This week in Higher Education news: Rumors of possible midyear tuition hikes surfaced, only to be squashed by University and state board officials; the University announced it does not plan to raise tuition rates or ad surcharge fees within this academic year. University Senate met for the second time this year to discuss pressing issues such as the possible unionization of University faculty and problems surrounding University general counsel and the Chancellor’s involvement in attempting to become their sole employer.
Here are a few stories that didn’t make print:
One aspect of University Senate that was not brought to light in the actual article was ASUO Sen. Emma Newman’s presentation on improving campus communication. Newman spoke on an initiative that aims to enhance communication between remote parts of campus. Expect to hear more about this initiative in coming weeks.
A recent poll taken by Demos and Young Invincibles, two research and advocacy groups, shows that young adults are finding student debt to be unmanageable. Approximately three out of every four respondents said that college had become harder to afford in the past five years, and that graduates bore unmanageable amounts of student-loan debt. Many respondents also commented on the state of the economy as well as the fact that congress needs to focus on creating more jobs. More details here.
This morning, the state board of education (OUS) announced its enrollment (headcount) in fall 2011 has increased by 3.5 percent over fall 2010 to 100,316 students, an increase of 3,356 students, and the first time OUS has exceeded 100,000 students for overall enrollment. This is a five-year increase of 23.8 percent, and is the largest five-year growth in 40 years for OUS. To download the official fall 2011 enrollment fact sheets, go here.
Many reporters have covered the athletics side of the recent Penn State sex abuse scandal, yet many have overlooked the academic side that now affects the university. Along with the removal of President Graham B. Spanier by the school’s board of trustees, the U.S. Department of Education announced on Wednesday that it will be investigating into whether Penn State violated a federal law known as the Clery Act. The Clery Act requires colleges to disclose information about crimes on their campuses and to warn students and employees of threats to their safety. More details here.