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Regents Set to Raise Tuition in California by 32 Percent

2009-11-19T15:20:00.000-05:00

New York Times
November 19, 2009

The University of California Board of Regents was expected to approve a plan on Thursday to raise undergraduate fees — the equivalent of tuition — 32 percent by next fall, to help make up for steep cuts in state funding.

The state allocation for the 10-campus system, one of the leading public university systems in the nation, was cut $813 million, or 20 percent, this year, leading to a hiring freeze, furloughs and layoffs.

The impact on the University of California campuses has been dramatic: faculty hiring is not keeping up with enrollment demand, and many course sections have been eliminated. Across all campuses, instructional budgets are being reduced by $139 million, with 1,900 employees laid off, 3,800 positions eliminated and hiring deferred for nearly 1,600 positions, most of them faculty.

Several campuses are now planning to admit more out-of-state students, who pay higher tuition, to help close the budget gap. And there is a growing worry that senior faculty may begin to defect to other institutions.

Since the school year began, thousands of students have protested both the budget cuts and the proposal for higher fees, which would bring in-state tuition to more than $10,000 a year. On Wednesday 14 protesters, including 12 students, were arrested at U.C.L.A., for disrupting the meeting of the Regents Finance Committee, which was eventually closed to visitors.

There were large protests on the Berkeley campus as well, by union workers, students and faculty.

Mark Yudof, president of the system, said the University of California now received only half as much support from the state, per student, as it did in 1990. Even with the higher student fees, the system needs a $913 million increase in state financing next year to avoid further cuts. If that extra money is not provided, next year’s freshman enrollment will most likely be cut.

"When it comes to the university’s core support, we have only two main sources — taxpayer dollars from the state and student fees,” Mr. Yudof said. “Even with deep administrative cuts, when one goes down, the other almost inevitably must go up."

To help students who cannot afford the increasing fees, the Regents are also expected to approve the expansion of the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, for undergraduates whose family income is below $70,000.

by: Tamar Lewin

College Admissions Counselors' Networking Group

2009-08-31T16:02:00.004-05:00

Join hundreds of college admission counselors to network and discuss current events in our LinkedIn networking group:

http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=1771062

Once you join, you can participate in discussions, read headline news related to your business, post into our forums and network with professionals from around the country. The group is free and open to all - including college admissions networking, college conselors, college advisors, college consultants and advisors.

Arts Programs in Academia Are Forced to Nip Here, Adjust There

2009-08-10T10:04:00.003-05:00

New York Times
August 9, 2009

If you are looking for a sign of how strapped the University of California, Los Angeles, is for cash, consider that its arts and architecture school may resort to holding a bake sale to raise money. California’s severe financial crisis has left its higher-education system — which serves nearly a fifth of the nation’s college students — in particularly bad straits. But tens of thousands of students at public and private colleges and universities around the country will find arts programs, courses and teachers missing — victims of piercing budget cuts — when they descend on campuses this month and next.

At Washington State University the department of theater arts and dance has been eliminated. At Florida State University the undergraduate program in art education and two graduate theater programs are being phased out. The University of Arizona is cutting three-quarters of its funds, more than $500,000, for visiting classical music, dance and theater performers. Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts, which supports four departments — dance, music, theater and visual arts — is losing 14 percent of its $1.2 million budget over the next two years. The Louisiana State University Museum of Art, one of the largest university-affiliated collections in the South, saw 20 percent of its state financing disappear. Other private and state institutions warn of larger classes, trimmed offerings, higher tuition and fewer services, faculty and visitors.

The arts are of course not the only victims of the recent economic meltdown. Large reductions in budgets have stung pretty much every corner of academia, from philosophy to Chinese, from gymnastics to geology.

The University of California, for example, is raising student fees by 9 percent, reducing freshman enrollment by 6 percent and cutting at least $300 million across its 10 campuses. There are no nationwide statistics to reveal whether one discipline is suffering more cuts than others. But administrators at more than a dozen state and private campuses who were interviewed say that the way that arts programs are structured and operated may amplify the effect of reductions.

Since tenured faculty are generally insulated from layoffs, budget cuts fall on part-time and visiting staff, Christopher Waterman, dean of the School of the Arts and Architecture at U.C.L.A., explained. For teachers, “we want artists who are in the thick of their careers,” he said. The result is that a large proportion of the school’s instructors are not permanent members of the faculty. Every department across the board has been ordered to cut 5 percent — on top of a 10 percent cut last year — but that relatively small reduction could mean the elimination of a third of the art department’s staff, Mr. Waterman said. (Final decisions on specific cuts have not been made.)

Crowded classes may not be as harmful in lecture courses, but in creative and performing studios, increasing class size is not always an option, he added. “You can’t teach painting to 40 students or give that many students voice lessons in opera or jazz.”

Several other college arts administrators around the country also said programs that serve the surrounding community as well as the students — like museums and performing arts centers — are especially vulnerable.

In California figuring out which programs and positions will survive will take a few more weeks. In the meantime the School of the Arts and Architecture, like other sections of U.C.L.A., has been told it should search for more ways to raise money itself. “We’re looking at more summer classes for high school seniors and bake sales,” Mr. Waterman said.

Elsewhere on the campus the Film & Television Archive is paring back its foreign-film program “because we cannot afford shipping any more of those prints from foreign countries,” said Jan-Christopher Horak, the archives director. A smaller staff in the film studies center could translate into less academic research, he added. As public universities watch state legislators slice away their funds, private colleges have seen their endowments shrink. Both are having to rely more on private donations at the same time that the recession has left individual contributors less able to give.

Figuring out what or who faces the budgetary guillotine has been a harrowing process no matter how it was done. Few go quietly.

Officials at Washington State University held a dozen public forums, testified before state lawmakers, appeared before the student council, the Faculty Senate and the Board of Regents; they responded to thousands of electronic messages and spoke with every single student, legislator, faculty and staff member, alumnus and community member who requested a meeting before deciding where $54 million and 360 jobs over the next two years would come from. One result: Sports management got a reprieve; that program and major will continue, while theater arts and dance will be phased out.

Arizona State University’s four campuses lost 500 jobs, closed 48 programs and imposed 10-to-15-day furloughs this spring. The schools of music, theater, film and design were all incorporated into the existing art and architecture center. Virgil Renzulli, the university’s media spokesman, said that officials focused on slashing administrative costs to maintain the same number of courses and tenured faculty.

In Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University spread the $21.3 million in cuts across departments. “The only program that we eliminated was a B.A. in theater education,” said Tom Bauer, assistant director of public affairs. “It only had 15 students, and they will be allowed to finish.” He added that the university is still waiting to hear from the governor’s office how much federal stimulus money might be directed its way.

Like California, Louisiana has had a tough year, although the doomsday cuts that some administrators were forecasting have not come to pass. Laurence Kaptain, dean of the College of Music and Dramatic Arts at Louisiana State University, said, “We tried to save people and cut things in our operations.” The college, which took a 3 percent cut this year on top of a 10 percent reduction last year, is holding back on upgrading computers and production technology, spending less on costumes, scenery and special effects as well as travel and conferences. “It’s making us more dependent on private funds,” he said.

Over at Louisiana State’s College of Art & Design the dean, David Cronrath, said a 4 percent cut ate up the positions of three full-time tenure-track faculty members, eight adjunct faculty and two staff members. He hopes to offer the same number of courses by increasing the faculty members’ loads and by relying more on graduate-student teaching assistants and part-time faculty, he said. But he, like others around the country, expects more cuts despite federal stimulus money and student loans.

For some institutions many tough decisions are yet to come. Cornell University, for example, recently approved long-term capital projects, including a $20 million extension to its art museum and a $55 million building for the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, said Simeon Moss, a university spokesman. But the university is also undertaking a top-to-bottom evaluation in the face of a projected operating deficit of approximately $150 million within five years.

Although some arts advocates, faculty and students have complained that their subjects are saddled with a disproportionate share of the cuts, Sally E. McRorie, the dean of visual arts, theater and dance at Florida State University, said that did not happen in her case.

“Florida State has a long history of dedication and investment in the arts,” she said. “Our cuts have not been greater than anybody else’s.” She said the university made a decision to use federal stimulus money “to keep people employed” but noted that after next year, when “those funds are gone, I’m not sure if we’ll be able to maintain those positions.”

by: Patricia Cohen

University of California Makes Cuts After Reduction in State Financing

2009-07-16T10:54:00.000-05:00

New York Times

The University of California will use a combination of furloughs, deferred hiring and cuts in academic programs to make up for an $813 million reduction in state financing, its president, Mark G. Yudof, said Friday.

Mr. Yudof said the actions amounted to a major retrenchment for the university, which has long been regarded as the nation’s leading public university.

“The impact of this cut is devastating,” Mr. Yudof said at a press briefing. “There is no way that we are going to be able to look every student in the eye and say, ‘Tomorrow, the University of California will be just the way it was yesterday.’ ”

Most of the university’s campuses will defer at least half of their planned faculty hirings, Mr. Yudof said, and the Berkeley campus expects to reduce faculty recruitment from the usual 100 positions a year to 10.

Chancellors from the individual campuses will present their cost-cutting plans next week to the state Board of Regents, which must vote on the entire budget.

Many of the planned cuts, and those already put into effect, impinge upon the university’s academic offerings.

The Irvine campus has halted admissions to its education doctorate program for working professionals, and its Latin American studies program is on hiatus. Class size is expected to increase 10 percent to 20 percent next year, while faculty and staff is expected to decline by at least 10 percent over the next five years.

At the Davis campus, the Medical Center has eliminated its liver transplant program, and in the division of humanities, arts and cultural studies, 44 courses and sections are expected to be cut.

The University of California, Los Angeles, will close its Labor Center, and deans and faculty members have been told to reduce courses, majors and faculty size by 10 percent to 20 percent over the next year. The freshman enrollment target on the campus for the 2009 fiscal year may drop by as many as 500 students.

At the Santa Cruz campus, most general-education courses with fewer than 100 students enrolled have been canceled, along with the bachelor of arts degree in earth sciences and the minor in music. Creation of an environmental sciences major has been deferred.

The San Diego campus has eliminated senior seminars, a small-group experience for students, and curtailed freshman seminars.

The University of California has faced financial challenges for years, leading to bigger classes, fewer course offerings and deferred maintenance — and caused some faculty members to defect to competing universities.

Tuition has risen to more than $8,700 for in-state students this fall, more than doubling from the $3,859 nine years ago.

Systemwide, 724 staff members have been laid off, and there may be more, Mr. Yudof said, especially if unionized employees reject the furloughs.

The furloughs, to be implemented Sept. 1, will be systemwide, with some exceptions, including those whose jobs are fully financed by research grants.

“It’s important not to take money from enterprises that are really entrepreneurial,” Mr. Yudof said, “and it wouldn’t help us with our deficit. Maybe this will encourage people to be entrepreneurial and go out and get those grants.”

In response to urging from university employees, the furloughs are structured so that people who earn more take bigger pay cuts. Those earning less than $40,000 will have 11 furlough days, equivalent to a 4 percent pay cut, while those earning more than $240,000 will have 26 furlough days, which is about a 10 percent pay cut. Mr. Yudof said he expected that faculty members would not take furloughs on their teaching days.

The university may also close for some additional days, as other California offices have done.

Over all, Mr. Yudof said, furloughs and pay cuts will offset about a quarter of the $813 million in budget cuts, and previously announced increases in student fees will offset another quarter. About 40 percent will come from cuts decided on by chancellors at the individual campuses, and the remaining 10 percent from systemwide changes, including refinancing of debt, and further cuts in the president’s office, where the budget has already been cut by a third.

The university’s struggle is the latest and starkest example of the statewide effects of legislators’ inability to come to an agreement with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over how to deal with a $24 billion budget shortfall. The state’s controller has been forced to send i.o.u.’s to many of the state’s vendors and taxpayers. Most large banks said they would refuse to accept the warrants after Friday, leaving people and businesses to decide whether they will hold onto the warrants until they mature in October or try to find some other method of cashing them.

On Friday, much of state government shut down for the third monthly furlough day ordered by the governor to save money.

Financing for the University of California system rose only 2 percent from 2001 to 2008, a period when enrollment grew 30 percent, and financing for state prisons, K-12 public schools and health and human services each grew by more than 40 percent according to a report from the outgoing chairman of the Board of Regents, Richard C. Blum.

At the briefing, the current chairman, Russell Gould, announced creation of a new University of California Commission on the Future, which he and Mr. Yudof will head. The commission will consider how to maintain access, quality and affordability in a tough economic climate, what delivery models for higher education make the most sense, how big the university should be, and how to maximize traditional and alternative revenue streams.

“We’re going to have to change the way we do business,” Mr. Yudof said.

In an interview after the briefing, he said he would like the new commission to look into the possibility of an online University of California and alternatives to the current system of majors.

by: Tamar Lewin

Edvisors Launches Online Education Community

2009-06-23T16:10:00.002-05:00

Edvisors.com launches redesigned Online Education Community

Edvisors.com's new design and functionality position it as the #1 community resource for elearners. The addition of community features allows students to compare online degree programs, rate schools and exchange ideas. To better serve students, the new design incorporates blogs (www.blog.edvisors.com), news feeds, forums and ebooks customized to the online learner. These resources support students in their effort to find the best online
degree programs based on their unique needs by encouraging community interaction, discussion and feedback. Also home to a directory of more than 30,000 education programs (directory.edvisors.com), 6,000 colleges and 1,000+ online degree programs, students can now find all they need at www.Edvisors.com.

Featured Resources:

Historically, enrollments at online schools continued to grow while services to those seeking these programs have not kept up. According to the Sloan Consortium "the 12.9 percent growth rate for online enrollments far exceeds the 1.2 percent growth of the overall higher education student population." Although their numbers have increased dramatically, very few online resources have been evolved to serve this attractive audience. Students are often frustrated by the lack of support in their search for the best programs.

The push to update the site came from the students. "Online education is the fastest growing segment of higher ed, it makes sense we would focus our efforts on better serving this audience." reports Gregg Manning, Director of Internet Strategies. "With our new resources, students can help each other through the maze of programs and degree offerings." Plans are already in the works to incorporate reviews and ratings from students powered by CollegeGrader.com which successfully powers the college reviews on www.HowToGetIn.com.

Edvisors Network, the parent of Edvisors.com, is more well known as a leading providing of financial aid resources to college students. Some of the web's most popular financial aid websites, including www.FinancialAidForum.com and www.PrivateStudentLoans.com, are operated by Edvisors. The Network is host to more than 1 million visitors with more than 75,000 students registering for more detailed services each month. Edvisors' more recent focus on supporting online education will bring online education marketing and support services to a new level for students and schools.

###

Edvisors, a global leader in higher education marketing and college financial aid, provides a richer, more fulfilling education experience to students, educators and parents worldwide. We deliver on our mission by providing an unmatched portfolio of online education resources, student loan products and college-related information and services through Edvisors Student Services, Student Loan Network, and the Edvisors Foundation.

Contact:
press@edvisors.com
617-328-1565

About the Financial Aid News

2009-06-10T12:33:00.001-05:00

I found this fascinating quote today:

The Financial Aid Newsletter is the Student Loan Network’s longest running publication, dating back as far as 1998, when the company first began publishing financial aid information. Today, Financial Aid News is a combination of newsletters and blogs from around the Internet, dedicated to bringing you the best, most up to date financial aid information online.About the Financial Aid News, Jun 2009

You should read the whole article.

I wish we had these resources when I was in college - check out FinancialAidNews.com today!

Test Prep, to What End?

2009-05-20T16:43:00.002-05:00

From Inside Higher Ed.

The extent to which the SAT is coachable has long been central to debates about the ethics of the test. After all, if tutoring programs that cost money help scores, there is an obvious issue of who will be able to afford such an advantage. For years, the College Board insisted that the SAT was not coachable and, more recently, the board has said that gains from test prep services are modest.

Today, the National Association for College Admission Counseling is releasing an analysis on the impact of test preparation services that backs the claims of test prep companies that they do produce gains on the SAT. But the research described suggests that the gains are relatively small -- gains that theoretically shouldn't matter much in admissions decisions. But NACAC also found evidence that at plenty of colleges, these kinds of gains could make a difference.

The NACAC report suggests several actions: Colleges are urged to avoid using the SAT and other tests in ways for which they aren't intended. And test takers are cautioned against expecting too much of an impact from test prep, and so are urged to be skeptical about gains and the value of these services.

Test-prep companies, while largely concurring with the finding that gains are modest on average, maintain that the NACAC study may hide the extent to which some services result in major gains on the SAT, and thus may make the testing system even less equitable than the report suggests.

The NACAC study was prepared by Derek Briggs, chair of the research and evaluation methodology program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He reviewed all the existing studies of SAT and ACT test preparation services and found that "a consensus position" has emerged over the last 10 years. That view is that coaching has a demonstrable, but minimal impact in improving SAT scores -- about 10-20 points on average in mathematics and 5-10 points in critical reading. Far less work has been done on the ACT and evidence is inconclusive, Briggs writes.

While noting these findings, Briggs also writes that more research is needed. Most of the studies do not consider the most recent changes in the SAT.

Assuming that the findings on coaching gains are accurate, Briggs set out through a survey of college admissions offices to find out whether gains of the kind that the studies documented would have a serious impact on students' odds of getting in. Both the College Board and NACAC have argued for years that small differences in SAT scores should not be e seen as meaning much.

NACAC found, however, that more than one third of colleges said that an increase of 20 points on the math SAT or 10 points on critical reading would "significantly improve a student's likelihood of admission.” The impact of such gains rises as the total SAT score goes up and at more selective colleges.

David Hawkins, director of public policy and research at NACAC, said that these findings suggest that a major goal for the organization should be to "bring practice into compliance with accepted standards," and that the "only way we can do that is to educate, educate, educate."

In September, NACAC issued a landmark report suggesting that many colleges reconsider their policies of requiring standardized testing in admissions, and the report noted the link between testing requirements and the test prep industry. Not only does coaching favor wealthier applicants, the report found, but it can lead high schoolers to focus on the admissions process to the detriment of their educations. The report called for more work on such topics as the test prep industry, noting that much of the existing knowledge comes from the entities that sponsor standardized tests.

Hawkins also said that he hoped the new report would encourage students and families to view test prep services for what they are: businesses looking for "a commercial transaction."

Needless to say, those businesses have a keen interest in how NACAC describes their services. And test prep officials freely admit that they gain customers because of the perception that they are raising scores by far more than 30 or so points. But different kinds of services have different approaches to how they discuss score gain.

The national chains tend not to promise specific gains or to quote average gains. Kaplan and Princeton Review, for example, have an agreement between them that they will quote figures only if they let their competitor examine the methodology and critique it -- and under this agreement it has been years since either company quoted an average score gain. Both companies, however, boast on their Web sites that students will see scores go up and both offer forms of money-back guarantees for those who are not satisfied with score gains.

Seppy Basili, senior vice president at Kaplan, said NACAC is wise to encourage students not to trust promotions about score gains because the averages mean very little. A 150-point gain for someone on the low end of the SAT range is fairly easy to accomplish, Basili said, while a similar gain might be quite challenging for someone already near the top. "We're very careful not to use average score increase," he said.

Basili also said that admissions counselors and the College Board have "a vested interest" in promoting the idea that test prep doesn't have a huge impact. "It's very uncomfortable for them because if test prep works, does everyone have equal access?"

The answer to that question is clear, he said. "The SAT favors anyone who can get test preparation."

Paul Kanarek, senior vice president at Princeton Review, agreed. He said that score claims are all over the place in terms of how they count "before" and "after" scores, who is in the pool, and so forth. At the same time, he suggested that the NACAC report understates the impact of coaching. "If we didn't raise scores in the eyes of the market place, we would not be one of the largest players in the market place," he said.

He said that this reputation comes largely from satisfied test takers. The only notable change in recent years, he said, is that the student describes satisfaction in different ways. "Ten years ago, it was 'I went up 300 points,' but now it's 'I broke 2000.' It's all about the final score."

While the dominant players shy away from explicit score gains, many others do not.

If you call Ivy Bound Test Prep, for example, the recording that greets you says you should choose it "if you are looking to raise your SAT scores 200 points or more." And the Web site says that "last year's students reported a 171.1 point increase (math and critical reading) over a previous SAT or PSAT."

Mark Greenstein, the president and founder, said he too agreed that students should be "skeptical and smart shoppers," but that there was nothing wrong with his company's claims. He said that his average is based on "diligent students," whom he defined as doing at least 90 percent of assignments and calling the help line at least once a week. "If you do that, you are good for 150 points at least," he said. Greenstein said that he uses actual test scores for the "before" score. He also said that he updates the score average annually, so that it reflects the latest SAT.

Those who sign up for Ivy Bound's courses have gains about 10 points lower than the online figure of 171.1.The higher gains are for those who opt for private tutors, and Greenstein said it is clear that paying for such help pays off.

Families pay by the hour and at least 25 hours of tutoring are needed to achieve the score gains (plus another 8 if students want help on the writing test of the SAT, too), he said. For less experienced tutors, families pay $60-$80 an hour, while veterans cost $210 an hour and the top of the line is $350 an hour.

The money is worth it, especially when considering the merit scholarships that students are earning these days, Greenstein said. He echoed the criticism of others in test prep in saying that admissions counselors "are dismissing the economic benefit of test prep." And while NACAC questioned the need for expensive services, Greenstein said that he sees a relationship between what students pay and their diligence and corresponding gains.

"There is an aspect of 'my Mom's paying $3,000 so I better do this right,' " he said.

Hawkins said that in fact admissions counselors and NACAC are "in the middle of competing interests." He said that he doesn't doubt that some test prep raises scores, even if the precise size of the gains isn't clear.

But he pointed to the ethical issues raised by the NACAC report on standardized testing. That report said: "Access to test preparation will always be differentiated based on family income, school setting, and other variables external to the student. As a result, students without the financial resources to gain access to test preparation may, in effect, be penalized for lower test scores in some admission and scholarship scenarios, especially in those that use test scores in a 'cut score' or non-contextualized linear fashion.... [T]he ability of more affluent students to afford both test preparation and multiple test administrations, particularly when they are able to report the highest scores to colleges and universities, puts students of more modest economic means at further risk of being overlooked in the transition process."

— Scott Jaschik

Top Colleges See Little Fall in Freshman Commitments

2009-05-10T22:54:00.002-05:00

New York Times
May 10, 2009
In an early indication that the economic downturn may not have disrupted students’ college choices as much as schools had feared, more than a dozen top colleges said last week that accepted applicants had committed themselves to attending next fall at about the same rate as last year.

Among the private colleges reporting little variation in their admissions yields were Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Wesleyan, Smith, Kenyon and Whitman. Among public colleges, the Universities of Virginia and Wisconsin reported similar results.

But those yields came at a price: many of the colleges said they had increased their financial aid budgets, often significantly, over last year’s.

The dean of admissions at Pomona College in California, Bruce Poch, said, “For all the Chicken Little and Henny Penny hysteria and dire predictions, it seems to have worked out just fine here.” At Pomona, 384 applicants sent in their deposits, only 6 fewer than the goal the college had set. The class is “essentially full,” Mr. Poch added, though some students on the waiting list might be offered admission.

The dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard, William R. Fitzsimmons, had anticipated a drop in the yield of as much as 5 percentage points because of the poor economy. But about 76 percent of those accepted to Harvard, or nearly 1,560 applicants, have signaled their intention to attend — “right where we were at the end of last year,” Mr. Fitzsimmons said.

As much as 65 percent of the incoming freshman class at Harvard could end up receiving direct, need-based scholarships, compared with 58 percent in the current freshman class, Mr. Fitzsimmons said. In response, Harvard expects to increase its undergraduate financial aid budget by $9 million, or 7 percent.

At Yale, nearly 70 percent of those accepted, or about 1,330 students, have signaled their intention to enroll, a percentage nearly identical to last year’s, said Jeffrey Brenzel, the dean of undergraduate admissions.

“Our yield so far has been significantly stronger than we expected,” Mr. Brenzel wrote in an e-mail message. “Given the economy, we thought that more students not eligible for need-based financial aid from Yale might accept merit scholarships offered by a number of excellent colleges.”

The next freshman class at Yale is oversubscribed by about 17, which does not bode well for the 468 applicants on the waiting list.

Princeton’s yield of 60 percent this year is a percentage point higher than last year’s, which is noteworthy given that the university is trying to increase its freshman class size by about 60, to 1,300.

Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., said it too had received a response from accepted applicants at a rate similar to last year’s — about 35 percent, or 760, said they would attend. The senior associate dean of admissions, Greg Pyke, said he was surprised that the economy had not “really driven the yield down.” He credited Wesleyan’s increasing of its financial aid offers as a factor.

Another situation being closely monitored is whether public universities are being overrun with candidates, as some high school seniors seek a less expensive education than many private colleges offer.

At the University of Virginia, this year’s yield — 49 percent, representing 3,100 deposits — is only 1 percentage point higher than last year’s. The University of Wisconsin said its yield this year — 41 percent, or about 5,550 deposits — was a drop of 2 percentage points from last year’s. But the university said appeals of financial-aid decisions among accepted freshmen had increased 20 percent over last year.

The State University of New York at New Paltz said it had gotten the admissions yield it wanted: about 20 percent, compared with 24 percent last year. But to lower its yield, New Paltz had to close off applications at about 15,250 and offer several hundred fewer acceptances than it did a year earlier.

“The next question is whether the deposits are hard or soft,” said L. David Eaton, the vice president for enrollment. Mr. Eaton said he wondered whether some students had put in a $250 deposit to New Paltz, as well as deposits elsewhere, to hedge their bets.

Georgetown University, Providence College and Hartwick College were among those that said last week that they still had openings in their incoming freshman classes. Officials at the University of California, Los Angeles, said they would not have data before June 1.

All told, the institutions that have reported their yields are a fraction of the nation’s estimated 2,000 four-year colleges, which
By JACQUES STEINBERG
Tamar Lewin, Lisa W. Foderaro and Rebecca R. Ruiz contributed reporting.

Top 5 Reasons Online Classes Rock

2009-05-07T08:59:00.003-05:00

At this point the cat isn’t only out of the bag, as it pertains to online classes, it’s a full grown lioness on the prowl. Online degrees were once viewed as a gimmicky soiree into the world of higher education, but oh how things have changed.

I must admit, even I was cynical in the late 90’s when the Online education rage was taking flight. It felt like a scam. Would my degree be worth anything? Would my resume be passed over time and time again because of how I earned my degree? Never did I believe it would be more revered by many hiring managers who believe online recipients are more versatile. These students are viewed as self motivated independent thinkers who are driven to succeed; all traits which transfer nicely in the workplace.

Yes, Online degrees hold value in the marketplace, but it’s the value outside the virtual classroom that attracts many students to an Online degree. Lets take a look at the Top 5 reasons Online classes have become so popular.

1. Comfort: Having the luxury of taking notes with one hand while shoveling in Doritos with the other is pretty sweet indeed. A comfortable environment produces better results.

2. Convenience: No need to worry if your tank is on “E” or traffic is backed up on the interstate to get to school. When you’re at home, you are at school.

3. Flexibility: Lesson plans are available for you to review anytime throughout the week and tests are usually available over a three day period to fit with your busy schedule.

4. Availability: While campuses are restricted to the number of classes they can offer students based on staffing and capital resources, Online degree programs have no such restrictions. The number of classes you can take is practically endless.

5. Time: Most Online classes do not have specific start-up dates and times. You can jump in whenever you like. In addition, if you have the desire, you may complete your class early in most cases. Many eight week classes are completed in 4-6 weeks by ambitious students.

Request information about Online classes or education here.

>>From the Student Loan Network Help Blog

PrivateStudentLoans.com Comparison Press Release

2009-04-07T21:21:00.005-05:00

Student Loan Network

1250 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169
email: press@edvisors.com, web: http://www.PrivateStudentLoans.com

PrivateStudentLoans.com encourages students to consider all their student loan options

Quincy, MA (PRWeb) July 19, 2009 - The Student loan Network introduces a new private student loan comparison website offering a variety of loans for for funding your college education. Compare a private student loans to federal student loans and competing offers from various private loan lenders.

“We have two objectives with our new design." explained Jon Rudy, Director of Student Loan Programs. "First, although we always recommend federal loans first, we want to show that private student loans actually compare favorably to federal student loans. Second, we want to let students know they have several options - both federal and private.”

Private Student Loan Insight:

Many private student loan products have a lower rate than the Federal PLUS Loan. The catch - private loan rates are usually variable while PLUS Loan rates are fixed. The majority of parents want their sons/daughters to share in the responsibility of their loans.
Many applicants will not apply for federal student loan to avoid filling out the FAFSA form - which is viewed as overly complicated and requires submitting personal information to the government.
Increasingly, students are doing the shopping and then bringing the options to their parents for the final decision.
PrivateStudentLoans.com is a top 5 site in Google for Private Student Loans.
45,000 visitors to PrivateStudentLoans.com this month makes it the leading site for private student loan comparisons and the fastest growing resource for students and parents looking for private student loans.

“There has been a lot of press about a new private student loan product requiring payments from the student while they are in school" continues Mr. Rudy. "While in school payments reduces the overall cost of the loan, most students and parents want to defer payments. We want to let students know they have many options. All programs listed allow for payments at any time when students or parents have the ability - most people do not know this important feature.”

Students have many options when it comes to financing their education. Scholarships, grants and federal student loans are the first and best option. When these funds fall short, students can and should consider a variety of private student loans.

PrivateStudentLoans.com is a member of the Student Loan Network, an Edvisors Online Education Company. PrivateStudentLoans.com.

About Edvisors and the Student Loan Network:

The Student Loan Network is one of the nation's fastest growing providers of student loans and related information. A member of the Edvisors (www.edvisors.com) family of companies since 1998, we have connected 25 million students and parents with over $1 billion in scholarships, grants and federal, private and consolidation loan funding. To help make the confusing and stressful financial aid process easier, the Student Loan Network also delivers helpful information, including the award-winning Financial Aid Forum, a multitude of financial aid-related blogs and the monthly Financial Aid Newsletter. Learn more about the Student Loan Network at www.StudentLoanNetwork.com.

For Top Colleges, Economy Has Not Reduced Interest (or Made Getting in Easier)

2009-03-30T15:08:00.000-05:00

New York Times
March 30, 2009
The recession appears to have had little impact on the number of applications received by many of the nation’s most competitive colleges, or on an applicant’s overall chances of being admitted to them.
Representatives of Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown, among other highly selective institutions, said in telephone and e-mail exchanges in recent days that applications for the Class of 2013 had jumped sharply when compared to the previous year’s class. As a result, the percentage of applicants who will receive good news from the eight colleges of the Ivy League (and a few other top schools that send out decision letters this week) is expected to hover at – or near – record lows.
Bill Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard since 1986, said that the 29,112 applications Harvard received this year represented an all-time high, and a 6-percentage point increase from last year. He said the percentage of applicants admitted would be 7 percent, down from 8 percent a year ago. Dartmouth said that the 18,130 applications it received was the most in its history, too, and that the 12 percent admitted would be its lowest.
Stanford said that the 30,350 applications it received represented a 20 percent increase, and that while it estimated a 7.5-percent admission rate, which would be its lowest, it declined to specify a final figure until later in the week.
Yale, Brown, Columbia, Cornell and Princeton declined to release their final admission rates in advance of sending out most of their decision letters via e-mail at 5 p.m. eastern time on Tuesday. But Brown said it had received 21 percent more applications, overall, compared to a year ago; Yale was up 14 percent; Columbia was up 13 percent and Cornell was up 3 percent. Princeton said that, as of January, it had tallied a 2 percent increase in applications, but anticipated the pool had gotten even larger since then. At the University of Pennsylvania, the number of applications increased by 4 — to 22,939, from 22,935.
However, applications to highly selective colleges were not up universally. Many of the best-known liberal arts colleges had fewer applications this year.
Williams College in western Massachusetts said that applications were down 20 percent this year, with 6,024 having applied to the Class of 2013, as compared to 7,552 a year ago. Williams’s acceptance rate, in turn, is expected to be about 20 percent, which is higher than in recent years. The reason for the change was not immediately clear, though applicants outside New England who are concerned about their finances would have to take into account that Williams is not close to a major city or airport – and thus could be expensive to get in and out of.
Similarly, Middlebury College in Vermont, which is also relatively remote, had a nearly 12 percent drop in applications. Amherst, another Massachusetts college and Williams rival, said that applications were down about 1 percent - and that its admissions rate would increase slightly, to 16 percent, in part because Amherst is aiming to increase its first-year class by about 25 students. (Wesleyan University in Connecticut, which sometimes competes for students with Amherst and Williams, has drawn substantially more interest this year: its applicant pool was 22 percent larger than last year’s; its admission rate fell to 22 percent, from 27 percent.)
Amherst had a nearly 10-percent increase in early-decision applications. It enrolls about 30 percent of its first-year class through that program, and – like most schools surveyed – it said it had not lost a single one to due any change in family finances since the fall, when such applications are made.
“Given the economy, it’s very surprising to me,’’ said Tom Parker, dean of admission and financial aid, “and when I told the board, they found it hard to believe, too.’’
In a sign of how hard it is to draw broad conclusions about an admissions season that has been set against a stark economic backdrop, just over half of the nearly 350 institutions that accept the Common Application, a shared online admission form, received more applications this year than last; just under half received fewer. Bryn Mawr and Wellesley were among those that were up slightly, while overall applications to Grinnell and Pomona were down (as compared to their early applications, which were up quite a bit.)
Among the best-known public universities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville all recorded gains in applications – a sign, surely, of some applicants’ desire to stay closer to home, and pay less than they might at an elite private college. Applications to the University of Wisconsin in Madison fell nearly 3 percent.
Of course, applying to college is one thing; being able to afford to go is another.
Harvard, which like many colleges raised its financial aid budget this year, said that between this week and May 1, when applicants’ decisions are due, it was bracing for many to make impassioned appeals of their financial aid offers, whether by phone or e-mail or in person. In response, Mr. Fitzsimmons said that the Harvard financial aid office would be open every day in April, with expanded hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“We’re going to listen,’’ he said. “We don’t have a policy of matching other schools’ awards. But we’re going to listen to what a family thinks its unusual circumstances might be. We learn a lot about our families in April.’’
By:Jacques Steinberg & Tamar Lewin

A New Factor In Making That College: Loving It

2009-03-16T11:13:00.000-05:00

Boston Globe
March 15, 2009

Like wary suitors, colleges are searching for signs of commitment from applicants before they extend admissions offers, hoping to find out whether their affection is mutual.
In the increasingly tense courtship of college admissions, more selective schools are smiling upon high school students who show sincere interest in attending, closely tracking such things as whether they visited campus, responded to recruiting messages, or even joined an online chat with an admissions officer.
"You're going to want those students who also want you," said Gil Villanueva, dean of admissions at Brandeis University. "Everything else being equal, between a student you know and a student you don't, you will go with the known commodity."
Villanueva, like many admissions officers, said keen enthusiasm for a school is no guarantee but can sometimes tip the balance in students' favor.
The growing importance of "demonstrated interest" is the product of a number of overlapping factors. High school students are applying to a greater number of colleges to better their odds of acceptance, which has made it harder for colleges to estimate how many actually plan to come. This year, the financial downturn and the credit crunch have further complicated the process, with families expected to base their decisions more on cost.
Amid such unpredictability, students who seem excited at the prospect of arriving on campus in the fall are in high demand, admissions officers say. In an ironic twist, the volatile nature of admissions has given students a measure of control over the process.
In its annual survey of admissions trends, the National Association for College Admission Counseling found that 22 percent of colleges gave interest "considerable importance" in admissions, up from 7 percent in 2003. Another 30 percent of schools rated it as moderately important.
In terms of influence, it outranked such admissions standbys as counselor and teacher recommendations, interviews, and extracurriculars, and was narrowly behind class rank and personal essays.
"We track every single contact we have with students," said Kelly Walter, executive director of the admissions office at Boston University.
Parents and applicants take note: Walter and other college officials said they do not hold it against students who cannot afford to visit campus, particularly in the slumping economy. There are many other ways students can let colleges know they are among their top choices, including attending a college fair or reception in their hometown. Even better, they said, is introducing themselves to an admissions officer and striking up a conversation.
"I remember," Walter said, speaking of such chats.
Admitting more students who truly want to be there, college officials say, creates an energetic and close-knit culture on campus. And by producing loyal alumni with soft spots for their colleges, it also pays long-range dividends in fund-raising.Continued...
Giving preference to students whose interest seems genuine also helps colleges boost their image. By targeting students who are more likely to attend, they can admit a smaller percentage and still fill out their freshman class, making them appear more selective and more desirable.
Families have caught on to the new approach. John Mahoney, director of undergraduate admissions at Boston College, said parents who visit the campus often scan the premises for the sign-up sheet that will let them make their presence known.
"We tell them we're not tracking that," he said. "But they want to make sure they let us know they were there."
Mahoney said BC does not consider student interest and said he suspects some students feign interest to boost their odds.
"Students are being conditioned to express interest, but if they are doing so at 16 Northeastern schools, how good of a barometer is it?"
But some say that students who cultivate relationships with schools - through the delicate art of admissions flirting - gain a much better chance of winning their hearts.
"It's almost like a dating game," said Phil Meisner, founder of CAPS, the College Application Processing Service, in Washington. "No one wants to commit, but everyone's looking for a signal. Why shouldn't students be able to let colleges know they want to go?"
College officials say students rarely go overboard in their self-marketing campaigns, although they fear more will as the practice becomes more prevalent. Others worry that judging students by expressions of interest could unfairly help wealthier students whose parents and counselors know the system's subtleties and how to exploit them.
"We don't want to penalize students who don't know that 14,000 contacts with an admissions officer could tip the balance," said Gail Berson, dean of admission at Wheaton College in Norton.
This spring, a student whom Berson met at a New York City high school has become a "steady pen pal," even sending her copies of his latest short stories. His persistence convinced Berson he would attend, and his writing ability convinced her he should be admitted, despite a so-so academic record.
Alex Michel, a senior from Weston, said she knew that Wheaton was her top choice as soon as she visited the campus, and she immediately made her intentions known. She visited campus several times, including an overnight stay with students, and e-mailed admissions officers with questions. In December, she was accepted, and now she chats on Facebook with her eventual classmates.
"I know colleges are looking for students who are enthusiastic," she said. "When I visited campus, I always made sure the admissions office knew I was there."
By Peter Schworm

Obama Remarks on Education Policy Plans

2009-03-11T08:53:00.002-05:00

President Obama delivered remarks on his proposals for education this morning at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s annual Legislative Conference. As reported by the Washington Post, President Obama offered some additional information on the education budget for the 2010 fiscal year. He touched on the five “pillars” of reform for the nation’s education system and on the importance of increasing high school retention rates and attaining a college degree. President Obama underscored the need to invest in education as “The future belongs to the nation that best educates its citizens.”

Regarding higher education proposals, President Obama stated. “Now, the fifth part of America's education strategy is providing every American with a quality higher education whether it's college or technical training. Never has a college degree been more important. Never has it been more expensive. And at a time when so many of our families are bearing enormous economic burdens, the rising cost of tuition threatens to shatter dreams. And that's why we will simplify federal college assistance forms so it doesn't take a Ph.D to apply for financial aid.”

President Obama further discussed the Pell Grant increases contained in his budget proposal to Congress that call for an annual increase to adjust for inflation and a plan to provide a $2,500-a-year tuition tax credit for students from working families. “To help pay for all of this, we're putting students ahead of lenders by eliminating wasteful student loan subsidies that cost taxpayers billions each year,” he stated.

In advance of the speech, the Administration issued a fact sheet on the President’s education policy proposals entitled, “Expanding the Promise of Education in America.” It includes talking points on the ideas for early education, K-12, higher education and proposals for driving innovation and expanding excellence. On higher education, the fact sheet touches on increasing college access, expanding federal aid and simplifying the financial aid process. It also mentions providing additional funding for Pell Grants and providing an annual increase to account for inflation and the proposal to end student loan subsidies to private student loan companies.

A copy of the fact sheet is available in the expanded version of today’s Daily Briefing. Additional articles from The Washington Post and USA Today are included in the expanded version of today’s Daily Briefing. A transcript of his speech is also attached, along with a press release from Education and Labor Ranking Member Howard “Buck” McKeon.

Is the SAT being phased out as a critical component of college admissions?

2009-03-03T14:29:00.003-05:00

Test-Optional Schools Tops 815: As High School Juniors and Seniors Prepare for Admission Tests More Colleges and Universities Eliminate ACT/SAT Requirements

“Nearly four-dozen colleges and universities have adopted test-optional admissions for all or most applicants in the past several years,” said FairTest Executive Director Jesse Mermell. “They recognize that neither the SAT nor ACT measures what students most need to succeed in higher education. An applicant’s high school record remains a better predictor of college performance than either test is.”

As high school students across the nation prepare for the March 14 administration of the SAT and April 4 ACT college admissions exams, a new survey has found that more than 815 bachelor-degree granting colleges and universities do not require most applicants to submit scores from either test.

The number of such schools has soared since revised versions of the SAT and ACT were introduced in March 2005, according to the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) which compiles the test-optional list. Last fall a blue-ribbon commission sponsored by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) issued a report encouraging more institutions to consider ending admissions exam mandates.

FairTest Public Education Director Bob Schaeffer added, “Many more schools are re-examining their standardized exam requirements in the wake of the NACAC Commission report. We expect the ACT/SAT optional list to continue growing as more institutions recognize that the tests remain biased, coachable, educationally damaging and irrelevant to sound admissions practices.”

A regularly updated FairTest directory of test-optional schools is available free online at http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional. Nearly 200,000 students, parents, and guidance counselors access these lists each year.

Revised UC Freshman Admission Policy

2009-02-05T17:38:00.000-05:00

February 5, 2009

Today the University of California Board of Regents approved a change to the University’s admission policy that will affect current high school students graduating in 2012 and beyond.

The new policy requires the same number of “a-g” courses and the same GPA as current policy. The key differences are:
• Two SAT Subject Tests will no longer be required for admission. However, students could still choose to submit their scores for consideration as part of their application, just as they do now with AP scores. The Subject Tests also could be recommended for certain majors.
• All applicants will need to complete 11 of the 15 “a-g” courses by the end of their junior year. Currently, this is required only of students who are designated eligible by ranking in the top 4 percent of their high school class.
• Fundamentally, these changes will not change the way students prepare for the University: students still need to complete the “a-g” requirements, earn the best grades possible, and take the ACT Assessment with Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test. They will also need content knowledge in case they choose to take an SAT Subject Test to demonstrate specific subject-matter proficiency.
• Students who graduate from high school prior to 2012 will be held to existing admissions requirements. Most importantly, this means that these students will be required to submit scores from two SAT Subject Tests in order to be eligible for admission, as is the case now.

Jeannie Borin, M.Ed
President & Founder
College Connections

House Approves Stimulus Bill

2009-01-29T15:08:00.001-05:00

By a party-line vote of 244-188, the House of Representatives approved a $819 billion economic stimulus package. The package includes $43 billion for unemployment benefits and job training, $39 billion to help the unemployed keep employer-provided health care, and a range of tax credits. It also allocates billions of dollars toward higher education proposals through spending on research, school and college infrastructure, and aid to states.

According to a press release issued by the House Education and Labor Committee, the bill would aid college students by: 1) Increasing the Pell Grant scholarship by $500; 2) Establishing a new college tuition tax credit of $2,500; 3) Creating new work-study opportunities for college students; and 4) Increasing student loan limits on unsubsidized Stafford Loans by $2,000. The bill invests $490 million in work-study opportunities for college students in fields related to their major or in community service, creating jobs for an additional 200,000 students. The bill also provides that private activity bonds (including student loan bonds) issued in 2009 and 2010 would not be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax.

“A long-term recovery falls not only on the shoulders of today’s workforce but also tomorrow’s,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “This economic crisis is putting enormous pressure on families’ wallets, and making it much, much harder for students to pay for college. We can’t allow this downturn to put an entire generation of students’ dreams of getting a college degree further out of reach.”

The Politico reports that changes could still be made in the course of the Senate floor debate which will stretch into next week. Republicans are pressing for more tax relief aimed at housing, and there is bipartisan interest in revisiting a small business capital gains exclusion that Obama himself supported as a candidate.

The legislation will next move to conference after Senate passage .

Related articles from The Wall Street Journal, CongressDaily, The Politico and Inside Higher Ed areavailable online.

A new CampusX Community for Colleges Students to Network

2009-01-28T09:45:00.005-05:00

CampusX recently launched a new community: http://campusx.ning.com where college students can connect, network and discuss issues related to college and campus issues. Registration is open and free to all. Check it out, tell your friends and connect!

http://campusx.ning.com

Cornell Takes $1.4B Hit To Endowment, Announces Cuts And Ups Tuition (NY Daily News)

2009-01-27T09:40:00.003-05:00

"Cornell University hemorrhaged more than a quarter of its endowment in the past six months - roughly $1.45 billion - and will slash budgets and hike tuition to shore up, NY Daily News reports. "The Ivy League university, which has about 20,000 students, is drawing down $35 million from its endowment to maintain financial aid levels. The university has also imposed an external hiring freeze, and faculty and nonunion staff will have to go without raises next year. Employees who make less than $40,000 will get a $750 bonus. Another 5% cut at the Ithaca campus is slated for the following academic year. The university will draw on $150 million over the next two years to provide the cash flow necessary to operate." A halt in construction established in the fall will continue through June.

You can read the complete January 26, 2009 NY Daily News article on-line.

We are seeing this more and more often. How will this affect tuition, services and most importantly, the education provided to students enrolled?

Best Value Colleges

2009-01-11T12:48:00.002-05:00

The Princeton Review and Kiplinger Magazine have each just come out with their most recent listing of the best value colleges. While these lists have some helpful information regarding financial aid policies, do not worry about the actual ranking of each college. The "value" of a college is but one of the considerations you must think about in finding the best college for your needs.

Princeton Proposes 2.9% Cost Increase; Ivy Peers May Follow

2009-01-09T15:54:00.002-05:00

"Princeton University, expecting a 25 percent loss in its endowment by next June, may set the lowest cost increase to parents and students since 1966 and provide a marker for other top U.S. schools," Bloomberg reports. "If approved, the increase would be about half of last year's U.S. average of 5.9 percent for private institutions, said Tony Pals, a spokesman for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, in Washington. The move may touch off similar cost measures by Princeton's peer institutions, such as Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut."

You can read the complete January 8, 2009 Bloomberg article on-line.

How Much Is An Online Degree Worth?

2009-01-07T19:24:00.003-05:00

In a time not so long ago, online schools were questionable, frowned upon, even considered worthless. Could someone really sit at home, stare at a screen, and learn as much as someone sitting in a classroom? Many educators doubted it. It seemed the lazy man's way of learning. But new research suggests that stigma is not only fading, but transforming into eLearning accolades. Recently, an in-depth study from Sloan Consortium, a group supporting online education, confirmed what advocates of cyber-academics had been saying for years: Online learning can be just as good as -- if not better than -- a classroom degree.

"A majority of academic leaders (57 percent) believe learning outcomes for online education are equal to or superior to those of face-to-face instruction," proclaims the Sloan study. One of those academic leaders -- James Sherwood, Ph.D., dean of University Extension, the continuing education branch of The University of California at Berkeley -- elaborates. "Coming out of World War II and getting into the '60s and '70s, there was a kind of stigma associated with distance education. That has certainly changed," says Sherwood. "Because of video streaming, chat rooms, and all the other kinds of technological advances, traditional faculty is becoming more comfortable."

Both Sides of the Coin

Dr. Michael Otaigbe has had the unique chance to compare both types of learning. A classroom professor for 15 years, Otaigbe began teaching online two years ago through Strayer University. And, this semester, he's teaching the same course -- Sociology of Comparative Religions -- both online and in a classroom at Strayer's Woodbridge, Va., campus. Though he initially struggled to adjust to not having face-to-face time with his students, he has found that his online class generates a level of motivation he hadn't expected. "Online, I have the freedom to require contributions. Every week, my students have to submit essays and participate in group discussions," Otaigbe says. " I get a better sense of the learning process. "Whereas in a classroom setting, students must respond instantly during discussions, he explains, the online students have more time to research an answer and reflect on what to say before posting a response. "In fact, what I have learned from the online class, I have used to improve my class teaching," Otaigbe says.

Otaigbe has also found inspiration from his online students, some of whom -- unlike his classroom students -- come from all over the world, which benefits the other online students as well." I have students from Japan, from China," says Otaigbe. " I know my student from India contributed a lot when we were talking about Hinduism."

Recruiter's Perspective

The online degree may get respect from educators now, but that's not enough if the rest of the world doesn't follow suit. In some ways, a degree is only as good as the opportunities it affords. Fortunately, recruiters have already begun to recognize the value of an online degree, says John Dooney, manager of strategic research for the Society for Human Resource Management, an association of HR professionals." Typically, a person with an online degree is someone who is also working in an organization, so they have experience," says Dooney. " You're getting someone who has the total package." Formerly an employment manager for 15 years, Dooney admits that online degrees weren't always looked upon positively. " Ten years ago, people just weren't sure," Dooney says. " But now, I don't think people say 'Oh, they're not working hard.'"

As corporations have started using distance learning in their continuing education offerings, it has become more and more accepted as a way to earn a degree as well, he says. Sherwood, who has 20 years of experience running distance learning programs, however, does caution that not all programs are equal." One factor is the institution itself," Sherwood says. " If the institution offers on-site degrees and those degrees aren't worth anything, then obviously their distance degrees aren't either." He also advises a level examination of an academic discipline. " Some fields lend themselves to distance education, and some are more difficult to do at a distance." For example, advanced degrees with a serious lab work component might be a struggle to complete through an exclusively online format, he says. As online learning continues to evolve into a well-respected educational option, perhaps the Sloan Consortium was on to something when it stated that almost one-third of academic leaders "expect that learning outcomes for online education will be superior to face-to-face instruction in three years." Perhaps your online degree will be worth even more than you think!

Private Colleges Worry About a Dip in Enrollment

2008-12-22T17:09:00.001-05:00

Now comes the bad news: the number of regular applications is way down, about 30 percent fewer than at this time last year.
“To be quite honest, I don’t know how we’ll end up,” said Derek Gueldenzoph, dean of admissions at the college, in Northfield, Minn. “By this time last year, we had three-quarters of all our applications. The deadline’s Jan. 15. If what we’ve got now is three-quarters of what we’re going to get, we’re in big trouble. But if this turns out to be only half, we’ll be fine.”
Not all private colleges are reporting fewer applications this year. Even in the Midwest and Pennsylvania, where most colleges seem to have dwindling numbers, some are getting more applications than ever. Still, in a survey of 371 private institutions released last week by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, two-thirds said they were greatly concerned about preventing a decline in enrollment.
Getting exactly the right enrollment — always a tricky proposition — is especially crucial for small colleges with tuition-driven budgets. One case in point came last month, when Beloit College in Wisconsin announced it would eliminate about 40 positions because 36 fewer students than expected had enrolled. The college has about 1,300 students and gets three-quarters of its $55 million budget from tuition.
Admissions officers nationwide point to several possible reasons for the drop in applications. Some students have pared their college lists this year. Many more are looking at less-expensive state universities. Many institutions accepted more students under binding early-decision programs, and each such acceptance drains off an average of 8 to 10 regular-decision applications. And some experts suspect that students are delaying their college plans.
The deadline at most colleges is still a few weeks off, so a last-minute flood of applications could raise the numbers to last year’s level. But admissions officers say they are not counting on that.
“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I don’t remember a year when applications started out behind and didn’t end up behind,” said Steve Thomas, director of admissions at Colby College in Waterville, Me., where early-decision applications were higher than usual but regular applications are running about 14 percent behind.
At Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, where early-decision applications were up, regular applications are down about 15 percent, said Gail Sweezey, the director of admissions.
“One thing that’s happened this year is that there’s all this talk, and one-sided media stories, about how private colleges are unaffordable,” Ms. Sweezey said. “It’s become almost viral that there’s no loans, that schools are having problems. The truth is that a lot of private colleges have more financial aid available this year, but there’s lots of misinformation out there. And my guidance counselor friends tell me students may be applying to fewer places and turning to their state university, which will be at capacity.”
If some private colleges are grappling with the specter of too few applications, public universities and community colleges are having the opposite problem — more students at a time when their state financing is being slashed.
In California and Florida, some public institutions have been forced to cap enrollment. And even in states like Pennsylvania, where the number of high school graduates is declining, applications to public universities are growing.
“We have 47,971 applications as of now, compared to 45,760 at this time last year,” said Anne Rohrbach, executive director of undergraduate admissions at Pennsylvania State University. “We’ve been making offers since October, and we’ve already had 1,638 students say yes, compared to 1,096 at this time last year.”
Generally, Ivy League universities with generous aid packages to low- and middle-income families have as many applicants as ever — and even more applying for financial aid.
“We had 27,462 applications last year, and we’ve been running almost exactly on last year’s pace,” said William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions at Harvard College, which has eliminated early decision. “More students are applying for financial aid. It’s a significant increase, four full percentage points ahead of last year.”
Yale received 5,556 applications this year, 14 percent more than last year, for its nonbinding single-choice early action program, said Jeffrey Brenzel, the dean of admissions, who added that regular applications were running higher, too.
Dartmouth has more applications than ever, early and regular, as do Duke University, the University of Denver and the University of Rochester.
Jonathan Burdick, the dean of admissions and financial aid at Rochester, said the school’s reputation for generous merit aid helped draw applicants.
“This is a time when families may be looking at options that are less costly,” Mr. Burdick said. “There are a lot of families who may make $180,000 to $200,000 but can’t afford $50,000 a year and might apply to a Rochester, where merit aid this year can be as much as $14,000.”
Many selective private colleges say fewer applications are no problem.
“We’re down about 16 percent now, and I think we’ll be down 10 to 15 percent at the end, Jan. 1,” said Monica Inzer, the dean of admission and financial aid at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. “If our acceptance rate goes up a little, that’s O.K.”
Mark Hatch, vice president for enrollment management at Colorado College, said he expected to have about 5 percent fewer applicants this year and took a similar view.
“We admitted 26 percent last year, and if it’s 31 percent this year, we’ll make more people happy,” Mr. Hatch said. “I think the economic uncertainty has families, even families of means, telling their children to round out their college lists with state universities. This year, families want two safety nets, one for the first hurdle, admission, and one for affordability. Anecdotally, I’ve noticed a lot of parents this year listing their occupation as unemployed.”
At many colleges, financial aid requests are up significantly. At Connecticut College, for example, 42 percent of the accepted early-decision students applied for financial said, compared with 34 percent last year — and 36 percent qualified for aid, compared with 24 percent last year.
This has been a particularly difficult year for small private colleges that accept a majority of their applicants.
Stephen MacDonald, the president of Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., where applications are down about 15 percent, is taking steps to lure more students, including adding lacrosse for men and women and hiring a prominent coach, which he thinks will attract 20 to 25 students.
“We’ve also increased our scholarship award to children of alums, from $500, which is a nice gesture, to $2,500 a year, which is more than a gesture,” Mr. MacDonald said.
“We could still end up down 3 percent, which could sting,” he said. “This is a time when schools like ours, private liberal arts colleges that don’t have a big name, are in a potentially dangerous realm.”
By TAMAR LEWIN
NY Times
December 21, 2008

Private Student Loans Online

2008-12-16T17:18:00.003-05:00

Here are some general questions we get about Private Student Loans:

How much can I borrow?

Private student loans allows you to pay for education related expenses up to the cost of attendance. Certain annual limits may apply, and can vary by lender.

What proof of enrollment do I need to provide?

Proof of enrollment usually includes one of the following: a tuition bill, award letter or recent transcript that is no more than 90 days old from the college the loan is for. Documents must include the student's name, enrollment period, and name of the school. Enrollment period must include the enrollment period you provided on the loan request.

What are the different repayment options?

You have three options including deferment or repayment of interest only or interest and principle.

Full Deferral: No principal or interest payments due while enrolled in school (up to four or five consecutive years). Payment of principal and interest will usually begin 6 months either after graduation or if no longer enrolled at least half time. Interest will continue to accrue during the deferment period and will be capitalized (added to the loan balance) at the time of repayment.

Interest Only: Pay only accrued interest while enrolled in school (up to four or five consecutive years). Payment of principal and interest will begin after the loan is fully disbursed.

Immediate Repayment:Payment of principal and interest will begin after the student loan is fully disbursed.

How soon will I receive my funds?

Once you receive conditional approval, you will complete a promissory note and be required to submit documentation to verify the information on your application. If you return the requested documents quickly, you will receive your money soon afterward — it typically takes about 14 days but it can take as little as five business days after your conditional approval.

What is my interest rate?

The Interest rate is a combination of the LIBOR rate or the Prime rate, plus a margin. The margin is based on you and/or your cosigner's credit. The rate will fluctuate as the LIBOR or Prime rate changes. Applying with a credit worthy qualified cosigner may help you qualify for a lower rate.

LIBOR is an interest rate index used to determine the interest rate at which banks borrow funds from each other in the London Interbank market. It stands for the London Interbank Offered Rate. The Academic Answer product uses the current one-month LIBOR which can be found in the "Money Rates" section of the The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition).

The Prime rate is a "reference or base rate" that banks use to set the price or interest rate on many of their commercial loans and some of their consumer loan products. The prime rate tracks fairly closely with other short-term interest rates, such as the overnight federal funds rate.

Can I defer my payments while I'm in school?

Yes, you can typically defer your payments for up to 60 months as an undergrad student.

How is the interest rate calculated for the private student loan?

The variable interest rate is calculated by adding the current LIBOR or Prime rate to a margin.

Are there fees associated with the private student loan?

Based on your credit history, there may be fees associated with origination, disbursement or repayment. Fees can vary significantly by lender.

How much can I borrow with the private student loan?

The loan typically offers an annual maximum of the cost of attendance, as determined by your school.

Is there a grace period?

Yes. If you choose full deferment, payments do not have to start on the private student loan until six months after graduation or dropping below half-time status.

Is there a minimum monthly payment?

Yes. Once principle and interest payments begin, the minimum monthly payment is $50.

What expenses can the private student loan cover?

The private student loan can be used to cover education-related expenses including tuition, fees, books, living expenses, a new computer, etc.

Do I have to be enrolled at least half-time to receive a private student loan?

Yes. Borrowers must be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible and participating school in order to receive a private student loan.

Does your private student loan offer any discounts?

The student may be eligible for a 0.25% rate reduction, if the payments are automatically deducted from a personal bank account. Private student loan discounts vary by lender.

Is the interest tax-deductible?

Interest on student loans may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor or visit irs.gov for more information.

How long are repayment terms for a private student loan?

The standard repayment term is 15-25 years.

Top 5 Colleges Searched for on HowToGetIn.com

2008-12-15T09:26:00.004-05:00

In case anyone is interested, the most popular colleges based on visitor traffic on HowToGetIn.com are:

http://www.howtogetin.com/colleges/ohio-state-university-columbus/
http://www.howtogetin.com/colleges/university-of-florida-gainesville/
http://www.howtogetin.com/colleges/university-of-texas-at-austin/
http://www.howtogetin.com/colleges/george-washington-university
http://www.howtogetin.com/colleges/penn-state-university/

To search for your favorite college, can visit:

http://www.howtogetin.com/colleges/search/

Colleges Students Squeezed By Rising Costs, Less Aid (PBS Online NewsHour)

2008-12-11T08:08:00.000-05:00

"More college students and their families are struggling to afford tuition at public institutions due to increasing costs and state funding cuts in education and financial aid" PBS Online NewsHour reports. "John Tulenko of Learning Matters Television takes a look at the impact of rising higher education costs in the second of a two-part series."

You can read the complete November 9, 2008 PBS Online NewsHour article on-line.