College News and Views 120509
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
| Strategy | Publics | Privates |
| Admitting more applicants | 62.2% | 68.7% |
| Admitting more applicants through ED or EA | 15.6% | 30.8% |
| Adding a waiting list for the first time | 16.7% | 3.0% |
| Compiled a longer waiting list | 20.0% | 23.2% |
| Accepted more students-waiting list | 15.6% | 22.7% |
| Extended usual deadline | 27.8% | 18.7% |
| Increased deferred admissions offers | 15.6% | 7.6% |
| Awarded larger grants | 36.7% | 60.1% |
| Offered grants to more students | 50.0% | 53.0% |
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.
Tags: American Opportunity Tax Credit, College Admissions, College Grants, Financial Aid Information, GPA Calculator, Hope Tax Credit, International GPA Calculator, IRS Tax Breaks, Tuiton Hike, Wait List, Waitlisted for college