The American Dream No More?

A college degree and a job with a middle-class salary have been part of the American dream for generations. But now it just seems like an illusion for more than one-third of working families in our state. A non-partisan report that came out last week paints a bleak picture of the California situation. It goes to reiterate what we already know: with no college degree, the only work in town typically pays a minimum wage. Click here to read the LA Times story about the report. Click here to read the report itself, aptly titled "Working Hard, Left Behind."

Student Lab Worker Needed

The Value of Noncredit ESL (Part Two)

Click here to read part two of what the elected chair of the ESL Dept. of City College of San Francisco, Greg Keech, wrote about the unique role noncredit ESL plays in the California Community College system. Greg's insightful comments are particularly timely amid the ever-changing mood over the noncredit programs.

Consider Sending in a Presentation Proposal Now

The extended deadline to submit a presentation proposal for this year's CATESOL State Conference is just around the corner. If you are working on a proposal, don't forget to submit it online by mid-night this coming Sunday  4/28. See details here.

A Student Essay Contest

CATESOL would like to receive entries for its annual community-college-level student essay contest. Please see the details by clicking here.

It Takes More Than a Major

InsideHigherEd.com just came out with a report on a survey of business executives to use as a basis for gauging what skills employers want in a college graduate. Not surprisingly, oral communication skills, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking skills, are all positively identified. These skills and abilities transcend a particular major. Read the report here.