Uncertain Finances Threaten Community Colleges’ Ability to Help Meet Obama’s Graduation Goal
Chronicle of Higher Education – Oct. 27
The recession has hit community colleges hard, and the sector’s financial fortunes are unlikely to improve soon, according to a report on a new survey of state community-college directors…The report. “Uncertain Recovery: Access and Funding Issues in Public Higher Education,” is being released today by the Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama. A majority of the state directors who responded to the survey said they have not planned for the end of the federal stimulus money that has been used to avert state budget cuts to education. As a consequence, tuition is expected to continue to increase as state budgets are cut and create access problems for students…An overwhelming majority of respondents predicted that the lack of state revenues will be a major budget challenge, and budget gaps are predicted in three of four states next year. The end of the federal stimulus money is expected to result in operating budget cuts in 21 states next year. “There is a lot of uncertainty across the states,” said Stephen G. Katsinas, a professor of higher education and director of the Education Policy Center and co-author of the report. “At the same time, there has been little long-term planning. The primary strategy appears to be: Pray, and hope for a state-revenue rebound.” Among the strategies respondents said they planned to use to close budget gaps include across-the-board cuts, deferring maintenance, program cuts, restrictions on out-of-state travel, furloughs, and layoffs…Half of respondents said their community colleges have sufficient capacity to serve current and projected numbers of older returning adult students, but nearly as many did not. Eighteen states, including the four mentioned above, said they did not expect to have the capacity. “This ‘tidal wave’ of students knocking at the door for access to postsecondary education programs and services will occur whether or not public postsecondary institutions are funded to serve them,” Mr. Katsinas said.
Inside Higher Ed – Oct. 27
Birmingham News – Oct. 27 (print edition only)
SGA hotline to help students register
Crimson White – Oct. 27
Every weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Student Government Association will host a help hotline for students looking for clarification about how to register for classes. To access the hotline, students should call 348-8401…The program began on Oct. 26, the first day undergraduate students were allowed to register for classes, and will run through Nov. 9. The hotline will not be in operation Oct. 29 due to fall break…
BamaBikes keeps students trekking
Crimson White – Oct. 27
BamaBikes has been providing students with the opportunity to rent campus transportation since 2006. For $10, students can register with the BamaBikes program to rent bicycles for an entire year…Regions Bank recently donated 25 new bikes to support the BamaBikes initiative. Haynie added the donation process got started through connections among individuals from Regions and the UA Outdoor Rec. “[One of my co-workers] mentioned to one of the bank managers at Regions about the BamaBikes program in which we rent out bikes for commuting around campus,” Haynie said. “So, he thought about the idea of donating some of their green bikes that they have in their commercials to our cause.” Haynie and the bank manager then started to communicate before the University Office of Advancement came in to assist in creating an official request letter. There was a donation ceremony held in front of the Rec Center, where Regions presented the 25 new, green bikes. The donation was Regions is a part of the Regions Bank Build A Better Bank Bike Tour…
Slide in EPA Clean Water Criminal Enforcement Continues Under Obama
New York Times – Oct. 25
Criminal enforcement of federal water-pollution laws has continued a more than decadelong slide under the Obama administration, despite pledged improvements, according to U.S. EPA data. The government reported 32 new Clean Water Act convictions during the fiscal year that ended in September, down from 42 in 2009. The number of criminal water pollution cases initiated by the agency fell from 28 last year to 21 this year…The numbers indicate that the Obama administration so far has been unable to reverse a trend that started under President George W. Bush, when EPA criminal enforcement activity dropped in conjunction with a 27 percent cut to U.S. EPA’s overall budget, said William Andreen, an environmental law professor at the University of Alabama. “There is plenty of work to be done in enforcement,” said Andreen…Andreen noted that conviction statistics do not necessarily measure the effectiveness of criminal enforcement efforts… Andreen hesitated to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the new administration or current EPA leadership, noting that any recent reforms, no matter how effective, may take more time to bear fruit. “This may reflect both the number as well as the quality of some of the cases that were opened in prior years,” Andreen said. “But it is ample reason to keep a close eye on EPA’s efforts to rejuvenate criminal enforcement of the Clean Water Act.”
Early start helps build work force
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 27
…The conference, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, Tuscaloosa’s One Place, United Way’s Success by Six, the University of Alabama College of Human and Environmental Science, the Tuscaloosa city and county schools and the Business Council of Alabama, was funded in part by a grant from the Alabama Partnership for Children…
Julia’s market now offers online ordering
Crimson White – Oct. 27
There is now an easier way to order a sandwich through Julia’s Market in Tutwiler. Julia’s now has a link under the student tab in myBama for online ordering during Julia’s operating hours. “The online service is available to anyone,” said Kelsey Faust, marketing manager for Bama Dining. “Students, faculty, staff and the local community can go to bamadining.webfood.com, create a new user account and place their order.”…
Storm doesn’t dampen Greek trick-or-treat
Crimson White – Oct. 27
Clouds filled the sky Tuesday night, but it did not stop hundreds of little feet from running down sorority row to participate in sorority row’s annual trick-or-treat event…Megan Hayes, a member of the Alabama Panhellenic Council’s executive board and director of the event said that last year there was a turnout of about 800 people. She said she was glad the weather didn’t stop people from coming out…
Exotic food tasting samples world cultures
Crimson White – Oct. 27
…The Critical Languages Center is hosting its annual Exotic Food Tasting Tour from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in B.B. Comer Hall Room 200…Anyone planning to attend must bring a minimum of a $6 donation to B.B. Comer to get a ticket, or “passport.” The CLC recommends getting your passport as early as possible in the day because there are a limited number available…With 14 different countries being represented this afternoon, the tasting is an opportunity for students to learn more about these programs and many of the cultures they represent…
Candlelight vigil honors domestic abuse victims
Crimson White – Oct. 27
A candlelight vigil will be held tonight at 6 at Denny Chimes in commemoration of Dating and Domestic Violence Awareness month…This year, Caneeka Miller, a UA alum and poet, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony. Miller has released a book of poetry about relationships and domestic violence, Perez-Fisher said. Miller will focus on being a secondary victim of domestic violence…