By Jorge Campos |Staff Writer| Millions of students who don’t file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) miss out on thousands of dollars every year, according to Mark Kantrowitz, senior vice president and publisher of edvisors.com. U.S. high school graduates left about $2.9 billion in free federal grant money behind last academic school year by not completing their FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education awards an average of $150 billion a year in grants, work study funds, and low interest loans to more than 15 million students, according to studentaid.ed.gov. However, in 2011-2012 an average of two million high school graduates did not file their FAFSA and in … [Read more...] about Students neglect FAFSA money
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Obama proposes free community college
By Jorge Campos |Staff Writer| President Barack Obama has officially proposed to make community colleges “virtually free” for anybody who is willing to work for it. This economical help will only benefit students who graduate high school with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. His plan, the “America’s College Promise”, will encourage students to maintain good grades and reach for a high school diploma. “Given that this is Obama’s final State of the Union Address, it was likely that he was trying to define his presidential legacy with this speech. In theory, it is of course a good idea but if it increases national debt then I would give the plan a second look,” said CSUSB’s Political Science … [Read more...] about Obama proposes free community college
GEAR UP receives financial support
By Jorge Campos |Staff Writer| The U.S. Department of Education awarded funds to the CSUSB GEAR UP program. The grant provides $14.2 million, which will be used for tutoring, mentoring, college visits, and workshops for middle and high school students. The GEAR UP program is also working with the San Bernardino City Unified School District to provide services for eight middle schools and six high schools. GEAR UP has helped low income middle and high school students attend college by providing six-year grants to states and partnerships. In the past, GEAR UP strived to help middle school students get on the right track to success and is now being awarded a total of $82 … [Read more...] about GEAR UP receives financial support
Ex-cons get a second chance with new education program
By Yara Del Rio-Dominguez |Staff Writer| CSUSB’s Correctional Education department has been awarded a grant and has currently received $5.8 million in aid for the planning and implementation of a re-entry program. The program helps promote the safe and successful reintegration of recently incarcerated or detained individuals into the community through using evidence based practices designed to help reduce the risk of re-offending. Participants then must enroll in their court-mandated courses such as anger management and substance abuse. Parolees are addressed as “students” in the program and are also encouraged to sign up for mandated courses, many of whom enroll in G.E.D. … [Read more...] about Ex-cons get a second chance with new education program
Murillo elected Chairman of the Board
By Omar Guzman |Staff Writer| CSUSB’s financial aid is in the hands of newly elected chair of the Edfund Board of Directors, Dr. Enrique G. Murillo Jr. Edfund is a non-profit public-benefit auxiliary organization that works alongside with California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) which administers all activities associated with participation in the federal student loan program. “My responsibilities and commitment are to maintain high quality, uninterrupted services for the groups we serve,” said Murillo. In August of 2010 the U.S. Department of Education selected Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) to assume the responsibilities such as federal student loans. Now … [Read more...] about Murillo elected Chairman of the Board
Fulbright encourages exploration
By Eric Sanchez |Staff Writer| Harriet Fulbright, wife of the late Sen. J. William Fulbright (D-Ark.) discussed the origins of the Fulbright Program and the importance of studying abroad at the SMSU Event Center on April 27. The Fulbright Program is a government-funded, international educational exchange that awards approximately 8,000 grants to students and faculty researchers annually to study abroad, according to its website. Her lecture began with a video about her husband’s life and why he looked for ways to bring people together on an international level. The video also documented how he laid the legislative framework for the United Nations. Fulbright urged students to study … [Read more...] about Fulbright encourages exploration