Have you ever wondered how students who take online classes celebrate their graduation from college or university? If you’re thinking that everyone logs on to a website at a prescribed time to view a cyber event, you’d probably be correct. Yet, the University of Phoenix (UP) has taken a broader approach — they invited all of their grads to Phoenix to attend graduation ceremonies in person.

Although most students have never met each other, the thousands of newly conferred UP grads and their families traveled to Phoenix, Arizona last weekend to attend ceremonies that were held on Friday and Saturday at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Graduates of  UP and two affiliated schools, Axia College and Western International University, were in attendance at one of four ceremonies with 3651 students taking part. This number is only a small portion of the 59,566 students who were awarded degrees, but is an amazing feat considering the disconnect to a physical campus that most students have (some students take classes locally at various learning centers established by UP).

At the ceremonies, the university conferred 753 associate’s degrees, 1,266 bachelor’s degrees, 1,451 master’s degrees and 180 doctoral degrees. For those students unable to attend the Arizona ceremonies, the university set up a live link to each event. Students from all fifty states were represented in this year’s graduating class with 32 countries in all included.

As of May 31, 2008, 345,300 students were enrolled at UP, making the school the largest private university in North America. UP serves a diverse student population, offering associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.

The university has set up a special page on their website to allow friends and family members to send cyber congratulations to the grads they know.

(Source: University of Phoenix)

Project Working Mom 2 is a joint effort of Penn Foster College and eLearners.com, the second phase of a project that awarded $2 million in scholarships to some of the more than 50,000 applicants that applied during its initial phase. Project Working Mom 2 plans to grant another $2 million in scholarships to working moms, just in time for the back-to-school season. The deadline to apply for a scholarship at www.projectworkingmom.com is August 31.

“Penn Foster College has been providing an affordable, accessible alternative to traditional college education for over 30 years,” said Richard R. Ferrin, President of Penn Foster College, adding, “this scholarship program is a great opportunity for some working moms to receive a college education at no cost.”

“When we launched the first Project Working Mom campaign, we had no idea that the need and aspiration of working moms to advance their education was so enormous,” said Terrence Thomas, EVP Marketing Operations at EducationDynamics. “The sheer volume of the applicants and the heart wrenching essays demonstrated a national imperative to support working moms to better their lives and the lives of their families.”

Project Working Mom is all about helping women overcome important barriers including time, money and their personal confidence to earn a degree. Visitors to www.projectworkingmom.com can find a comprehensive interactive website with online education resources, profiles of working moms going to school online, and a community of women sharing their educational journey.

As part of this initiative, Penn Foster College is offering full-ride college scholarships for 20 different associate degree programs in several fields including healthcare, business, criminal justice, education and technology. A complete list of Penn Foster College’s programs can be found at www.pennfostercollege.edu. To apply for the scholarships, working moms submit a short application and an essay with their life, education and/or career goals, and explain how an online education will allow them to achieve those goals at www.projectworkingmom.com. The recipients will be announced this September.

Penn Foster College was founded in 1890 as the International Correspondence School (ICS) adding a college in 1976 and changing its name when the school moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona in 2006. eLearners.com is a leader in online education, connecting students to providers since it was founded in 1999. The site offers useful tools and financial aid information to prospective and current students.

Lately, college students have received some good news when it was revealed that the interest rates for various college lending options has actually dropped. For example, the federal student loan program, called Stafford Loans, is leading the way by dropping from 6.8% to 6% effective July 1^st for their subsidized loans, a particular type of loan available for all students, but often favored by those with a low-income.

Over the next three years subsidized Stafford loan rates will continue to drop until they bottom out at a rate of 3.4%. These rates apply to newly written loans, but not for loans previously issued. Unsubsidized student loans will continue to carry the 6.8% rate.

Students who have already completed their education and are in the process of paying off their student loans have received some welcome news too. Specifically, those students with federally guaranteed student loans issued before July 2007 are learning that now is an excellent time to consider consolidating their loans under the government’s Direct Loan program.

If former students consolidate their loans before the next rate change kicks in, they’ll pay a fixed rate of just 4.2% for the life of the loan. This is down significantly from the most recent 7.2% figure thanks to rate cuts made the Federal Reserve Bank over the past year.

Grads who fail to take action will continue to see their rates adjusted annually, depending on market conditions. Clearly, for people who want to get a handle on their debt, consolidating now makes sense.

For students taking out private student loans, there is good news for them too. Annual borrowing limits have been raised to $45,000 and rates with various lenders remains competitive. Just as they are with Stafford Loans, payments are deferred until after you graduate, allowing you to concentrate on getting good grades and finding the right job.

Lastly, the amount of money qualifying students can get from a Pell Grant for the coming school year has been raised to $4731, a $421 boost over the previous year. Federal Pell Grants are based on a family’s financial need and because they are a grant, the monies are not paid back.

Yes, the cost of getting a higher education continues to rise, but thanks to changing market conditions loan plans and other assistance options is making college more affordable for millions of Americans.

(Source: Los Angeles Times)

American military personnel who have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are getting a heap of thanks from this country due to an important overhaul of the GI Bill signed into law by President Bush late last month. For the first time since the initial bill was enacted in 1944, significant changes have been put into place, updates which will make it easier for returning veterans and their families to benefit from their service to this country.

Key provisions of the Post-9/11 GI Bill include the following important points:

• All service personnel who have been active since September 10, 2001 and/or who have been honorably discharged are eligible to participate.

• A housing provision of up to $2600 per month is now included for retired military personnel.

• An increase in tuition assistance kicks in; a yearly books and supplies stipend payable to the student of $1000 is also included (active duty personnel are not eligible to receive this benefit). A one time payment of $500 is given for people who must relocate from a rural area to attend school.

• Under certain conditions, benefits can be transferred to spouses and to their dependent children.

Provisions of the new bill do not kick in until August 1, 2009, with various benefit percentages granted depending on their length of service from September 10, 2001 on. Ex-military members are eligible to receive benefits for 15 years from their last period of active duty of at least 90 days.

The changes to the GI Bill have long been in the making, ending several years of frustration on the part of advocates who called for the end of partisan wrangling and for the passage of the bill. Some states and private colleges are already developing plans to offer in-state tuition rates or discounts to eligible students ahead of the August 1, 2009 start date or other incentives to attract new students.

(Source: www.gibill.va.gov)

]]> http://www.saycampuslife.com/2008/07/21/gi-bill-overhaul-a-boon-to-returning-veterans/feed/ http://www.saycampuslife.com/2008/07/20/college-planning-tasks-week-of-july-20/ http://www.saycampuslife.com/2008/07/20/college-planning-tasks-week-of-july-20/#comments Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:02:43 +0000 Krayton M Davis http://www.saycampuslife.com/?p=254
Summer Requirements Before College

Getting Ready for School

School Registration:

Your college should notify you on important registration dates and requirements for first-time students. In you haven’t received anything, or need clarification on some items, check with your college admissions office.

Class Registration:

Many colleges have online or mail-in class registration. Check your class requirements.

Some colleges may allow credit for online courses sponsored by other colleges. This will give you the flexibility to arrange your schedule. Again, check with your admission’s office.

Get ready:

You need to “make-your-home” away from home. That means packing and gathering a few things.

Download our FREE “Off-to-College” Checklist of moving items you should consider taking to school: click to download moving checklist

Getting There:

You need to arrange your move to college. Will you be driving, taking the train or bus, or flying? Need to make those important travel arrangements

With colleges getting back in session during the months of August and September, your summer respite is about to come to an end. Soon, you’ll be buckling down and studying in an attempt to complete an important research project, term paper, or prepare for midterm exams. You’re one step closer to realizing your goal of obtaining a degree, something you know will make a significant difference in your life.

Of course, before you head back to school, you’ll want to take inventory of what you need to bring with you. If you’re a returning student, you’ll need to freshen your supplies, but if you are a new college student, you’ll have to start from scratch.

Your campus bookstore will have just about everything but if you plan to only shop there you’ll be paying a significant mark up on most inventory. Instead, consider starting your shopping now in a bid to find what you need at discounted prices. With careful planning, you can save hundreds of dollars on supplies this academic year.

The following are five ways we’ve identified on just how you can save money on school supplies this year:

Office Supply Stores — All of the large office supply stores make a pitch for consumer dollars by offering “back to school” sales on many of the items you will be needing. Paper, pencils, pens, notebooks, pads, and much more are sold at a loss to get you into their store. Many other items are also on sale including big ticket goods such as a printer, laptop computer, wireless equipment, cell phones, you name it.

Big Box Retailers — Not to be pushed to the side by office supply retailers, your WalMart, K-Mart, Target, and other big retailers will often slash their prices too as their effort to woo you in.

Online Merchants — Amazon, eBay, eCampus, and other retailers want your business. In some cases you’ll get free shipping on your discounted order, especially if you hit a certain spending threshold. Otherwise, you should still receive discounted shipping avoiding the need to head to the mall or to your retail outlet.

Second Hand Is An Option — You may not know what textbooks you’ll be needing just yet, but when you do hit the internet and search for that title online. Whereas the campus bookstore might want $110 for that literary tome, you might be able to find it for $60 or much less if it is used. Check online classified sites such as Craigslist, Kijii, Oodle, and Backpage to see what is for sale in your area or what can be shipped to you from afar. Use Paypal to pay and secure your transactions.

Thrift Stores and More — If your supply requirements go beyond study supplies, including furniture for your off-campus room, consider visiting your local thrift or consignment shop for bargains. These days, many consumers are hitting second hand shops in a bid to save money as the price of food, medicine, gas, and household goods rises faster than the rate of inflation.

You’re paying plenty of money to get a college education. Saving money on important supplies is not only wise, but a simple task to do. Use your internet connection to search for bargains everywhere.

Right now, the NBA requires all high school graduates to wait one year before turning pro and be at least 19 years old. During the time that they wait, colleges hope that student athletes will stay around long enough to help the school win a conference title, perhaps even a national championship.

One problem with that scenario is not every athlete has the grades in order to qualify for college. Brandon Jennings, a standout point guard from Southern California, is one such student. Though committed to attending the University of Arizona this Fall, one of his SAT scores was too low. After retaking the test and before the result has been announced, Jennings has decided to skip college and plans to spend the next year playing in Europe instead.

Jennings situation is a rarity as most talented student athletes choose to follow the NBA guidelines and play at least one year on the college level. While there, NBA teams can assess whether the player has what it takes to compete professionally, something difficult to figure out when their only competition is on the high school level.

If Jennings fails to qualify academically, his decision to play in Europe will be a smart one, though there is always the risk that a career ending injury will send him home early. On the other hand, the sooner he turns professional, the quicker he’ll get paid, monies that will easily outstrip an athletic scholarship to a prestigious university.

(Source: Sporting News, ESPN)

We all know that car theft remains a persistent problem, an issue that overwhelms some police departments particularly in urban areas. For college students who must rely on personal transportation, having a car on hand is convenient, but is fraught with risks. Finding parking can be a challenge, paying for gas and upkeep gets expensive, and securing your ride from thieves can be daunting.

That old 1994 Nissan Sentra your mother handed down to you when she bought herself a new car may not seem like something that thieves would want, but a survey by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB) reveals that a ‘94 Sentra is a favorite for thieves. The reason? Not for its value as a complete car, rather for the worth of its individual parts.

For the past two years the most stolen vehicles in the nation were:

  2007 Ranking                   2006 Ranking

1. 1995 Honda Civic                    1. 1995 Honda Civic

2. 1991 Honda Accord                   2. 1991 Honda Accord

3. 1989 Toyota Camry                   3. 1989 Toyota Camry

4. 1997 Ford F-150 Series Pickup       4. 1997 Ford F-150 Series Pickup

5. 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup      5. 2005 Dodge Ram Pickup

6. 1994 Acura Integra                  6. 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup

7. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup               7. 1994 Nissan Sentra

8. 1994 Nissan Sentra                  8. 1994 Dodge Caravan

9. 1988 Toyota Pickup                  9. 1994 Saturn SL

10. 2007 Toyota Corolla                10. 1990 Acura Integra

The NICB study (HotWheels 2008) confirms that theft of older model vehicles has remained constant for the past several years. Thieves continue to target these vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen vehicle parts.

But the news isn’t completely grim when it comes to car theft. The FBI’s preliminary Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data shows that motor vehicle theft is headed for an 8.9% decrease in 2007; that data will be finalized later this year.

The NICB advises that all motorists consider employing several methods to combat car theft from the commonsensical (lock your car doors and take the keys with you) to the more aggressive which includes installing warning and tracking devices, even an immobilizing device which would prevent someone from starting it.

Students who live on campus should contact their school’s security force to find out which lots on campus are the most vulnerable for car theft. For students living off campus, a call to the local police department should reveal which neighborhoods are particularly at risk.

(Source: http://www.nicb.org)

The Spoils Go To Georgia Tech And To Virginia Tech

Atlanta’s Georgia Tech fielded the highest scoring graduate team while Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, VA, took undergraduate team honors.

NASA’s contest asked students to create a future subsonic transport aircraft with a load capacity of up to 50,000 pounds, operate on runways between 1,500 and 3,000 feet long, and cruise at speeds between 595 and 625 mph - about the average speed of airliners today. Significantly, the competition stressed that concept planes should use alternative fuels and be quieter and more environmentally friendly than today’s commercial fleet.

The Need For Environmentally Friendly Aircraft

“The nation’s air transportation system is under tremendous pressure to increase performance and capacity without causing additional damage to the environment,” said Juan Alonso, director of the Fundamental Aeronautics Program. “Through competitions such as this, we are nurturing a new generation of engineers who can deliver the solutions we so desperately need.”

Contest judges graded each design on criteria which included creativity and imagination, feasibility and cost analysis, and comprehensive discussion of design concept.

“The invention, imagination and engineering exhibited in these college proposals was extraordinary, and in parts superior to the concepts prevalent in the current professional literature. These entries bode well for the future of civilian aeronautics,” said Dennis Bushnell, chief scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. Bushnell was one of several NASA experts who judged the competition.

What The Winners Received

Six U.S. students received a 10-week paid summer internship at one of four NASA research centers around the country while non-U.S. student winners received an engraved trophy and certificate. Next year’s competition, which is already being planned, will be announced by the end of this summer.

A complete list of winners of the college contest can be found at: http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/

For more information about NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, visit: http://aeronautics.nasa.gov/

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/

(Source: NASA)

Consumer Group Uncovers A Secret Agreement

A consumer group by the name of the Consumer Warning Network (CWN) has discovered that Florida State University (FSU) recently made a secret agreement with the Bank of America to disclose confidential information about students to the bank in exchange for a financial benefit. The bank was given an exclusive right to contact students and share with them a special deal using FSU’s official colors and symbols.

The CWN obtained a copy of a contract between the Seminole Boosters, FSU’s athletic fundraising arm, and the bank. The contract, which was endorsed by the university in a side letter, was supposed to remain confidential.

$10 Million Over Seven Years

Under the contract’s terms, the university receives a percentage of every dollar charged by university students and alumni, with a guaranteed payout of over $10 million for seven years. The money aids the Seminole Boosters who use these funds to pay the salaries of its coaches.

Besides sharing confidential information with the bank, the terms the students would face if they chose to accept Bank of America credit cards, are not particularly favorable with higher interest rates charged compared to non-student credit cards.

FSU Students Are Bothered By The Allegations

Students on campus were troubled by their school’s role in the deal. “It’s like they’re setting us up for failure,” said Yari Alpizar, a freshman from Marathon, Florida. “I don’t think they should be allowed to do this. It’s an invasion of privacy.”

The Consumer Warning Network is website launched by a team of former Federal Prosecutors, Investigative Journalists and former FBI Agents working together to expose fraud and educate the public on consumer issues. The report can be read on the organizations website at http://www.consumerwarningnetwork.com

(Source: Consumer Warning Network)