Just as students were headed back to campuses in southeastern Texas in late August, Hurricane Harvey struck. Many higher ed institutions evacuated students, delayed classes and extended deadlines for class registration and tuition payments. As is common in the aftermath of a major storm, colleges that had minimal damage stepped up with disaster-relief supplies and […]
While most institutions use financial aid systems to award and distribute regular financial aid, that isn't always the case with emergency aid. Usually, each student's situation must be evaluated to determine whether emergency financial help is warranted and if so, at what level. That process isn't always built into the standard financial aid system—so institutions […]
A recent heavy rainstorm flooded an apartment complex near Central Michigan University, displacing a number of students. Several had nowhere else to stay. To the rescue: Central Michigan's Student Emergency Fund, a financial reserve provided by private donors to help students manage unexpected emergencies such as illness, death of relatives, eviction or medical bills. "The […]
Private college leaders want to collaborate more closely on issues of access and affordability—but federal antitrust laws prevent institutions from even having discussion about them. "They can't discuss price or principles of financial aid," says Sarah Flanagan, VP of government relations and policy development at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), which […]
Dual enrollment is designed to increase access and degree attainment. In fact, a 2007 study found that 67 percent of dual-enrollment students enrolled in college after high school (compared to 50 percent of their peers), with 30 percent earning an associate's degree along with their high school diploma. Yet students often experience barriers to enrollment. […]
As the term "free college" draws applicants and ever-more media attention, states, cities and colleges are learning the realities of these large-scale aid programs. In Oregon, due to an $8 million deficit in state appropriations for its $40 million Promise program, only 4 out of 5 eligible students (recent high school grads and GED holders) […]
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA—Jairy Hunter's introduction to higher ed came when he failed to land a starting position on the football team at Wingate University in North Carolina. That setback led the former high school state champion to drop out only a year later and enlist in the Army. After finishing his military service, he found […]
What is Jenzabar seeing in the higher ed market in terms of the best approaches to technology improvements and changes? Many schools are running solutions that are 25 to 35 years old. They're realizing that their current solutions constrain them and are unable to keep pace with their technology needs. Colleges are beginning to review […]
Higher education is in the midst of significant changes, including in the areas of technology infrastructure and strategy. Moving to the cloud, updating or automating business processes and incorporating data-driven decision making can dramatically benefit the institution, but campus leaders can run the risk of overlooking a crucial component to ensuring any technology strategy is […]
Reducing student financial aid packages based on scholarship funding from outside sources, a common practice, will no longer happen at public colleges in Maryland. Because of legislation passed in July, a student's financial aid package can not be reduced unless the student's total financial aid exceeds college costs or the scholarship provider gives permission. Central Scholarship, […]
