Archive for February, 2008
If you’ve been following education news at all, you know that the Higher Education Act (HEA) has been pushed back and forth on the proverbial congressional plate for several years. Well, the House has just approved legislation to renew the HEA (finally!). That means it’s time for the Senate and House to get a compromise piece of legislation to President Bush. So, once the HEA does get renewed, what could that mean for those who are back in school, getting ready to launch a new career? Let’s run down the (non-exhaustive) list:
- The Department of Education (DOE) would have a lot more authority to regulate private student loans. The goal here is to protect students from the shady deals between lenders and colleges that we heard so much about last year.
- The period that the federal government uses to calculate the rate at which student loan borrowers default would be extended from two years to three, which is a boon for students. But the change won’t be implemented until 2012, and it will also raise some of the rates at which penalties against institutions with high rates kick in.
- The maximum Pell Grant would be $9,000 (up from $4,310 in 2007-2008). Students will also be allowed to receive Pell Grant funds year-round instead of just during the traditional academic year.
- The Academic Competitiveness Grant Program for low-income students would finally be available to part-time and certificate-seeking students.
- Textbook prices would be reined in some, since textbook publishers would be required to expand the information they provide to faculty members about pricing and changes from past editions, and colleges would put information about required books in their course schedules to help students shop for books more cost effectively.
- It would be easier for students to get information about their financial aid awards and to simplify the process of qualifying for federal financial aid in the first place. Isn’t it time the monstrous FAFSA was streamlined?
- Colleges would have to make more arrangements for their students to legally download movies and music in order to stop illegal peer-to-peer file sharing. This has been a hotly debated item; we’ll have to wait and see about the outcome on this one.
- Standards for teacher education programs would be stricter. Hey, we need good teachers, right?
- The DOE would publish lists of accredited institutions and accreditation agencies, which can help crack down on diploma mills–definitely good news for students in search of quality higher education.
Hopefully, the final piece of legislation will mean good news for all of us. We’ll keep you posted….
-Robyn Tellefsen
February 28th, 2008
Everyone knows that moving into a college dorm means freedom. It’s basically a time to do what you want according to your own rules (that don’t conflict with your RA, of course) and stay out as late as you want. But all of this partying can really hurt the main reason you’re at college - it can bring down your grades and hurt your chances of furthering your education.
Recently, there was an article in the Times about how SUNY Old Westbury requires students to maintain a 2.0 GPA in order to remain in student housing. It’s been controversial around campus because those that have dropped their GPAs have recently been kicked out of housing and forced to commute, making it easier for them to drop out of school entirely.
In a way, it’s unfair to not be able to have a chance to prove yourself and bring your GPA up. It would make more sense if there were a policy in place to give students some sort of warning, even though they are already aware of the policy. On the other hand, a student is in school to study and not to party. Although this may not seem like the real reason to the students, parents are not paying for their kids to party all the time - they’re paying for their kids’ education.
Every situation is different. Someone may just have a bad semester. Others may be slacking off. But rules are rules, and excuses can only go so far. That’s certainly evident at SUNY Old Westbury. College survival may be tough, but it’s certainly not impossible. So take advantage of the fact that you’re off at college and in a dorm room and consider yourself lucky. There are lots of people out there who don’t get the chance to do any of that so don’t mess it up!
-Amanda Fornecker
February 15th, 2008
Kermit the Frog used to say, “It’s not easy being green,” but at college it’s not easy staying in the pink of health!
Living miles away from home can spur some students into adopting unhealthy
lifestyles; sleeping becomes an option, the food pyramid becomes a polite suggestion, and instead of taking time to relax students are either partying or holed up in the library completing another 10-page term paper.
If you’re interested in staying healthy — and how could you not be? — you’ll have to take the steps to get there. That’s why we’ve compiled three basic tips for creating a healthy environment in college:
Get some shut-eye. While seven to eight hours is the recommended amount of sleep for a college student, you may find that your body requires more or less. The key is to find out how much sleep you really need and devise a schedule that’ll allow for it on a consistent basis. Try getting to sleep and waking up at the same time — whether it’s the weekend or weekday.
Eat right. A pizza or burger may be a go-to meal but that doesn’t make it a good hunger solution. Try prepping healthy meals in advance and bring brain-boosting snacks, like fruits or nuts, to lecture.
Learn to relax. While assignments will always be there and party invites will never stop coming, it’s a good idea to step away from the typical college experience for some rest and relaxation of your own. Take a long walk or join a sports club — you’ll both reduce your stress and increase your energy level.
For more info on staying healthy in college, check out the CollegeBound Network’s tips for fending and winning against college bugs.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
February 6th, 2008