 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
"Some college administrators seem so distracted with fund raising, academic infighting, and community initiatives that they set up their emergency communications departments very poorly. Training is poor to nonexistent, secretaries are pressed into service with tremendous responsibilities for running 'notification systems' 24/7 and on weekends because no one else knows how to do it and the administration won’t pay for additional staff. Procedures are seat-of-the-pants and dependent on HIPPO (highest paid person’s opinion), except when something like Virginia Tech happens and there is some sort of scramble to do something different." --Donna
Most Colleges Avoid Risk Management, Report Says
Jill Biden Shines a Global Spotlight on American Community Colleges
Speaking at a Unesco conference in Paris, the vice president’s wife stressed the importance of two-year institutions to the nation’s educational goals.
Connecticut Public Colleges Lose 200 Professors to Early Retirement
Administrators are scrambling to plug holes in their course schedules for fall, with most expecting to do so by hiring more adjuncts or increasing class sizes.
U. of Georgia Paid 2 Fraternities $2.4-Million to Relocate, Contracts Show
The two were among five with houses on property where the university plans to build new academic facilities.
New Allegations in Admissions Controversy at U. of Illinois Suggest Ex-Provost Played a Role
Linda P.B. Katehi, the incoming chancellor of the University of California at Davis, has insisted she knew nothing of the admission of politically connected applicants at Illinois.
Sonoma State U. Foundation May Lose $350,000 on Loan to Former Board Member
The foundation will be forced to issue fewer scholarships in the 2010-11 academic year because of a diminished endowment, a university official said.
College Suspends Student for Working in Gay Pornography | 58
President Obama's Visit to Notre Dame Carries Barely a Hint of Controversy That Preceded It | 58
Drug Sting Nabs 21 Students at U. of Illinois | 57
Faculty Members and Union Protest Staff Layoffs at Temple U. as 'Cruel' | 57
North Dakota Board's Vote Puts 'Fighting Sioux' Mascot on Thinner Ice | 57
Athletics
Community Colleges
Government & Politics
Information Technology
International
Money & Management
Northern Illinois
Research & Books
Short Subjects
Students
The Faculty
Prior days' news: By date | Search
This week's print issue
Back issues: By date | Search
June 19, 2008
House Approves Spending Bill That Would Expand GI Benefits
Washington — After a relatively brief debate, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation tonight that would significantly expand tuition benefits for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The tuition benefits are included in a domestic-spending package that was added to a larger bill that would provide $162-billion to finance the wars well into next year — sparing Congress the need to vote on war spending again before the November elections. Lawmakers approved the war money by a vote of 268 to 155, the Associated Press reported. They voted separately on the domestic-spending package, and approved it overwhelmingly, 416 to 12.
The combined legislation, which is based on a compromise reached between House members and the White House, now goes to the Senate, which is expected to vote on it next week.
Under the tuition-benefits measure, veterans who have served in the military for at least three years since September 11, 2001, could receive up to the full cost of a four-year education at a public college, plus a monthly stipend for housing and funds for books and supplies.
President Bush and other Republicans — including Sen. John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee for president — had opposed the educational provisions in previous versions of the bill because they feared that offering the benefits after three years of service would discourage service members from re-enlisting.
Under the compromise legislation, members of Congress agreed to add a provision, sought by Republicans, that would allow service members to transfer their educational benefits to their spouses and children. Service members could make such a transfer to their spouses only after having completed six years of service and committing to serving in the military for at least four more years. Benefits could be transferred to children only after a service member completed 10 years of service.
Senator McCain released a statement on Thursday indicating that he now supports the provision expanding educational benefits for veterans since it includes the language on transferring benefits. “I believe that its inclusion in this bill will help maintain retention levels in all the Services where it needs to be for the well being of the all-volunteer force and our nation,” he said.
Other domestic-spending measures in the bill include $2.6-billion in disaster aid for areas in the Midwest that are experiencing catastrophic flooding, and $5.8-billion that Mr. Bush sought for flood-control projects around New Orleans. The educational benefits for veterans are projected to cost more than $60-billion over 10 years. —Sara Hebel
Posted on Thursday June 19, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
Previous: Longtime President of SUNY-Stony Brook Will Retire
Next: Texas Universities Accuse U.S. of Violating Agreement on Border Fence
Seems like a good compromise. Veterans will receive better benefits and troops in harm’s way will be better protected, we hope.
— Gustavo A. Mellander Jun 20, 08:22 AM #