Valpo schools, college program will enable students to skip freshman year at PNC

VALPARAISO | An agreement approved Wednesday by the Valparaiso Community Schools Board with Purdue University North Central will enable Valparaiso High School students to skip their freshman year of college.

GUEST COMMENTARY: We're different, but we must pull together

When the One Region organization recently published its 2012 analysis of 10 key indicators of the quality of life in Northwest Indiana, I joined other region residents in studying the valuable information.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Diversity is vital to higher education experience

In October, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case that has the potential to profoundly impact the admissions policies of colleges and universities across the nation and alter the plans of thousands of prospective college students.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Arts background helps generate creative solutions

A look around Northwest Indiana quickly proves we value the arts. Whether it’s the West Side Theatre Guild in Gary, the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City, the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University or the sculpture gard…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Indiana's economy requires more college grads

The lottery fever that recently swept the nation clearly indicates that most of us covet financial security.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Smoking ban will aid Hoosiers' quality of life

Our Indiana legislators made history this month when they voted in favor of legislation to ban smoking statewide — albeit with some much-debated exceptions.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Make a difference in community, nation, world

Engaged citizens are key to forming and maintaining healthy, vibrant communities. The acts of joining volunteer organizations, working on a neighborhood project, helping out at the local school and voting in local, state and national elections all factor into determining our state's "civic health."

Taking a different course at PNC

WESTVILLE | Devotees can play it 365-days-a-year, carry their equipment in a duffel bag, and not pay a cent in green fees.

GUEST COMMENTARY: The amazing story of the Pittsburgh Pirates

At Major League Baseball's traditional all-star break, players and fans alike take stock of the season to date and anticipate how the pennant races will shape up.

PNC grads told to 'Rise to the highest'

VALPARAISO | Among the 347 graduates who participated in the 43rd Purdue University North Central University commencement ceremonies Monday evening were the first nine graduates of PNC's mechanical engineering program.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Quality of life will improve by degrees

In Northwest Indiana, we are fortunate to have a number of opportunities available for quality higher education -- two Big Ten universities are represented at three regional campuses, we have two quality faith-based schools, our state community college has a number of locations, and we have …

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: How to solve the nation's unemployment problem

When the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its unemployment data for February 2011, the nation's unemployment rate dropped to 8.9 percent, the first time it has been below 9 percent since April 2009.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Will NFL owners punt on new contract?

The NFL collective bargaining agreement is an extremely technical document of 300 pages. The cover page states it is in effect through the 2012 season, so why is there so much attention now about an imminent lockout of players? Because NFL owners terminated the final two salary-capped years …

James Dworkin

James Dworkin is chancellor of Purdue North Central.

Poetry in the 21st Century

The words of Frost, Browning and Poe, written so long ago, endure in our lexicon with a tenacity that defies the whirlwinds of fads and technological revolutions. But does poetry really have relevance today?