This summer, colleges and universities will have to comply with a new federal rule and not withhold students' transcripts over unpaid tuition and fees.
North Dakota officials see the movement as a boost to people pursuing new job skills. The U.S. Education Department said starting July 1, higher-ed institutions cannot refuse to turn over transcripts related to any course paid for by federal student loans or grants, which are sometimes prompted by overdue book fees or other school debt.
Lisa Johnson, vice chancellor of academic and student affairs for the North Dakota University System, said for a person looking to re-enroll or apply for a new job, overcoming such obstacles can be huge.
"If we're trying to attract returning adults, individuals who have 'stopped out,' this really has to be a part of your focus and the broader array of policies and procedures that we look at," Johnson contended.
North Dakota's system is not designed to issue partial transcripts. Johnson expects the state to honor releases for all situations involving an outstanding balance. A formal vote is expected this spring. She noted campuses would still have leeway to prevent a student from seeking new courses at their school over fears they would be taking on too much additional debt.
In those cases, Johnson pointed out a student can try to work with the campus on a repayment plan, or seek out opportunities at other schools, including certificate programs which may cost less. She added some North Dakota schools are exploring other ways to ease debt issues.
"Campuses are having preliminary discussions about waiving low levels of outstanding debt," Johnson emphasized. "Things like parking tickets."
Beyond wiping out minor balances, she noted schools within the North Dakota system are being proactive in working with former students looking to pay off their debt. She said it is better than relying on collection agencies tacking on additional fees and putting students in a more difficult spot.
Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.
get more stories like this via email
State data first reported by EdSource show that fraudsters have stolen more than $7.5 million in student financial aid from California community colleges so far this year.
The theft amounts to less than one-tenth of 1% of student aid awarded in the Golden State.
Victor DeVore, dean of student services with the San Diego Community College District, said they use technology to flag suspicious applicants, and require them to submit proof of identity and residency, but it's still a game of cat and mouse.
"Last year, we had about 10,000 fraudulent applications that we blocked," said DeVore. "But even with that, every time we have some kind of metric or filter, the fraudsters are able to get through that."
The California Community College Chancellor's office says about 25% of applications are flagged as suspected fraud, up from 20% two years ago - as both fraud and its detection get more sophisticated.
The problem got worse during COVID as so many classes went online, making it difficult to require students to get financial aid checks in person.
The financial fraud means less money goes to students in need.
But Nicole Albo-Lopez, vice chancellor of educational programs and institutional effectiveness with the Los Angeles Community College District, said the enrollment fraud that goes with it has real consequences.
"The biggest frustration is when our classes are being filled by individuals that have no intention of actually attending the class," said Albo-Lopez, "keeping students from completing their educational goals within a preferred time frame, because they'll have to wait a semester or two to be able to take that class."
Many schools now require students to meet via zoom with staff trained to detect fraud - and they drop students who haven't verified their identity a few weeks before classes start.
Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.
get more stories like this via email
Educators across the state are watching the University of North Texas, as the school denies it overstepped the parameters of Senate Bill 17.
The legislation went into effect in January and forbids public colleges and universities from having Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices and programs.
The accusations were made after UNT faculty members realized the university changed course titles and class descriptions.
Brian Evans, Ph.D, president of the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors - said they first noticed the changes in May.
"You had about a couple of hundred of fall course syllabi that the UNT administration required instructors to scrub words like class, equity, and race," said Evans. "And then more recently - in October - the UNT administration censored over 200 courses in a similar way."
During a faculty senate meeting, UNT Provost Michael McPherson said the changes were not related to SB 17, but were an exercise to bring the College of Education into alignment with standardized testing.
Evans' organization, along with two other education groups, sent letters of concern to the university. He added that UNT administrators crossed a huge red line when they unilaterally censored course content.
"It appears that the UNT administration is doing the opposite of what Senate Bill 17 is saying," said Evans. "Senate Bill 17 was not about curriculum. Senate Bill 17 was about employment practices."
The groups want university administrators to reverse what they call the "scrubbing" of curriculum, stop censoring the professors work, and involve educators in any future changes to course work.
get more stories like this via email
Maine's College of the Atlantic has once again topped the Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges.
The Bar Harbor-based school has been recognized as the nation's "greenest" nine years in a row, based on student surveys regarding administration, student support and conservation efforts.
Rob Levin, dean of communications for the college, said the school's location between Acadia National Park and Frenchman Bay draws students looking to channel their environmental passions.
"Sustainability is really at the heart of this pedagogy," Levin explained. "It underlies so much of what we do here at COA and why students choose to come here."
Levin pointed out the school is reducing its carbon footprint with construction of a new dormitory and academic center, both built with sustainable materials. College of the Atlantic was the first school in the U.S. to achieve carbon-neutrality in 2007 and is working to be completely fossil fuel free by 2030.
The school's system of inclusive governance was also a factor in the school's top "green" ranking. The population of 360 full-time students are highly involved in campus policymaking, as well as day-to-day campus operations.
Levin noted students have laid insulation in at least 10 campus buildings and worked on alternative heating and cooling systems, which has already led to a 50% reduction in fossil fuel use over the past three years.
"Engaging students in a real way in campus decision-making can create a very productive channel for institutional change while also providing meaningful, valuable educational experiences," Levin emphasized.
Levin stressed students have been crucial in school initiatives to use nontoxic cleaning products, boost recycling and composting programs and phase out single-use plastic. All undergraduate students receive a self-designed degree in human ecology, which focuses on the connection between humans and their environment.
get more stories like this via email