Georgia Colleges- What to do when tuition may increase 70% or budgets are slashed

In order to balance the budget the state may have to cut up to $600 million from the budget of the state’s colleges and universities.  This may mean tuition hikes at Georgia’s college could range from 35 percent to 70 percent.  The budget reduction may also be passed off in the way of increased fees, staff reduction, caps on enrollment, programs being eliminated, or cuts in the number of hours facilities are open.  

Taking a proactive approach is a key.  Let’s look at a few examples and what can be done

• A student considering the nurse anesthetist program at Medical College of Georgia and is concerned that program may be cut.  Look at the Academic Common Market for states that may offer the program and pay in state tuition at an out of state school.  Go to the following link for more information-  http://home.sreb.org/acm/choosestate.aspx
• A student that is concerned that it may take a year or so longer to graduate because they can’t get the classes they need to graduate.  Pay attention to the 4, 5, and 6 year graduation rates at the colleges you are applying to.  Go to The Education Trust to find out the graduation rates-  http://www.collegeresults.org/
•  A student that is terrified that they may not get into UGA or Georgia Tech because of enrollment caps.  Cast a wider net in applying to colleges.  Consider schools that will fit the financial profile for the family and the student.  Schools that offer merit based or need based aid can lower the cost of college.      

College News and Views

College News and Views is a semi-monthly publication that was created to provide you with highlights on a variety of topics in the world of higher education.  If you would like to see additional topics or a greater emphasis on certain areas, just let us know.

Changes in the “No Loan” Programs for Colleges

In the last few weeks two colleges have announced that they can no longer continue the “No Loan” programs.  Williams College will drop the “No Loan” program and replace grants with loans.  Dartmouth College will drop the “No Loan” program for families with incomes greater than $75,000.  With an annual cost of $52,973 for Dartmouth and $49,880 for Williams College this means families will have to dig deeper in their pockets to pay for college.

The “No Loan” program started back in 2007 and 2008.  This was at a time when endowments were growing and there was criticism that colleges weren’t spending enough of their funds.  Then came a significant decline in the stock market and real estate values towards the latter part of 2008.  It appears that schools are now rethinking their financial aid policies and making adjustments. 

With two prominent colleges making this change, will others follow suit?  

More Students Majoring in Science

It looks like more and more students are going to college with plans to major in Science or Technology.  This may also be referred to as STEM fields which include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. 

A study completed by the Higher Education Research Institute also known as HERI showed that the graduation rates for STEM majors was much lower than their non-STEM classmates.  What’s alarming about the study is that students who start college in STEM fields have a lower graduation rate than those who start in all other areas of study whether the degree is in a STEM or non-STEM field.  The study is trying to determine what will actually work to help students with their graduation rate.

 Advanced Placement (AP) Scores on the Rise   

In the Collegeboard’s annual report the percentage of students scoring a 3 or more and attending public schools has increased from the previous year.  In 2008, 15.2% of high school graduates scored a 3 or more and in 2009 the percentage increased to 16%. 

The Advanced Placement program is administered by the Collegeboard.  The test scores range from a 1 to 5.  This program can allow high schools students to receive college credit.  A score of 3 or more can determine college success and readiness.

What’s the latest in the world of higher education?

$10,000 Tax Credit for Higher Education- In President Obama’s first State of the Union address he talked about his agenda in making higher education more affordable.  To make higher education a reality for many, a $10,000 higher-education tax credit for families may be part of their payment plan.  For those with existing student loans, debt forgiveness may be a possibility for people who have been repaying their college loans for at least 20 years.

Biggest Worry for College Freshman?- Approximately 2/3 of freshmen said they were either somewhat or very worried about their ability to finance their college educations. About 55% said they had “some” concerns about money and 11% indicated they had “major” concerns about paying for college.   

The survey was conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles.  The survey is called “The American Freshman: National Norms Fall 2009”.  This report has been in existence for 44 years and provides institutions with information about the demographic profile, perceptions, and mind-set of their incoming freshmen classes.  For more information on the survey, go to http://www.heri.ucla.edu/

Why Do Students Drop Out?- Seventy-one percent of those surveyed who had quit college said that work was a factor in the decision, and more than half said it was a major factor. About 35 percent of those who dropped out said they had tried to balance work and study, and found it too stressful.

A report was produced by Public Agenda, a nonpartisan nonprofit research group, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  More information can be found at the following link- http://www.publicagenda.org/theirwholelivesaheadofthem

Part Time Students account for close to 40 percent of undergraduates in the country—and those who have to work generally do not do as well as their full time counterparts.

College News and Views

College News and Views is a semi-monthly publication that was created to provide you with highlights on a variety of topics in the world of higher education.  If you would like to see additional topics or a greater emphasis on certain areas, just let us know.

University of California students protest 32 percent tuition increase 

Imagine a 32% increase in tuition costs!  The California Board of Regents instituted a 32% increase due to the budget crisis in the state. 

Protesting students and others say the increased tuition will hurt working and middle-class students who benefit from state-funded education. But officials argue that a fee increase and deep cuts in school spending are necessary because of a persistent budget crisis that has forced reductions across California’s state government. 

Hundreds of Thousands Claimed $532M in Excess College Tax Credits 

The Hope tax credit is designed to help middle class families pay for college — but not this much. A Treasury Department Audit found that several hundred thousand taxpayers sought credit in 2006 and 2007 for more than half a billion dollars more than they were supposed to by claiming the tax credit for a third or even a fourth year; it is limited by statute to two years. The agency’s inspector general for tax administration found that the IRS system is not set up to flag taxpayers who seek the credit for more than two years, and that agency officials lack the ability to disallow claims for Hope credits because of “math errors.” The audit recommends that the IRS be given that authority. The Hope credit was significantly expanded for 2009 and 2010 as part of the federal economic stimulus package. 

Managing the College Admissions Process

With the downturn in the US economy, what are colleges doing to manage the number of students enrolled and financial aid awarded.  Take a look at the results of the NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) survey.   

Admissions Strategies for 2009 and planned for 2010

WES iGPA (International Grade Point Average) Calculator- for Students

Do you need to convert your GPA to the 4.0 scale used in the US?  Knowing your GPA is the simplest way to learn how you compare to others when you apply to study in the United States. Colleges and universities want to evaluate your grades based on the 4.0 GPA scale.  Go to: http://www.wes.org/students/igpacalc.asp to use the calculator.

College News and Views

College News and Views is a semi-monthly publication that was created to provide you with highlights on a variety of topics in the world of higher education.  Here are some of the latest items of interest:  

 The Start of Tuition Discounting and the Current State

How did this discounting get started?  Some believe the high tuition, high aid model creates a Chivas Regal effect. So named for a high-priced Scotch whiskey, the Chivas effect suggests that people weighing the merits of two similar institutions will tend to think the more expensive one is superior. There’s also a compelling case to be made that students and their families are apt to attend high-discount institutions because they’re flattered by the offer of aid and perceive the large discount as a good deal.

Between the early 1990s and 2007, average tuition discounts for first-time freshmen grew from 27 percent to 39 percent, according to the National Association of College and University Business Officers. While there’s no survey data available for 2009, many college presidents say they offered even larger discounts this year — convinced that it was necessary to double down at a time when affordability was such a concern for families.

Report from the AASCU Urges Colleges to Emphasize Math, Science, and International Studies

A new report by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.titled “Leadership for Challenging Times,” is the result of a yearlong study by the association’s Presidential Leadership and Global Competitiveness commission, which consisted of 13 college presidents. It highlights some of the challenges that American higher education faces, including declining student interest in math and science, weaknesses in elementary and secondary math and science education, and the increasing cost of college.

The report also said that americans ages 25 to 34 are less educated, on average, than their parents’ generation, and are less likely than their predecessors to earn degrees in science, technology, and mathematics.

New CLEP (College Level Examination Program) classes

A few months ago, CLEP launched two new exams: College Composition and College Composition Modular. At the same time, three CLEP exams will be retired:

• English Composition with Essay will be replaced by College Composition
• English Composition will be replaced by College Composition Modular.
• Freshman College Composition will be replaced by College Composition Modular.

Both of the new examinations will assess writing skills taught in most first-year college composition courses.

College Composition includes multiple-choice items and two mandatory essays scored by CLEP. College English faculty from throughout the country score the essays via an online scoring system.

College Composition Modular includes a multiple-choice section that may be supplemented either with an essay section provided by CLEP and scored by the college, or an essay section provided and scored by the college. This exam is intended for colleges that want a valid, reliable multiple-choice assessment and greater local control over the direct writing assessment.