The Fine Print on Student Loans

With the heavy debate over loans in class and for our group project, student loans top the charts of discussion. Loans, as a tool of public action, are something you must pay back or it defaults on the government. However, the WSJ clearly demonstrates the difference between student loans and mortgage loans. Finance experts see "good debt" as something that strengthens your financial position over time. However, good does not always mean easy. With student loans, if you are unable to pay you must be able to prove you cannot provide the minimal standard of living and you have provided a good faith effort to repay the loans. Student loans are considered good because of the low interest rates and flexible payment schedules; but they are not as easy as having a mortgage loan and just being able to hand the keys over when running into financial trouble.

http://blogs.wsj.com/hire-education/2010/10/15/the-fine-print-on-student-loans/

Michelle Watkins

Obama Pledges Aid To 2-Year Colleges

On Monday President Barack Obama announced his "Skills for America's Future" initiative. The aim of this is at increasing cohesion between community colleges and industry partners, at a meeting of the Economic Recovery Advisory Board. This initiative will use $2 billion over four years which will be taken from the controversial Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. The plan will create private partnerships and training programs in community colleges nationwide. Since the recession has placed such a burden on state and local budgets, community colleges have been forced to cap enrollments and scarp courses. Obama said, "Not only is that not right--I think it's not smart." A few corporations which Obama said will be participating in this program will include, McDonald's, Dap Inc., Accenture and United Technologies. The goal of this program is 5 million more community college graduates and certificates by 2020. This plan is definitely needed and extremely valuable. Education in America in the past years has declined and unemployment rates are at its peak. This plan could only help both of these crisis issues. Students with lower financial status and who are not able to attend public colleges and have the grades for four year colleges still deserve a chance and a some what equal chance to all other students; this plan will give these students the equal opportunity they deserve. Having 5 million more students with certificates rom 2 year colleges and actually graduated from these colleges is a huge impact from that of just $2 billion.

http://www.lsureveille.com/news/obama-pledges-aid-to-2-year-colleges-1.2354197

Indiana's financial aid rules squeeze older students

Similar to most all of America, the state of Indiana is struggling to come up with the money and resources in order to pursue the necessities of life. In this day and age attending college is essential to achieving the "American Dream". Unfortunatley the majority of college students cannot afford the high prices of tution. This obstacle is defined as a condition (see Birkland, chapter 5)- which can develop overtime into problems as people develop ways to address conditions. Because of financial aid, a larger and more diverse group of young people are now able to attend colleges at a more affordable rate. Although the main issue is solved, a new condition arrises: non-traditional students (over 25 years old) are now in need of financial aid in order to attend college. These students are currently unable to recieve a large amount of aid because they earn too much annual income to qualify. Many people are proposing to shift a bulk of the money from the traditional student fund. Do you think that this is a fair resolution? Should there be a more strict policy placed on the academic aspect of decision making?

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100908/NEWS04/9080333&odyssey=mod_mostview