Know Where the Candidates Stand on Student Aid

The election of our new president is almost a year away, but we hear something from the candidates every day on the news, in the newspaper or on the Web.

Student financial aid seems to be a topic on the minds of many of the candidates, as it is on yours. While campaign promises don't always lead to a change in policy, they do at least give us a glimpse into what a candidate might be thinking on a particular topic.

Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of the Web site finaid.org, has compiled a list of the presidential candidates' (both Democrat and Republican) positions and promises on student aid issues. This comprehensive, non-partisan document also provides direct links to the candidates' Web sites.

If you want to know more about where candidates stand on issues that impact you and your students, this is a great starting point.

Presidential Candidates' Student Aid Proposals

NewSource Hits the Newsstands!

A survey of student engagement at community colleges nationwide reveals what's unique about these students, what services they use most, and how to better engage them in their studies. Plus, learn about some of the latest scams and fraud schemes out there, and how you can help your students avoid them. And find out the 10 most popular languages studied on U.S. campuses.

New Web Site for Student Loan Borrowers

The National Consumer Law Center and the Project on Student Debt recently launched a new Web site for people who already have student loans and want to know more about their options and rights., The Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project (SLBA) is a resource for borrowers, their families, and advocates representing student loan borrowers.

According to the Web site, “SLBA is focused on providing information about student loan rights and responsibilities for borrowers and advocates. SLBA also seeks to increase public understanding of student lending issues and to identify policy solutions to promote access to education, lessen student debt burdens, and make loan repayment more manageable.”

Student Loan Borrower Assistance

Introducing “Swirling”

Here is a new word to add to your student aid glossary:

swirling
n. achieving a higher education degree via enrollment at two or more institutions, either simultaneously or consecutively.

- Definition in Double-Tongued Dictionary (records undocumented or under-documented words from the fringes of English, with a focus on slang, jargon, and new words.)

Apparently, the word has been around for a few years, but usage seems to be growing.

A 2005 study by the National Center for Education Statistics showed that 59 percent of bachelor's degree recipients had attended more than one institution, up from 49 percent two decades ago.

Some students take community college courses while attending a state university; others enroll at one institution and then transfer to another because of financial, personal or family issues. These students are swirling.

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