Obama NC college economy in ruins, Tuition up, Healthcare almost doubled, Unemployment up, UNCG and A&T student cancellations, No college & no jobs
“The hikes have forced more students to take on extra jobs to pay for school, or drop out altogether.”
“The state mandates that at least 25 percent of the money from the tuition dollars go toward financial aid for needy students. Some board members recently have spoken out about that requirement, saying it essentially calls for students, who themselves may be struggling, to subsidize the education of other students.”…Greensboro News record February 11, 2012
“The cost of health insurance will climb from a range of $61 to $77 monthly to a range of $118 to $133 monthly, according to a memo sent from UNC President Tom Ross to the UNC Board of Governors. On an annual basis, most students will pay about $500 to $700 more in 2012-13, depending on the campus.”
“Mallette said the insurance increases are due to the health care usage of UNC system students during the past couple of years, plus federal regulations on preventive care and pharmacy services issued in March. The process is complicated, he said, by the new provisions of the Affordable Care Act.”…Charlotte Observer May 1, 2012
“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011
Michelle Obama spoke at UNCG a few weeks ago.
“It means all of our kids should be able to go to college without a mountain of debt.”
“Because of this reform, our children can stay on our insurance until they’re 26 years old. (Applause.) So they don’t have to lose their health care when they graduate and they’re out there looking for a job, trying to build their lives.”
“I want you to tell them how many jobs he created. Tell them how much money he’s put back in the pockets of American people. You can tell them that more of our kids can afford college;”
Obama lies versus Obama reality.
From the front page of the Greensboro News & Record August 20, 2012.
“Registration cancellations rising at UNCG, A&T”
“UNCG about two weeks ago canceled the registrations of about 1,300 students because they had yet to pay their tuition bills — the highest number of cancellations since fall 2009, university officials said.
N.C. A&T is also seeing an increase in the number of students facing cancellation. The schools’ officials attribute their numbers to a variety of factors, including tuition increases and cuts and other changes in state and federal financial aid programs.
“Every lost soul is unacceptable to me, and it really hurts when we have to cancel that many registrations,” said Steve Roberson, UNCG dean of undergraduate studies.
By Friday, UNCG had managed to whittle that number to just 500, according to preliminary data.
But administrators are concerned about the large number of students who are having trouble paying this year.
UNCG Vice Provost Alan Boyette said recently that some students ran into problems because they did not apply for financial aid on time, or their financial aid had not yet been packaged. So, he expected that initial number would be reduced.
He said enrollment this year is “really unpredictable.” The university is gauging payments and registration on a near daily basis to get a feel for what the final number will be, he said.
“We think the timing is clearly related to the current economy,” Boyette said of the number of students paying late.
Sarah Carrigan, UNCG director of institutional research, said Friday that UNCG canceled 1,300 student registrations between July 31 and Aug. 8.
That’s an increase of about 500 over last year at that same time, she said.
As of Friday, about 800 of those students had paid to register again, Carrigan said.
A&T has also had a slight increase in the number of students who risk having their registrations canceled, said Akua Matherson, the university interim associate vice chancellor for enrollment management.
As of late Friday afternoon, the university was scheduled to cancel the registrations of 541 students, Matherson said.
That’s a 2.5 percent increase from last year, she said.
Those students had until the close of business Friday to make some kind of arrangement to keep their registration.
Staff from both universities spent much of the summer reaching out to students who were eligible to return to school but had not registered to find out what their problems are and to offer solutions.
More than 80 percent of A&T students qualify for need-based aid. Staff members have talked to families whose financial situations have changed, such as one parent losing a job.
“Some of our students are looking at some real challenges,” Matherson said.
Deborah Tollefson, UNCG financial aid director, has heard similar stories of parents’ stretched incomes.
She said that counselors steer students away from private loans.
Instead, they inform them of such options as federal loans, part-time campus employment and tuition payment plans if they are having trouble paying.
Tollefson said that UNCG has received a lot of late financial aid applications this year. Students who didn’t have to take out loans two or three years ago are now having to but are unfamiliar with the process, she said.
A&T had 10,590 students enrolled as of Wednesday, the first day of classes.
UNCG’s latest enrollment figures showed an enrollment of 17,800. Students there start classes today.”
http://www.news-record.com/content/2012/08/20/article/registration_cancellations_rising_at_uncg_at
With the Obama economic plan we get higher tuition, much higher health care costs and higher unemployment.
From Citizen Wells February 12, 2012.
“Amid chants of protest from about 100 students, the UNC Board of Governors this morning approved President Tom Ross’ proposal for tuition and
fee hikes over the next two years.
Ross’ plan would raise tuition by an average of 8.8 percent across the system and keeps increases below 10 percent on every campus.”
“Today’s vote caps months of intense debate over tuition, which the system has used in recent years to help make up for legislative cuts to its budget. The
hikes have forced more students to take on extra jobs to pay for school, or drop out altogether.”
“The state mandates that at least 25 percent of the money from the tuition dollars go toward financial aid for needy students. Some board members recently have spoken out about that requirement, saying it essentially calls for students, who themselves may be struggling, to subsidize the education of other students.”
I have met and talked with many college students. Recently a UNCG student, who is struggling to support his family and attend school, confided in me that the recent tuition and health care increases (mandatory health care insurance almost doubled) could force him to leave school.
From Citizen Wells May 2, 2012.
“The UNC system began requiring students to be covered by health insurance in the fall of 2010. Students must either prove that they have their own insurance or buy a plan offered by the UNC system. Before that, 11 campuses required insurance; rates and coverage varied significantly among the schools.
On top of rising tuition and fees, those UNC system students who buy the university-sponsored health insurance plan will face steep premium increases in the next academic year.
The cost of health insurance will climb from a range of $61 to $77 monthly to a range of $118 to $133 monthly, according to a memo sent from UNC President Tom Ross to the UNC Board of Governors. On an annual basis, most students will pay about $500 to $700 more in 2012-13, depending on the campus.”
“Mallette said the insurance increases are due to the health care usage of UNC system students during the past couple of years, plus federal regulations on preventive care and pharmacy services issued in March. The process is complicated, he said, by the new provisions of the Affordable Care Act.”
From Citizen Wells July 27, 2012.
“Unemployment Rates Increase in 84 Counties in June”
“North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 9.9 percent in June. This was a 0.4 of a percentage-point increase from May’s revised rate of 9.5 percent, and a 1.0 percentage-point decrease over the year.
Over the month, the unemployment rate increased in 84 counties, decreased in 11 and remained the same in five. Thirty-nine counties had unemployment rates at or below the state’s 9.9 percent rate.”
“Guilford County, containing both Greensboro and High Point had an increase from 9.6 to 10.3 percent.”
Citizen WElls 