoidable.

1. UrbanED
COLLEGE LIFE CULTURE CAREER
BLACK OUT Does “acting Black”
hinder student
achievement?
By Maya Brooks
Because I was smart, I was called White girl, book-
worm, nerd and geek. It didn’t help that I wore
glasses.
Nearly every day after school, I read every book I
could at the library or made crafts with my grand-
mother who lived down the street from my Catholic
all-girl’s high school. But on the days I didn’t wait
out the two hours to ride home with my mother
from work, I had to catch the public transit bus. That
automatically meant torture. “Yeah, there go them
Catholic school girls,” the boys sitting in the back of
the bus would shout out. “Just look at them with all
those books.” “Yeah, they real smart.”
continued on page 14
The Great DEBATE Making It EMU SCHOLARSHIPS
Choose Student DPS student
your words entrepreneur awards total
carefully if grows web $77.4 million
you expect to agency, funds and are
win scholarship growing
page 6 page 4 page 8
UrbanED • April 2012 1

2. Introducing UrbanED
ach fall thousands of excited high school graduates leave the
familiarity of their secondary school stomping grounds and
embark on the journey of higher learning. Choosing a college
is likely one of the most important decisions they’ve made to date. But
once the decision is made, the transition to college life can be challeng-
ing, exhilarating and confusing for students and parents alike.
Unfortunately, this transition is proving to be much more taxing on
African American students and in many cases the obstacles to success
become insurmountable.
Within the next decade is it expected that 90% of all jobs will require
skills beyond those gained in high school. However, reports from the
Journal of Blacks in Higher Education state the enrollment to gradua-
tion rate of black students is only 43 percent. Couple those facts and a
crisis-in-the-making emerges.
THE BEST WAY
In response to this troubling statistic the Michigan Chronicle introduces
UrbanED, an informative magazine designed to provide information on
applying to, selecting, transitioning and succeeding in college. Written
TO GO FROM
with the student in mind, UrbanED offers a new read on what’s real
and relevant to college-bound students — from college prep to campus
life and all things in between.
A TO B IS As a parent of two children who will be college-bound much sooner
than I’d like to admit, these issues resonate with me personally. With
THROUGH THE D.
parents just like me in mind, UrbanED will also serve as a resource for
parents. Published quarterly, this magazine will also address parent-
centric topics such as financial aid, campus security, and advice for
helping your student stay in school.
The more information our students have about the realities of life
after high school; the more likely they will be successful. I hope that
UrbanED will become one of the useful resources in preparing stu-
dents—and their parents—for that success.
It may be close to theaters, museums and sports venues but as
Michigan’s only urban research university, it’s far from the average
learning experience. wayne.edu 877-WSU-INFO
AIM HIGHER
Hiram E. Jackson,
Interim Publisher, Michigan Chronicle
2 UrbanED • April 2012

3. These fields guarantee constant
employment and income
Fab Five Field$
The top 11 highest-paying jobs projected to add at least 100 slots
annually through 2018 all require a college degree
by Ron French | Special to UrbanED
S tudents looking to increase their odds of land- Healthcare practitioners and technicians: Go into
The inspiration behind UrbanED ing a full-time job with above-average pay should
head directly to a hospital, according to a study
conducted by Bridge Magazine, an editorial part-
ner of UrbanED.
health care and you’ll find a job. The workers who
perform x-rays and ultrasounds, for example, are
expected to grow by almost 9,000 a year, with an
average hourly pay of $32.83. Registered nurses
O ur community faces a tremendous challenge
Can’t stand the sight of blood? Maybe you would
are another of numerous health occupations
to improve the self-esteem and motivation of our expected to grow rapidly as baby boomers’ bodies
prefer being a financial analyst.
students. We cannot deny that Detroit has its share begin to give out.
of image problems. However, many of those image Not good with numbers? Think about oil and gas.
Registered nurses take home an average of
problems cast an unnecessary and unfair shadow
The job outlook in Michigan is projected to remain $63,773 per year. The number of personal and
over its students.
tight through 2018, according to the Bridge home health care aides is expected to grow by
This statement is as true today as when we original- analysis of federal data. But 29 percent (average pay =
ly made it more 20 years ago when we launched the among the dark economic $19,781), and physician assis-
Chronicle’s student-written MC Timz section, which clouds are occupations tants ($86,528) will increase
was dedicated to breaking down the stereotypes expected to add thousands 26 percent.
regarding the achievements and abilities of urban of jobs, many of which pay
Engineers and architects: This
students, as well as providing an unprecedented salaries above the state
field is expected to grow only
platform for students to express themselves. average.
2 percent overall, but because
It worked. Many of MC Timz’s student writers won There are overall trends, of retirements and people
full academic scholarships, earned undergradu- such as the fact that most leaving the occupation, there
ate and graduate degrees and are now in mid and new jobs are in health care will be a projected 4,000 job
senior-level corporate posts making lasting contri- and financial services, and openings per year, with an
butions to our community. the fastest growth is in the average pay of $70,762.
oil industry. The biggest
Something that good bears duplicating and that’s Petroleum industry jobs: Pe-
trend, though, is how much
why we originated troleum is a relatively small
Urban UrbanED, the next gen-
COLLEGE LIFE CULTURE
ED CAREER
education those new jobs will require.
industry, but oil and gas extraction occupations are
BLACK OUT
Does acting Black
hinder student
eration of Chronicle
media products aimed at
The top 11 highest-paying jobs projected to add at
least 100 slots annually through 2018 all require a
projected to be the fastest growing in Michigan.
And with job earnings above the state average, it’s
achievement?
supporting students in
By Maya Brooks
Because I was smart, I was called white girl, book-
worm, nerd and geek. It didn’t help that I wore
glasses.
college degree, according to Bridge’s analysis. By con- good work — if you can get it.
urban centers, particularly trast, among occupations projected to shrink, only one
Nearly every day after school, I read every book I
could at the library or made crafts with my grand-
mother who lived down the street from my Catholic
all-girl’s high school. But on the days I didn’t wait
Paralegals and legal assistants: Spend $100,000
out the two hours to ride home with my mother
from work, I had to catch the public transit bus. That
automatically meant torture. “Yeah, there go them
Detroit. (police officers) requires post-high school education.
Catholic school girls,” the boys sitting in the back of
the bus would shout out. “Just look at them with all
those books.” “Yeah, they real smart.”
continued on page 13
The Great
DEBATE
Making It DPS
EMU SCHOLARSHIPS going to law school and you may not find a job,
Hot jobs include:
Choose Student -Awards total
In addition to serving Spend less than a third of that, and you can make
your words entrepreneur $77.4 million
carefully if grows web – and are
you expect to agency, funds growing
win scholarship
as an education guide, Financial analysts and advisers: Projected to add almost $50,000 a year as a paralegal.
UrbanED • April 2012 1
UrbanED will provide students a communications 3,563 jobs per year through 2018, a 49 percent
Jobs for legal assistants and paralegals are pro-
platform to tell the stories of their challenges, tran- increase. These jobs pay an average of $44,928.
jected to grow by 28 percent over the period.
sitions and triumphs. We want students to know Securities, commodities and financial service
agents will add more than 2,500 jobs per year, with Editor’s Note: To learn more about our editorial part-
continued on page 5 average pay of $46,000 a year. ner Bridge Magazine visit: www.bridgemi.com
UrbanED • April 2012 3

4. Meet your
new study
buddy...
By Andrew Losen
Making
Chances are, “studying for the ACT” doesn’t fall in your top 5
ways you like to spend your free time. More likely, it’s not even
in the top hundred.
But a new web app could change all that.
Meet Grockit.
It
Grockit is a new social media centered app that allows you to
collaborate and compete with friends while studying for tests
like the ACT, SAT, GMAT and other tests required for college
admissions.
Student Linked with your Facebook account, Grockit lets you show off
how much you’ve studied, create and join study groups online
entrepreneur with friends, and earn and display achievements on your pro-
file.
By Debra Johnson But Grockit is more than just a fun, interactive way to prepare.
grows web K entaro Roy was just 10 years old when he began tinkering
with computers and discovered he had a knack for designing
It also adapts to your personal learning needs, allowing you to
focus on weak areas and improve your scores quickly.
agency, funds websites.
A decade later, Roy founded a business, Kentaro Web Design
Grockit gives students who prefer a more hands-on approach
access to online video tutorials focused on exactly what they
are learning, matches students with others who share their
+ SEO. A junior majoring in marketing at Eastern Michigan
scholarship University, he has also established an annual scholarship at
the University.
learning preferences and offers real-time support.
Perhaps most helpful with Grockit is the access you have to its
As a teenager, Roy worked as a freelancer on a variety of web design projects utilizing network of exceptional tutors. Grockit helps you find the right
search engine optimization (SEO), a process that helps websites get more hits through instructor with its student ratings and testimonials, as well as a
search engines. He also came to realize that local real estate firms needed more Internet transparent presentation of each tutor’s own performance.
marketing support. He had found his niche, and in late 2010 he set up his own company Grockit is free to try for 3 days, and only $29.99 per month after
helping real estate firms convert web visitors into sales. Less than two years later, Kentaro that. Compared to the expensive and relatively dry test prepa-
Web Design + SEO reports annual sales of more than $150,000. ration courses available today, this is tough to beat. After all,
Roy takes pride in the fact that four of his five employees are Eastern students or graduates. what’s the use of buying test preparation materials if you don’t
actually use them?
“We’re all about continuing to build a relationship with the University, our customers and
the community,” he says.
In that spirit of giving back to the community and his alma matter Eastern Michigan Univer-
sity (EMU), Roy took an unusual step for a student—he set up a scholarship fund to help stu-
dents pursue education in cyber security. The scholarship will award $500 to a student in the
Information Assurance Program of the College of Technology. He chose this program, he
says, “because the program is relatively new and does not have much funding or resources
for students yet.”
For more information about Roy’s company, visit the website: www.kenta.ro
Editor’s note: Debra Johnson works in EMU’s Media Relations Department.
4 UrbanED • April 2012

5. Stemming the
Brain Drain WE TEACH WITH
Gov. Rick Snyder’s attempts to halt the
tidal wave of Michigan graduates who
‘learn and leave’ may pay dividends with
the launch of the Career Matchmaker and
Investment Calculator on the state’s job
PASSION.
bank site: www.mitalent.org.
The site offers cool tools designed
to help students see whether their
career choices can cut it in today’s
real world economy. Check out the Career
Matchmaker, which provides tools to:
• atch your desired skill to industries, occupations or
M
schools
• dentify your current skill sets and how they are needed in
I
different occupations
• Learn about the demand of skill sets in different industries
• earn more about training opportunities, the cost, the poten-
L
tial and the return on investing in your future
• Find employers for a particular industry in your area
• earn about occupation wage information and growth for
L
various industries or skill sets
• ain key information for your job search which identifies
G
industries and areas in high demand.
Use the Career Investment Calculator to determine the value of your
educational investment and to project your future income. The num-
bers may surprise you.
WE ARE
Inspiration continued from page 3
know that we welcome their comments, contributions
and, most importantly, that we applaud their efforts.
Editor’s note: UrbanED creator, Jackie Berg, is the chief
marketing officer of the Michigan Chronicle Newspaper.
If you would like to contribute to UrbanED contact Jackie
Jackie Berg
at: jackie.berg@michronicle.com
Putting Education First since 1849.
UrbanED
Design Director: Gail Green
Design Contributor: James Barnhill
Editor: Andrew Losen
emich.edu
UrbanED • April 2012 5

6. National debate team participants met with NASA Administrator and former
astronaut Charles Bolden Debaters, who compete with as much valor
and vigor as top professional athletes,
must conduct exhaustive research in
order to represent their platform and
present a convincing argument capable of
persuasively supporting their position.
The Great Debate
Choose your words carefully if you expect to win.
T
By Jackie Berg
hat’s the advice of Detroit students Kwaishon Bell and
Coaches Kathy Gross (Loyola High School) and Sharon Hop-
kins (University Preparatory Academy) are not surprised by
Demetrius Heard of Loyola High School and Rayvon Dean their students’ success.
and Deja Valrie of University Prep Academy, who emerged
“These teams put in countless hours, after school practices
victors following a fierce 14-school debate team challenge
and grueling weekend tournaments,” note the coaches, who
earlier this year.
had no prior debate or coaching experience prior to accept-
The two 2-member teams went on to represent Detroit at the ing their (coaching) positions.
2012 Urban Debate National Championship Tournament held
“Both Kathy and Sharon are incredibly devoted, intelligent, Kwaishon Bell and
in Washington, D.C. last week. Demetrius Heard
and professional,” states the Detroit Urban Debate League’s
FIERCE COMPETITION Vice Chair, John Lawson. “The students’ success comes as a
direct result of what they put into the teams.”
Debaters, who compete with as much valor and vigor as top
professional athletes, must conduct exhaustive research in The Loyola and University Prep teams, who competed
order to represent their platform and present a convincing against top teams representing 24 cities across the United
argument capable of persuasively supporting their position. States in the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
Debates can last for hours, according to Bell, a sixteen-year- (NAUDL) National Debate Championship, debated whether
old senior who described his City Championship battle: or not the government should increase space exploration
beyond the earth’s mesosphere at the national event.
“By the end of the day, Saturday, I was exhausted,” said Bell.
“But I still had one more round of debate to go, so I set my The students performed admirably, winning several gruel-
mind to win and went for it.” ing debate rounds, according to event organizers. After ten Kwaishon Bell, Holly Weiss and
cumulative hours of debates, Kwaishon Bell of Loyola High Demetrius Heard
Bell and Heard had debated for five hours on Friday and School earned 8th Place Speaker out of over 100 of the na-
seven hours on Saturday before they made it to the final tion’s top debaters.
round—which required another hour and a half of debate.
After more than 13 hours of debate, Bell and Heard had won During the national dinner, students met NASA Administra-
the City Championship title as well as a bid for Nationals. tor and former astronaut Charles Bolden and participated
Photos: Holly Weiss
in a Q A with Arne Duncan, the United States Secretary of
UNDERDOGS WIN Education, where Mr. Duncan answered questions about the
Debate often levels the playing field. Dean and Valrie, both status of public education within the city of Detroit.
sophomores at University Prep, qualified to attend the Na- Regardless their standing, all the competitors returned win-
tional tournament as incoming freshmen last year. ners. There’s no debating that. Rayvon Dean,
Kwaishon Bell and Demetrius Heard
6 UrbanED • April 2012

7. iEDUCATION
How tablets can revolutionize higher education
By Rick Hunter East Orange Campus High School, in New Jersey,
Remember those days of worn textbooks, slipshod literally swapped their textbooks for a Galaxy Tablet.
These 458 seniors students will return their tablets
binding, and cramming your name somewhere on
at the end of the school year.
the book’s inside flap? Textbooks may soon be rel-
egated to an analog past alongside LPs, VHS, CDs, Opening the game to other players
and dial-up – at least that’s what some publishers
The tablet revolution is still very much in its infancy.
are banking on.
Albeit, a decade from now, the landscape could
The folks at Apple, through their popular iPad tablet, look very different than it does in 2012. Essentially,
have taken the lead on e-textbooks and higher learn- though it is the leader, iPads are a starting point,
ing with its visually arresting, iBooks Textbooks. and the successful student will likely benefit from
Also joining the conversation (or digital conversion) having a range of choices for their specific needs.
is Amazon’s Kindle Fire, which recently updated its From an economics perspective, most classrooms
denominator is the cell phone. Tablets offer a richer
operating system to include sharing (through social should have an easier time finding products that
reading experience, that much is true, but let’s not
networks) and (most important) “print replicas” of are half the price of the iPad and just as effective.
forget that nearly everyone has a cell phone. That
textbooks. More innovation is the key. iPad will lead, but we
alone could change things. Small steps now could
shouldn’t discount Kindle, Nook, and other Android yield great leaps into the future. Across income
Textbooks devices’ ability to reach that class of citizens who
can’t afford to upgrade to the next generation iPad
lines, cell phones are one of the most democratic of
technologies. Find what cell phones do just as well
may soon be every time there’s a new announcement. as tablets, and work to define that middle ground.
relegated to More free productivity apps Teachers’ drawers are full of confiscated cell
phones. Why not find a way to put them to use and
an analog past So-called productivity apps are becoming more pop-
ular, and routinely top the “most downloaded” and
students to work?
most “popular paid” lists on both the Apple’s store Request tablets in your school
and the Android Market. Apps such as Evernote are
As idyllic as a world without paper sounds, there’s Two sides exist: the great awe of technology (ala
being used by businesses and in classrooms world-
a fundamental problem of providing access to all. the cool factor), and the basic idea that schools
wide. With cloud storage and many programs that
Although iPads and other tablets have been gradu- need more access to technology. In Alabama, the
provide free word processing, spreadsheets (Open
ally introduced to some classrooms, there’s still legislature has proposed a bill to sponsor tablet
Office), and other assistance, students can truly en-
work ahead to make this technology widespread computers for high school students in the State of
hance their mobile experience, staying connected to
across elementary, middle schools, high schools, Alabama – a potential $100 million dollar invest-
recent assignments, course work, and study materi-
and colleges. ment. Some believe this might reduce education
als. These apps help students organize data across expenses and improve school attendance. At the
Overcoming the “urban” discussion platforms (laptop, cell phone, tablet) and create an college level, Yale University Medical School is
overall seamless flow of information. The social
For the average low-income family, the iPad (priced working to provide iPads to all medical students. A
networking side can provide new meaning to the
at $499 and up) is likely too expensive. This is where wider, creative expanse is possible and a number
phrase “lab partner” and shared learning in general.
Amazon’s Kindle Fire (priced at $199) and Barnes of academic publishers including Houghton Mifflin
The newly released “Evernote for Dummies” points
Noble’s Nook tablet (also $199) can step in. Pro- Harcourt, McGraw Hill Education and Pearson, are
the way to how this app can not only help students,
viding comparable content can be the difference currently devising interactive textbooks that will
but businesses as well.
between owning a tablet or not. Then again, what astound parents and students alike. Each district,
do you do if the family can’t afford $199? Just as Consider revamping the cell phone, maybe state, and school system should find a solution to
standardized test scores are a priority for admin- get more tablets into the hands of students. Surely,
So while our phones were becoming more high-
istrators, so too, should the acquisition of tablets, the old-fashioned model of the hardcover textbook
powered and tablet-like in their capabilities, along
whether it’s the iPad or an Android device. To bring stuffed into a backpack will one day be a dusty relic
came the iPad to change the game. But many of
tablets to the secondary school students and college of the past.
the features available on a tablet are also available
freshmen would be, well, revolutionary. Students at
on iPhones and other brands. The one common
UrbanED • April 2012 7

8. Hard Work Has Its Rewards
Detroit Public School students’ scholarship
awards total $77.4 million and are growing
By C.L. Price
Tip to college-bound students in Detroit: Forget Schools whose scholarships and grant commit-
ments totaled more than a million were Doug-
about fighting the millions-to-one odds and hoping
lass, Southwestern, Northwestern, and Osborn
and dreaming to win megabucks in the lottery.
Upper.
Instead, hit the books a little harder because
Particularly impressive this school year were the
there are millions of dollars available to finance
offers achieved by six Renaissance High School
your education. Not only are the odds pretty
students whose combined scholarships totaled
good in tapping into funds available for higher
more than $2,730,000. Here is the breakdown for
education, but the benefits are more than finan-
each of the students:
cial; a college degree can help assure a more
satisfying and successful professional career. Mark McGinnis, Jr., $792,808 from nine institu-
tions; Kevin Larry, $575,000 from two institutions;
Consider: Detroit Public School high schools
Ashley Vann, $493,321 from ten institutions;
students were offered nearly $77.4 million in
Leslie Nia Leontine Potts, $367,916 from eight
scholarships and grants during the 2010-11
institutions; Joshua Hall, $296,000 from nine
school year. Yes, $77.4 million---that’s
institutions; and Lyndall Moore, $205,900 from
not a typo.
five institutions.
The accounting for the 2011-12
Those who received the scholarships and grants
school year is still underway but
are very grateful, and understand how fortunate
officials expect the number will
they were to receive the financial assistance.
be similar, if not greater.
Nia Cleage, 17, a student at Detroit School of Arts,
Some students received schol-
who received offers totaling $300,000 and maintains
arships and grant offerings
a 3.9 Grade Point Average, said:
totaling hundreds of thousands
of dollars. One student’s total “All of the hard work I put into high school and
was $575,000. middle school paid off in the end. It was not easy,
but I don’t have to struggle to pay for school.”
For the previous year, here is a
partial list of high schools that She advises others: “Although the journey may
performed the best in securing be hard, just never give up. Don’t give up on your
scholarships and grants: dreams. Don’t get discouraged.”
– Cass Tech: $18 million Nia, who is headed to Howard University, said she
“wants to teach little kids about music, teach them to
– Renaissance: $13.9 million
have a love of music and start my own foundation.”
– Western: $10.5 million
Another Detroit School of Arts student, Allen
– Southeastern: $6.8 million Dennard, 17, whose scholarship offers are about
– King: $5.4 million $100,000, advised other students not to surrender in
pursuing scholarships, no matter how frustrating the
– Denby: $4.6 million process might be.
– Detroit School of Arts: $3.9 million “…You have to keep applying. It is truly worth
– Central: $3 million it. It makes your future so much more success-
ful,” he said.
8 UrbanED • April 2012

9. Daphne Bland Drew Walker Allen Donald Walker Teya Tarve Nia Cleage Tanaysha Logan
Allen, who is in the DSA Jazz combo, wind symphony, Society, Japanese culture club, is an officer in the received $65,000, advised students to “apply for as
jazz Big Band, auditioned at 8 schools but hopes to book club, is in the orchestra, plays the violin and many scholarships as you can. You should at least get
attend the University of Michigan which he described does tutoring and community service. one. Keep working and keep your mind focused on
as “one of the most prestigious schools in the nation. goals and you’ll get where you want to go.”
She is very grateful stating, “Without scholarships, I
Hopefully, I can be part of their program.”
would’ve been another statistic. Thanks to scholar- Was all the effort and work worth it? “Yes, this means
Rita Davis, Detroit School of Arts principal, pointed out ships, I’m able to get a college education and be the my family won’t have the financial burden,” she said. .
that there are 18 seniors in the school’s Band Depart- first in my family. I feel like a trailblazer.”
All the students credited their teachers and coun-
ment, and all of them received approximately $2.7 mil-
She plans to attend the University of Michigan, and selors in assisting them in finding scholarships and
lion in academic and arts scholarship commitments.
would like to work for the United Nations and assist with the application process.
“Start searching for scholarships early because the school years get more hectic every level you go up.”
- Ashley Willis-Bradley, Detroit School of Arts (DSA) student and recipient of $150,000 in scholarship
awards to date.
Ashely Willis-Bradley
Information on scholarship and grant availability
Ashley Willis-Bradley, 17, who has tallied about impoverished nations.
can be obtained from a variety of sources, including
$150,000 in scholarships and grants and counting,
Drew’s colleague at Cass, Teya Tarver-Smith, 17, who counselors, teachers, educational and professional
said that starting the scholarship search early is key.
has about $100,000 in scholarship offers including organizations and the Internet.
Willis-Bradley, who majored in orchestra and has a
the Wade McCree Scholarship, Detroit Compact and
3.94 Grade Point Average, also stressed that main- Communication and Media Arts Principal Donya
Michigan Competitive, recommended being creative
taining high grades is critical and that extra-curricular Odom said the school works hard to keep students
when applying for funds.
activities and concerts should not take precedence informed on scholarship availability and has a new
over class work. “I’ve seen scholarships that just need creativity,” said requirement for ninth graders is that they must be
Teya. accepted to a 4-year college, which put them in a
She followed the DSA motto that the ‘first perfor-
college mindset from the start.
mance is in the classroom.’ A student at Communication and Media Arts (CMA),
Daphne Bland, 18, who had four scholarships totaling “We have a Counselor’s Corner in the parent news-
“Without the scholarships, I would not be attending
$75,000, also recommended starting early to seek out letter weekly,” said Odom. “Students get a plethora
Howard University,” said Willis-Bradley.
scholarships. of scholarship connections. Every week they have
Drew Walker, 18, a Cass Tech student, who has a 3.7 about five to apply for. We do that because we
“Apply as early as you can,” he said. “The later you
Grade Point Average and received about $100,000 in understand the value of applying for scholarships.
start, the more you feel rushed.”
offers, also said including Detroit Compact, that “it For students who have exceptional grades like ours
is never too early to start looking for scholarships. I She plans to attend Western Michigan University to do, people are giving money away, and we want to
noticed that on scholarship websites, if you put in study biology, and veterinarian science. make sure it’s easy for them to obtain those funds.”
your grades and activities, they will match you up
Daphne’s colleague at CMA, Tanaysha Logan, 17, who
with scholarships.” She is part of the National Honor
UrbanED • April 2012 9

10. BLOG LOG
Friends, School, Sleep. Pick Two
By Kara Coleman
combine time spent on sleep with that spent on studying, the top 11
percent are still left with 101 free hours. One hundred fourteen free
hours are still available for the average student. If you factor in the 15
average in-class hours, you have 86 and 99 spare hours, respectively.
That’s a lot of time. So why do we always feel rushed? Let’s break
down where all this time goes:
It was 2 p.m. on a Tuesday, time to sit through another Calculus class. The That takes care of many daily activities. When you take into account
formulas, which normally come easy to me, seemed like hieroglyphics. The profes- time spent on eating, exercising, phone conversations, showering,
sor’s soft-spoken manner did not help either. changing, styling hair, e-mailing, washing dishes, cleaning the home,
shopping, paying bills, and sitting on your bed for 10 minutes before
I hadn’t slept much the previous night thanks to preparing for an upcoming exam,
stepping out, your free time shrinks considerably. Before you know it,
and listening to him drone on and on was painful. I was just about to fall into a daze
it’s late again. And even without an all-nighter in the cards, you know
when my eyes fell upon a backpack pin.
you’ll be tired.
“Friends, School, Sleep: Pick Two”, it read.
Never had I read words more true. There are so many hours and, somehow, so little
time. Listening in on a few college conversations will make sleep deprivation and Students should spend approximately 2-3 hours of
time management complaints sound banal. So where does all this time go? You
might say that this is just a sign of the times. Job competition is fierce and you have
study time for each hour that they spend in class.
to excel at school to make it.
But are we really spending that much time studying? In 2010, the National Survey of
Student Engagement surveyed 620,000 students at 850 four-year universities to find Unless…nevermind. No, I really think we should. Grab your eye masks
out how college students really spent their days. Surprisingly, the study found that everyone: We’re skipping class and sleeping in tomorrow. It’s about
the average full-time college freshman only studied an average of 13 hours a week. time we made some time.
Editor’s Note: Our editorial partner, scholarships.com, regularly
The average full-time college freshman only studied features blogs about student life, as well as information about scholar-
ships, college recruitment and financial aid information. Our editors
an average of 13 hours a week. recommend scholarships.com, which has come to become one of the
most widely-used and trusted free college scholarship search, finan-
According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana- cial information resources and college prep sites on the Internet. Visit
Champaign, the average college student gets six hours of sleep a night. Once you them at: www.scholarships.com.
10 UrbanED • April 2012

11. Zena Blake has found her groove.
Transitioning to Kalamazoo College from high school
was a challenge for this self-described reserved person.
College will teach you how to manage cash fast But she met her challenges head on and hasn’t looked back.The
College helped Zena in part by connecting her to people in the
Many students discover, at the most inconvenient and embarrassing times, that their ex- community.
penses have exceeded their income -- they are out of cash! The question is what to do. Call
home? Borrow from the roommate? Both are short term solutions at best. A better solution is She’s worked as a high school math aide and as a counselor
to design a budget for college spending and take control of the cash flow. at a summer algebra camp for public school students held
on K’s campus.
The primary purpose of a budget is to design a realistic plan for spending limited financial
resources. A student budget requires flexibility to adapt to the changing circumstances of col- Now a junior math major with an interest in criminal
psychology, Zena plans to complete a senior
lege life. Essential steps in designing a budget are:
project on the effects, importance, and value of
• dentify your income sources. Income can include your allowance from home, take-
I math enrichment programs.
home pay from student employment, savings allocated to college expenses, interest,
“The people here really make it special,” Zena said
dividends, gifts, grants and scholarships.
about K. “I’ve made good friends.”
More in a Lifetime.
Four.
• eview and modify the plan. If expenses exceed income, identify ways to increase
R
income or reduce expenses. This is not rocket science, but doing it right is terribly im-
portant to your economic well-being at college.
List fixed and flexible expenses. Fixed expenses are exact amounts due on a specific date.
Flexible expenses include money spent on wants and needs that are irregular in nature. More in
Peer pressure and conveniences such as ATMs can play havoc with student budgets, because
ready cash makes it easy to buy things on a whim. A budget can help you sidestep impulse
spending. It puts you in control of the decision to buy or not to buy, based on your needs and
available cash. www.kzoo.edu
FIXED EXPENSES
• College room and board -- dormitory meal plan or off-campus housing
• Car payment and insurance, if you have a car
• Health insurance, if not covered by parent’s policy
• Tuition, a fixed expense, may vary depending on course load
• Other fixed expenses, such an emergency fund and other saving
FLEXIBLE EXPENSES
• Books, lab fees, equipment, supplies, tutoring, etc.
• Snacks, drinks, groceries, restaurant meals
• Telephone bill
• Social and recreation expenses -- such as movies,
sporting events
•Transportation -- plane, train, bus, cabs, car mainte-
nance, and parking
• Personal expenses -- toiletries, haircuts, laundry
• Clothing -- new purchases, dry cleaning
• Health Care -- prescriptions, doctor or dentist fees
• Other expenses -- such as dues and gifts
Compare total estimated expenses with your total income then adjust the
flexible expenses in order to balance your budget. Your spending practices will
have a significant effect on shaping your financial security and a budget helps you
keep spending in tow. Effective use of a student budget will help you gain the sense
of independence that comes from being in control of your personal financial affairs,
whether you have “plenty of money” or are operating on a shoestring.
UrbanED • April 2012 11

12. Degree of Debt By C.L. Price
A larming increases in student debt are causing area families to
wonder if the cost of attaining an education is within their reach.
AVERAGE COLLEGE TUITION COSTS
Grand Valley State University
Average net price per year*: $15,934
Median net price of peer group: $10,169
Ferris State University
Average net price per year*: $14,370
Median net price of peer group: $10,169
University of Michigan
Average net price per year*: $16,888
Ask Olivia Akwa Nsedua Mensah, a junior at UofM Dearborn whose Median net price of peer group: $12,738
modest student loans will total more than $30,000 by the time she
graduates. Central Michigan University
Average net price per year*: $14,183
“I feel lucky,” says Mensah. “My tuition and student loan debt is far Median net price of peer group: $10,112
less than many other students that I know. I’m estimating that it will
take me nearly seven years to pay off my debt. I’m also nervous, be- Michigan Tech
cause I have friends who graduated but can’t find jobs. I’d hate to default Average net price per year*: $15,430
on my student loans.” Median net price of peer group: $12,439
According to a report published by Bridge Magazine, the annual student Western Michigan University
loan amount per degree at Michigan college campuses was $28,500 in 2010 Average net price per year*: $15,285
– an increase of 44 percent over 2007 Median net price of peer group: $12,439
The 22 year-old rooms with her parents in their 2-bedroom home, which allows Eastern Michigan University
Mensah to keep her college living expenses low. Other students opt to take on part Average net price per year*: $12,474
time jobs to offset college expenses. Median net price of peer group: $10,169
Most hope to exist college armed with degree and as little debt as possible, accord- Michigan State University
ing to Mensah. Average net price per year*: $14,708
Median net price of peer group: $12,738
Like child support and income taxes, student loans usually can’t be discharged or
reduced in bankruptcy proceedings, as can most other delinquent debt, so it’s critical that Lake Superior State University
students make good choices. Average net price per year*: $12,054
Median net price of peer group: $10,842
AVERAGE CAMPUS STUDENT DEBT
Northern Michigan University
The Michigan Chronicle’s editorial partner, Bridge Magazine, took a look inside Michigan’s Average net price per year*: $10,721
public universities to see what is at the root of this alarming trend. The report revealed that Median net price of peer group: $9,731
students at Michigan’s 15 public universities took out nearly $2 billion in student loans in the
Oakland University
2009-10 school year.
Average net price per year*: $10,972
That one-year, statewide student debt load increased $600 million – or 49 percent – in just Median net price of peer group: $10,112
three years (from 2007 to 2010).
Saginaw Valley State University
Central Michigan $28,142 Michigan Tech $33,310 Uof M Dearborn $19,463 Average net price per year*: $10,870
Median net price of peer group: $10,169
Eastern Michigan $23,669 Northern Michigan $27,091 Uof M Flint $25,945
Ferris State $35,468 Oakland University $20,663 Wayne State University $20,250 University of Michigan-Flint
Grand Valley State $25,279 Saginaw Valley State University Western Michigan $20,000 Average net price per year*: $10,058
$23,555 Median net price of peer group: $10,169
Lake Superior State $24,672
University of Michigan $27,828 University of Michigan-Dearborn
Michigan State $21,818
Average net price per year*: $8,689
The Michigan Chronicle’s editorial partner, Bridge Magazine, helped us look into the Median net price of peer group: $10,169
average tuition costs of Michigan’s 15 public universities. Check your heart rate, your
Wayne State University
bank balance and underneath the couch cushions for spare change. You may need it.
Average net price per year*: $10,147
For additional details on the survey visit: www.bridgemi.com Median net price of peer group: $12,738
*Average net price for all students receiving
Olivia Akwa Nsedua Mensah
any grant or scholarship aid
12 UrbanED • April 2012

13. OMG
By Chelsey Wallace
H earing the word “goodbye” is one of the tough-
–You’re On Your Own!
10 tips to prepare for college
Also, do not bring your entire room with you. Dorm
rooms are often no bigger than your bedroom closet.
You’re likely to have a roommate(s) that you do not
6. chool supplies/Dorm shopping. Start buying
S
supplies and dorm room necessities early. They
go fast, so get to the stores early.
est words that your parents may hear from you at
know, so it’s best to leave the expensive/valuable Also, make sure you check your resident hall guide-
the threshold of your dorm door — an eerie symbol
belongings behind. If you can live without it, leave it lines to determine if they allow that portable grill or
of that jump from the comfortable dependence of
at home. hot plate. Many do not.
family life and the terrifying reality of real indepen-
dence. 4. Books. Textbooks can really be expensive and 7. pen a checking account. Cash can get mis-
O
not a part of your budget. My first year, I was placed, lost or stolen. Open a checking account
Finally, you’ve arrived. No one is going to tell you
one of the many students who did not know with a local bank or credit union near campus. I
what to do, where to go or when to be in.
you could purchase required textbooks for class had a checking account with a Credit Union here
Then comes that OMG moment when you really online. Instead, I bought my books from the in Michigan while in Florida. The extra bank fees
realize — you’re on your own! campus bookstore. I learned to rent or purchase for withdrawing money out of your account from
used books for a low price, instead of buying a different bank will put a dent in your cash. You
Four years ago, I was in this position and ready to
them new. Online websites that you can peruse do not want to be charged up to $4 dollars every
face this big transition. I admit, it was not easy to
for locating inexpensive textbooks are: chegg. time you withdraw money.
leave my loved ones behind, but I was strong and
com and amazon.com.
kept a positive mindset. Now, as a senior at Florida 8. et involved. Join clubs and organizations that
G
AM University, I have to say that those four years 5. et familiar with the campus. As soon as you
G align with your major or interests. They provide
flew by. Looking back at my freshman year in college, get your schedule, take time to locate where each great ways to network and you will make friends
I just laugh and wish I could experience those days all class will be held. You’ll get that lost look out of for life. I am currently a member of NABJ, which
over again. your eye before the upperclassman return. stands for the National Association of Black Jour-
nalists. Since I will be a future journalist, I wanted
I’d do it better next time.
to join and network with other aspiring journal-
My tips for easing the transition? ists.
1. Financial Aid. Upon receiving your acceptance
9. et acquainted with professors. I cannot
G
letter, if you are in need of financial aid, make stress how important it is to know your profes-
sure it is turned in on time. FASFA, an application sors. Visit them during their office hours, in-
that determines how much aid you are eligible to troduce yourself and let them know you are a
receive for that semester, requires student and concerned student. And don’t make your first
parent tax history from the last tax year. It also visit your last stop. Professors need to know that
helps determine eligibility for grants, work study, you are committed and concerned throughout
loans and other federal aid. It is best to file the the year. Believe me, the effort will be reflected in
form before March 1st. your final grade.
2. Scholarships. Apply for all the scholarships you 10. sing pubic transit. Get used to the bus. Your
U
can. In the future, you will be glad not having the car may not be allowed on campus if you are a
burden of paying back as much in student loans. first year student. Learn the campus and city bus
Scholarships.com is a popular website students routes to the best of your ability. And, remem-
flock to for scholarship opportunities. ber to plan your time according to how many
stops are on your route.
3. Dorms. Reserve a room as early as possible!
Usually, dorm rooms are assigned on a first come If you follow these tips, you’ll be sure to have
first serve basis, so you will have a better chance a smooth transition into college. In addition,
on getting a good roommate if you get in early. you will be better prepared for what you have
Unfortunately, my freshman year, I was stuck to look forward to during your first year away.
with a roommate I could not tolerate. She had I learned the hard way, so why not learn from
no intentions of ever cleaning up her side of the my mistakes?
room and she always had an attitude. I acquired
coping skills akin to a United Nations Ambassa-
dor that year.
UrbanED • April 2012 13

14. Black Out continued from cover
“The conference introduced
We could not hide dressed in navy blue uni-
a vital dialogue that must
forms with crisp white button-down shirts.
occur so equality in educa-
And we often had so much homework-
tion in our public schools can -book reports, essays, analyses, and short
take center stage of how we stories--the stack of books we carried home
discuss revitalizing American from the liberal arts high school seemed to
communities. “ rise up to our chins. We hunkered down,
took a seat near the front and tried to ignore
- Dr. Curtis L. Ivery,
WCCCD Chancellor
them as they continued to hurl insults at us
that felt like spit in my face.
They were Black just like us, but we
seemed worlds apart because we were
interested in our education. I took the same
heat in my neighborhood. It was no place
for proper pronunciation of the English
language, although I mastered it, so
Opportunity Nation campaign puts Detroit in the center of the education debate I began to “act Black.” Although it wasn’t
Detroit’s intellectual capital leaped significantly last schools, including the pending Supreme Court case, allowed in the house, I learned to talk and
week with the gathering of hundreds of prominent Fisher V. University of Texas, which many legal experts walk Black, too. I greeted my neighborhood
educational experts and policymakers. The leaders con- are predicting will end affirmative action in higher edu- friends, “What it be like?” If someone asked
vened at Wayne County Community College District’s cation; and social and institutional responses to seg- me “Sup?,” I returned the greeting with
(WCCCD) downtown campus for a regional economic regation in public education and related public policy something like “Chillin’ like a villain,” “Ain’t
summit: “Towards New Geographies of Opportunity in initiatives. no thang, but a chicken wing” or “You got
Education. it.” If I didn’t like the person, I would say,
The conference was presented by WCCCD and Oppor-
“Da sky.”
Kevin Jennings, CEO, Opportunity Nation and the tunity Nation as part of a national set of conferences
former assistant deputy of the U.S. Department of Edu- to help create a shared, bipartisan plan of real-world I enjoyed my new language, which eventu-
cation under the Obama Administration, keynoted the strategies to increase opportunities with the overall aim ally spilled over into the classroom in the
prestigious event. of creating pathways to economic mobility for commu- predominately white school. Soon, my
nities across the nation. attitude began to change about my teachers
The gathering put nationally-renowned educator and
and “the establishment.” I refused to live
Wayne County Community College Chancellor Dr. Curtis Towards New Geographies of Opportunity in Education
in two worlds, and I didn’t want to. In the
Ivory front and center in the conversations surrounding is one of only 12 Opportunity Nation conferences hap-
classroom, I had a gangsta lean in my seat,
the future of affirmative action in higher education. pening around the country, according an event spokes-
pushed my uniform socks down so they
person.
“The conference introduced a slouched, popped gum. Consequently, my
vital dialogue that must occur so Wayne County Community College District last year grades began to suffer because I didn’t want
equality in education in our public was one of only a dozen educational institutions select- to be considered cool, not smart. Straight
schools can take center stage of ed for the Opportunity Nation Higher Education Council, A’s were for suckers, and I found myself
how we discuss revitalizing Ameri- a group that includes private, public, community and in parent-teacher conferences to discuss
can communities,” said Ivery. religiously affiliated colleges and universities. what was wrong at home. Eventually, I
“We’re proud to be working with snapped out of it, and accepted my brilliant
Each Higher Education Council member is holding
the Opportunity Nation campaign self and set my sights on going to college. I
regional events around the country, aimed at spurring
on advancing such critical goals.” won awards, became a student leader and
dialogue and creating strategies for building economic
starred in the school plays. I discovered I
The conference considered the mobility in the communities they serve.
WCCCD Chancellor could be cool and smart.
pivotal role educators, advocates,
Dr. Curtis L. Ivery Opportunity Nation is a national program and campaign
and policymakers can play in the Lena Johnson, a
to increase economic opportunities and mobility – led
development of a local and national agenda responding 15-year-old Detroit
by Time magazine, United Way, AARP, the Ford Foun-
to the collateral forces of educational inequality, racial Edison Public School
dation and a broad coalition of nearly 200 businesses,
segregation, and concentrated poverty that continue Academy of Early
nonprofits, educational institutions and military organi-
to impede economic opportunity and undermine the College Excellence,
zations.
very ideals of democracy upon which the nation was has noticed the same
founded. phenomenon still hap-
Photo Above: Reclaiming Integration In Public Education
pening today. She’s
Panelists also discussed the recent U.S. Supreme Court Panelists Anurima Bhargava, Godfrey Dillard, Robert
Lena Johnson seen the same person
decisions that have impacted efforts to integrate public Sedler and Reginald Turner
continued on page 15
14 UrbanED • April 2012