Late last year, the University of Vermont announced it will shut down two dozen academic programs with low enrollment. Geology, religion, and Asian studies are on the chopping block, along with several language programs–Greek, Latin, and German. At least three departments will close Religion, Classics, and Geology. Some minors are being eliminated–Theatre and Vermont Studies. … Read more
Adults are going back to school for lots of different reasons these days, including career changes, keeping up with developments in their field, learning new skills, and personal enrichment. At many colleges, students may be senior executives, retirees, or working moms. Going back to school when you’re older, whether it’s to get an advanced degree, … Read more
As reported by the Star Tribune a couple of weeks ago, the University of Minnesota will not accept new students into many of its liberal arts programs in the fall of 2021. The university is stopping admission in twelve programs, including history, political science, theater arts, and gender studies. New enrollments will be limited to … Read more
By Richard Fossey & Todd A. DeMitchell As Inside Higher Education reported last spring, college students in several states sued their universities for tuition refunds after the schools switched from face-to-face instruction to an online format in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of cases have been filed all over the United States against both … Read more
Colleges of Education have been higher education’s cash cows for more than half a century, but the cash cows have gotten sick. Fifty years ago, the education schools were packed with undergraduates–mostly young women–working on their bachelor’s degrees in elementary education. Many of them wanted to spend their careers teaching children, and others chose to … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, My enrollment for college stemmed from filling out online job applications for numerous attempts to gaining employment. I was bombarded by college recruiters and eventually signed up with Argosy University online. I was still attending Argosy at the time they closed and then was talked into transferring to South University online as … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I attended college 0ver 10 years ago. I would like to enroll in college as a freshman. I looked into ASU which has an earned admissions program and was advised I would still need transcripts from the previous college. I explained that I want to start as a freshman that the prev … Read more
Low-income students can’t work their way through college anymore. That’s the conclusion drawn by the Education Trust in a recently released report authored by Andrew Nichols, Marshall Anthony, Jr., and Oliver Schak. “Students from low-income backgrounds should be able to attend college without shouldering a debt burden or having to work so many hours that … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Can a college still withhold your transcript if the debt has been passed on to a debt collector? Cat Answer: Dear Cat, If the debt is still owed I don’t see why not. The transcript is held as collateral until the debt is satisfied. One way to release the transcript is to … Read more
The University of Phoenix (UOP) and its parent company, Apollo Education Group, will settle for a record $191 million to resolve Federal Trade Commission charges that they used deceptive advertisements that falsely touted their relationships and job opportunities with companies such as AT&T, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Twitter, and The American Red Cross. Under the settlement unanimously … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I was suspended from school but still need to pay tuition. Spring 2019 was my set date to graduate, unfortunately, in Fall of 2018 I left on a study abroad trip with my class and was involved in something something along the lines as I was at the wrong place at the … Read more
Like blind hogs rooting for acorns, America’s universities and their associated vendors constantly seek ways to snuffle out cash from hapless college students. Here’s a fine example of what I’m talking about. Amazon charged Amelia San Filippo, a sophomore at the University of Delaware, a $3,800 fee for failing to return a rented textbook on … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I have 110 credits at Brooklyn College but can’t get my transcripts released due to owing 10,000 (due to health problems!). They sent it to a collection agency, so I can’t even do a payment plan. What do you advise? Should I fight the actual debt and pay a lawyer, would filing … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I owe university, need my official transcripts to apply for a professional license. University has sent the debt to collection agency. After my bankruptcy is filed/discharged will the school have to release my official transcript and actual diploma? Pamela Answer: Dear Pamela, If the debt is owed to the school directly, then … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I attended my freshman year at South Eastern University, I then left the school for 1 1/2 years for military obligation. I returned and registered for a semester but did not attend. I never stepped foot on campus nor did I attempt any coursework. I am now trying to obtain my transcript … Read more