http://trivalleycentral.com/articles/2012/08/21/casa_grande_dispatch/top_stories/doc5033b47b6b6d5936267988.txt
Monday is the first day of the school year for Metropolitan State University of Denver, a compact, urban campus in the heart of the city’s downtown. It also signifies the dawn of a controversial new policy for this institution of 24,000. Among the crowd of students who will show up for class next week are dozens of illegal immigrants who, as part of a specially tailored tuition rate, can now qualify for a reduced fee if they live in Colorado.Read more at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/18/us/denver-college-policy-aids-illegal-immigrants.html?_r=1
High unemployment and battered household finances have colleges working harder to tie their classroom offerings to job offers. From creating courses to accommodate a new industry to customizing a curriculum to a specific employer’s hiring criteria, schools are pushing to narrow the gap between academia and the real world. It’s a long-running trend that has accelerated during the recession and limp recovery, at a time when many employers refuse to hire candidates without the exact skills needed for a position. Read more at:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/19/v-fullstory/2958784/colleges-offer-more-courses-aimed.html
They're the new 1 percenters. Keep that figure in mind the next time you read or hear stories about students who graduated from college with six-figure debt. Those borrowers who have loaded up on $100,000 or more in college-related debt represent extreme situations, according to research from Mark Kantrowitz, represent less than 1 percent of students who graduate from college withdebt exceeding $100,000. The average undergrad actually leaves college with a more affordable amount of debt, about $27,000. Read more at:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-08-13/features/sns-201208131600--tms--kidmoneyctnsr-a20120813-20120813_1_student-loan-debt-college-financial-aid-mark-kantrowitz
A shooting that left three dead in College Station on Monday did not occur on the campus of Texas A&M University or involve members of the A&M community. Yet in headlines around the country, it is being referred to as the "Texas A&M shooting." With new students scheduled to move into A&M's residence halls on Sunday, this has left the university with a bit of a public relations problem that officials are scrambling to rectify. Read more at:
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/m-trying-distance-itself-shooting-incident/
It's easy to understand why schools may look for what might appear to be quick and easy answers in the wake of tragedies. But Marisa Randazzo, a consultant and former chief research psychologist for the U.S. Secret Service, says many self-proclaimed experts are peddling models that are unproven at best. "Campus threat assessment became a hot industry," Randazzo says. "And there are some folks out there who are very savvy marketers and have really played up on fears ... selling training that is not provided by qualified trainers." Threat assessment teams also continue to be bogged down by questions of exactly what to report and when. Federal law now requires schools and therapists to report immediate threats to police. But what about someone who may fall just below that threshold, engaging in something an observer might describe just as "disturbing behavior"? Read more at:
http://www.npr.org/2012/08/08/158429624/to-prevent-a-tragedy-how-much-can-a-school-do
With tuition costs surging, the weak employment growth weighs heavily on cash-strapped families. And while the frenzied scramble to get into an elite school still dominates senior year for many strivers, those footing the bill are taking an increasingly hard-nosed, consumer-oriented approach to their child's higher education. Parents are pushing their student into certain majors, vetoing others and advocating for in-state schools over more expensive status brands. They're grilling administrators on job placement rates and alumni networks. In short, they are demanding a better return on their hefty investment than ever before. Read more at:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-college-major-20120806,0,5577504.story?dssReturn
A recent study by the research group Ipsos and the student loan giant, Sallie Mae, shows that approximately 70 percent of families are eliminating college choices based on cost. More students are also now choosing to enroll in community colleges, which is often the most affordable option. This fall, Emily will be a transfer student at Northern Arizona University, which costs only about a third of the cost of the University of Vermont. "I loved it and it is a shame that I can't go back again in the fall," she says. "But then again, I have to look on the bright side of things, I'll be saving a lot of money." Read more at:
http://www.npr.org/2012/08/02/157657475/families-make-big-changes-to-pay-for-college
State Farm is pulling its ads from Penn State football broadcasts, while General Motors is reconsidering its sponsorship deal and Wall Street is threatening to downgrade the school's credit rating. State Farm had no immediate information on how much money is at stake. With Penn State's once-sterling reputation in tatters, the university could face an exodus of sponsors unwilling to have their brands linked to scandal. Read more at:
http://www.boston.com/news/education/articles/2012/07/24/ncaa_slams_penn_state_fines_it_60_million/
The New York Times has published its most current edition of the Education Life Supplement, a compilation of recent articles - both in depth and light - about what's happening in higher education. This edition contatins articles on an experiment in community college education, using big data on campus, startup incubators, the Theirl Fellowship, merit aid, internships, MOOCs, adult education and more. Find it at:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/education/edlife/index.html?ref=us
I am the Associate University Librarian for Research and Instructional Services at Temple University.
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