In today’s headlines, President Obama has dropped his plans to effectively end 529 college savings accounts, part of his tax reform plan announced last week in the State of the Union address. Inside Higher Ed reports on a new survey from the Council for Aid to Education that found charitable donations to colleges reached an all-time high of nearly $38 billion last year, and the Los Angeles Times looks at Cal State’s plans to improve graduation rates. These stories and more below:
Obama Relents on Proposal to End ‘529’ College Savings Plans
The New York Times (Jan. 27, 2015)
Deep-Pocket Donors
Inside Higher Ed (Jan. 28, 2015)
Cal State Chancellor Sets Goals for Improved Graduation Rates
Los Angeles Times (sub. req.) (Jan. 27, 2015)
Botching Sexual-Assault Complaints Is Costly, Study Finds
The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) (Jan. 28, 2015)
Louisiana Governor Considers Cuts to College Fund He Pushed to Create
The Shreveport Times (LA) (Jan. 27, 2015)
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Headlines from the Past Week
Tuesday, Jan. 27
The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Bowdoin College has named Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Rose as its new president. The Wall Street Journal looks at a new study from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center that found the number of STEM bachelor's degrees has stagnated over the past decade, and The Hill reports that draft rules will be published today to help colleges select banks to partner with and offer financial services to their students.
Monday, Jan. 26
Diverse: Issues In Higher Education looks at a new report on the challenges faced by undocumented undergraduate students. The New York Times reports on recent legislative changes that might be easing student debt burden, and The Chronicle of Higher Education looks at the concept of "reverse transfer."
Friday, Jan. 23
The Chronicle of Higher Education explores how free-community-college plans might prosper in the states even if Congress does not approve President Obama’s proposal. The Wall Street Journal looks at the debate over the president’s plan to start taxing college-saving accounts.
Thursday, Jan. 22
Inside Higher Ed releases its annual survey of college and university chief academic officers, and The Chronicle of Higher Education details plans by the University of California at Berkeley to open a global campus just 10 miles from its main campus. The News & Observer takes a look at how North Carolina community colleges are aiming to graduate more students.