Sample Issue of Collegiate Reporter

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COLLEGIATE REPORTER - January 10, 2005
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o Editorial: Affording College
o Study Shows College Loan Debt Doubling Since 1992
o FBI Increases Presence on College Campuses
o On-Campus Student Workers Spared from Tax Increase
o Today's Students Show More Interest in Government
o Debate Begins on LSAT Scores & Financial Aid Availability
o Being Bi-Lingual Can Help Students Find a Job
o Curriculum Reviews Threaten Federal Funding for International Studies
o The Lighter Side... 
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o Editorial: Affording College

It looks like today's college graduates are leaving school with a wealth of knowledge -- but it comes at
a price.

Debt levels for the average college graduate have roughly doubled over the last 12 years, according to
a new study reviewed recently in The Dixie Sun, the student newspaper of Dixie State College of Utah.
(Full story is first in the lineup, below).

According to the paper, the survey -- from a public interest research group -- shows that in the year 2000,
some 64 percent of college graduates carried a debt load approaching $17,000. This dollar amount is up
nearly double over comparable student-debt figures from the year 1992. 

Just as interesting as the spike in the amount borrowed, however, is the fact that more students are
borrowing to pay for their education. The article cites statistics from 2000 that show that nearly 65 percent
of students borrowed to finance their education, versus 49 percent in 1993.

These increases, coupled with the fact that students are getting ever-more-creative with ways to pay for
their education (Translation: "Charge It!") make for a scary confluence of events. A perfect storm of education
finance, if you will, where more students graduate with more debt than ever before, and they begin to employ
any number of strategies to make all the numbers add up. Until they graduate, that is, and then the numbers
are "real."

While the issue of ever-increasing university tuitions and how schools can combat them can be debated ad
nauseam, the real issue here is financial education. What can companies and organizations in this space -- 
colleges and universities included -- do to ensure that each borrower fully understands their debt obligations
and its scope?

By working with the students they serve, and keeping students educated about their own financial decisions,
these organizations can at least lessen some of the sticker shock that comes in the mail in that first bill after
graduation.

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o College Loan Debt Nearly Doubles Since 1992

With the cost of a college education increasing each year, most students take out loans to help finance their
education and other costs associated with college. The problem that has arisen is that students are not their
controlling expenses, and are actually borrowing more each year to cover their growing expenses. Whether
they borrow money via a bank loan or by use of a credit card, this leaves many of them with an ever-increasing amount of debt which they eventually have to pay off. In fact, according to this article, "39 percent of student
borrowers leave school with unmanageable debt levels, meaning that their monthly payments are more than 8
percent of their monthly incomes." This slippery slope will continue unless more students take advice from experts
and learn how to manage their debt.

Source: https://sun.dixie.edu/index.php?pg=story&storyid=914
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o FBI Increases Presence on College Campuses

In an effort to prevent any terrorist attacks on college campuses, or other so-called "soft targets", the FBI has begun
to increase its presence on college campuses. While the FBI is by no means appearing on every campus, there is a growing presence at colleges and universities, which concerns both the schools and their students about the issue
of privacy. The schools say they fear for their students' rights and protecting their own interests as well. While most schools have been cooperating with the FBI in the interest of security, some have compromised by creating policies
on how the FBI visits are handled.

Source: https://www.theguardsman.com/20041215/opinions.html#Anti
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o On-Campus Student Workers Spared Increase in Taxes

Most college students on financial aid work part-time (less than 40 hours) to supplement the money they receive for their education. Traditionally, students employed on campus at their college have been exempt from paying Social Security and Medicare taxes (payroll taxes.) The IRS was considering changing the regulations and imposing new taxes on students working on campus, but that has recently gone by the wayside. Most students are thrilled with the decision to leave things as is, except for Medical students who, by the nature of their job, work more than 40 hours and are considered full-time and so they must pay the taxes. This will most certainly be appealed in hopes of getting a fairer decision that will affect all students the same, graduate or otherwise. 

Source: https://www.ucsdguardian.org/cgi-bin/news?art=2005_01_06_03
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o Students Take More Interest in Government and Politics Than in the Past

College-age students have traditionally been absent from the voting booths of America. Their lack of interest in politics and government has given them little reason to show up on Election Day. This past November, however, that all changed. According to a Harvard Institue of Politics survey back in October, 87 percent of students were registered to vote. Chalk some of it up to better efforts by the schools to promote registration and to celebrity efforts such as "Rock the Vote" to elevate the cause, but that's not all of it. Students today seem more interested in government and politics than they were in the past. Only time will tell if this is an upward trend, but at least it is headed in the right direction. 

Source: https://www.fsunews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/05/41db3b6d12b7e
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o Debate Begins on LSAT Scores' Relationship With Financial Aid Availability

A recent study of pre-law advisers has opened up a debate as to whether or not LSAT scores influence the financial aid package students receive. According to the survey, they do, but according to the schools, aid is based on need not merit. Whatever the case may be, it is interesting to note that more schools are considering "using merit-based scholarships to entice a more selective student body." This allows the schools to find better-quality applicants which, ultimately, may lead to obtaining a better ranking in publications that compare law schools. 

Source: https://www.theticker.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/12/06/41bf6da372d1d
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o Being Bi-lingual Can Help Students Find a Job

In an increasingly multicultural society, and a workforce that reflects that, being bi-lingual is very useful. Students who speak more than one language often have an edge over other applicants when applying for a job. Employers today want an employee who is not only able to get along and communicate with other employees, but one who is also able to do the same with clients in other countries. In particular, employers are looking for qualified, Spanish-speaking students to place in jobs in industry fields like banking, business, and government jobs. The good news is that more students interested in a second language are studying Spanish, since it is the second most-used language among speakers of more than one language. 

Source: https://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/06/41dd3218e76e1
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o Curriculum Reviews Could Change Federal Funding for International Studies Centers

There are 17 Middle East Centers and 118 International Studies Centers at colleges and universities across the U.S. and they all receive Federal funding money called Title VI money. Currently, there is little oversight of the curriculum taught at these Centers, but that may soon change. The government may soon become more involved in controlling the curriculum if the schools want to continue to receive money. The problem is that most courses in these Centers seem to be one-sided and critical of U.S. foreign policy. Critics of the curriculum say that funding should be given only to those Centers willing to offer a more patriotic and balanced view of the U.S. and its policies. While academic institutions depend on government support to run these Centers, many are upset about the government interfering with their "academic freedom."

Source: https://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/news/2004/12/09/News/Govt-Threatens.To.Control.Curriculum-826135.shtml
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o The Lighter Side: 

* Gossip is a Favorite Pastime of Students:
https://www.technicianonline.com/story.php?id=010763

* Dartmouth and Oxford Named to "World's Most Enduring Institutions" List:
https://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=2005010601040

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