Independent Review Discredits UNC Academic Advisor's Findings

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Last edited Mon Apr 21, 2014, 11:46 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: WCHL/ChapelBoro.com

UNC released the findings of an independent review Friday that stated the test used by UNC academic advisor Mary Willingham was not a valid method to measure college- readiness.

The outside experts chosen to conduct the review were University of Minnesota Marvin D. Dunnette Distinguished Professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Nathan R. Kuncel, Georgia State University associate professor in the Department of Psychology, Lee Branum-Martin, and University of Virginia assistant professor of higher education, Dennis Kramer. The names of the three experts were kept under wraps until the report was released.

Each person acted independently in the review, according to UNC, but they found similar results. The review looked into the use of the SATA (Scholastic Abilities Test for Adults) reading vocabulary subtest. The report said, in part, that the 25-question, multiple choice test was “not a true reading test and should not be used to draw conclusions about student reading ability”, “the data do not support the public claims about the students’ reading ability”, and “reading ability should not be reported as grade equivalents.”

Read more: http://chapelboro.com/news/unc/independent-review-discredits-unc-academic-advisors-findings/

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The advisor's findings were widely reported on CNN and the Washington Post

[unc70]

1. This is part of a massive response by UNC to various issues

My original attempt to post in LBN was locked. It had linked directly to the UNC site.

http://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/updates/message-from-chancellor-carol-l-folt-and-provost-james-w-dean-jr-to-carolina-community/

[DURHAM D]

2. otoh - from today's paper

http://www.heraldsun.com/news/x27232692/Willingham-Student-athlete-problems-go-far-beyond-UNC

Willingham: Student-athlete problems go far beyond UNC -

DURHAM —
Mary Willingham’s not out to smear the UNC Tar Heels, she told an N.C. Central social work class Thursday night.

It’s a broader problem, throughout the NCAA, she said: Student-athletes are promised a real education, put to work without pay in sports that rake in money for the NCAA and universities and then left to fend for themselves if they’re not star athletes with pro prospects.

“We’ve got a problem called the NCAA and they’re a cartel and no one wants to stand up to them,” Willingham told about 30 students in Emmett Gill’s class. They’re making money “on the backs of our children.”

More at link above.

[unc70]

3. Dan Kane (N&O) "rewrote" Nov 17, 2012 Willingham UNC whistleblower story Jan 9, 2014

Last edited Mon Apr 21, 2014, 11:47 AM - Edit history (2)

A few days ago we noticed that the original story in the New & Observer about Willingham , while still dated Nov 17, 2012, it was a much different story. It was modified January 9, 2014. Shades of George Orwell and 1984. This has not been reported anywhere yet in the news, just on DU and few other sites.

Dan Kane has driven the reporting of the academic and athletic issues at Carolina. Many of those issues were real, but the first Willingham claim in 2012 was of a different nature. She claimed that UNC officials were active participants in cheating and coverup. No other evidence of her claims has yet been revealed, but it was that claim that really hurt The University's reputation. .

With this back in the news, many people will be looking back at those claims and that news story online. But the story they will find is the one written in 2014, not 2012. Most of the earlier versions elsewhere online have been purged or replaced, even in the main archives. Down the Memory Hole.

Dan Kane the News & Observer have some explaining to do.

Here is the link to the article. I strongly recommend you disable JavaScript before you click that link.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/17/2490476/insider-unc-tolerated-cheating.html