The situation in New Orleans, Kendra says, is “too deep for tears. There was a dream in every house.”
Kendra reports that the crisis spurred by Katrina has fostered a sense of unity and cooperative spirit among the administrations of schools in New Orleans. Jealousy and competition have largely given way to communication and cooperation, as all of the institutions wrestle with unprecedented problems.
In “Wanted: The Retention of Female Graduate Students,” Veronica Mendoza looks into Stanford University’s new maternity policy. The university provides six weeks of paid leave for female graduate students, while maintaining their full-time student status. The university, which is following MIT’s lead in implementing the policy, hopes its efforts to retain female graduate students will ultimately boost the number of female faculty. Some students have questioned why the paid leave is only six weeks instead of the 12 weeks given to California’s state employees. Others wonder why there are no provisions for male graduate students. However, the policy seems to be a positive, if long overdue, step towards an academy that accommodates young families.
Hilary Hurd Anyaso
Editor
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
