What’s Driving College Costs Higher? (WAMU): Just days before student loan rates are set to double for millions of Americans, President Obama and congressional leaders haven’t reached an agreement on legislation to keep those rates at 3.4 percent. The debate reflects the growing concern over the debt burden many take on to get a college education. About two-thirds of bachelor’s degree recipients borrow money to attend college, and collectively, student debt has topped $1 trillion [...] The average college senior in the U.S. now carries $25,000 in student loan debt at graduation. Those figures rise when graduate degrees are figured into the equation.” We’ve written about the briefing at the White House on College Affordability before and highlighted some of our nonprofits that are dedicated to college affordability. What needs to improve besides interest rates?
County officials, nonprofits fear domestic violence funding cut due to Congressional gridlock (Gazette): “Prince George’s County officials and advocates for domestic violence victims said they are worried that gridlock in Congress could jeopardize essential services to victims and their families [...] nonprofit and government organizations in Prince George’s County received $4 million in VAWA funding last year, through a total of 91 federal grants.” County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks says that “the largest impact will be to the outreach and support efforts for victims, particularly in the Latino community.” You can learn about, and support, nonprofits in Prince George’s right here.
New Grads Enter a New Field: The World Meets the First ‘Bachelor’s Five’ of Philanthropic Studies (The Atlantic): “This BA in Philanthropic Studies is the first of its kind in the U.S. as well as the world,” said Julie Hatcher, director of undergraduate programs at the [The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University]. “Students gain an understanding of the cultural traditions of giving and volunteering in society, individual and organizational behavior, the role of the third sector within civil society.” University officials expect the student body at the Center to grow to 75 degree candidates in the new three years. Hatcher adds that “with the increasing emphasis on corporate social responsibility as well as public-private partnerships, graduates will be well-suited for a variety of career options.”