Video contest winner announced

Got Tuition has announced the winner of our video contest. Congratulations Ben Redmond!



You can see our announcement page here.
Ben was also on the line for our most recent teleconference, which you can listen to here.
As part of his prize, Ben was asked to blog for the Huffington Post. You can read his entry here.

More PA Board of Education testimony

Karyn Reinhold gave testimony on October 28th at Harrisburg Area Community College. You can watch the video below.

Concerned students talk to Pennsylvania government

The Council of Higher Education of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education has scheduled a series of five regional public hearings to receive input from college students, recent graduates, parents, higher education officials and others regarding the affordability of post-secondary education in Pennsylvania. With costs to attend college continuing to escalate, combined with relatively flat federal, state and institutional financial aid and increasingly restricted public and private loan markets, the Council of Higher Education seeks to understand how these factors are impacting the ability of those wishing to attend college to afford postsecondary education without taking on worrisome debt burdens that must be repaid after graduation

Below is the testimony of Ashley Lovejoy, who is scheduled to testify today, October 29 at Community College of Allegheny County. She is a student at Edinboro University.

When I decided to give this testimony here today I did not want to be the voice for just myself, but for every individual across the United States who want to continue with a higher education, but can not because the cost is simply not in their budget, or they have to alter their dreams to adjust to college tuition.

When I first decided that I was going to attend college my parents were very excited. I would be the first member from my family to attend and graduate with a degree. Up until my junior year of high school I was going to be a lawyer, I wanted to make a difference in the world. It was after I traveled to Australia as foreign exchange student that my vision for life had changed. To change the world I had to start with the youth of today, they would be tomorrow’s future. When I told my parents that I was no longer going to be attending college majoring in pre-law, instead I would be majoring in elementary/special education. The look of disappointment on my parents’ faces startled me. I was sure that they would be happy for me; I thought that they wanted all of my hopes and dreams to come true. The truth is they did and they still do. My father sat me down at the kitchen table and told me that if this is what I truly wanted in my life then they would support me. He just feared about how much debt that I would be in and the annual salary of a teacher. We would not be receiving any additional assistance for my funding for school because we fell into the middle class grey area. Even though my father was disabled from work and my mother had a full time job to try to make ends meet at home. I would be paying for my college through loans. At this point in my life I was not thinking about any of that and I thought that he was just crazy, by the time that I graduated I would be making more than $30,000.00 and it didn’t make a difference as long as I was happy with my career and changing the lives of children.

Now I sit here today $42,940.72 in debts with still another year of school until I graduate. I have had to take time off from school because I could not afford the difference that the cost of tuition to the amount I was receiving in loans. Now that I am a commuter and living off campus I am able to afford the tuition through loans. Yet, with the starting salary of a teacher averaging around $30,000.00 a year I fear of how I will be able to repay my student loans and pay for my everyday necessities to live. I see how I am struggling now to pay my bills, work a job, and maintain a 3.4 GPA full time in school. I fear that my parents were right about how much I would make as an educator and how it will affect the choices in my life. My dream was to teach in a special education classroom, preferably with autistic children or the severe emotional/behavioral disorder children. Then one day teach a third or fourth grade regular education classroom. Now I am looking at teaching in an inner city school where a district will agree to repay some or my entire student loans off for me. If I am unable to find a school in an inner city that offers this type of bonus, I have decided that I may have to set my dream aside and work in a psychiatric hospital for children. A job that would allow me to use my degree in, and pay back my loans and support myself with the cost of living in today’s economy.

I am just one person sharing my story with you, but there are thousands of students out there in the United States that share this same story. All we want to do is receive an affordable education to make a difference not only in our lives, but for the world, is that too much to ask?

Sakeena Kazmi, FL

This video from the recent USSA conference is courtesy of Sakeena Kazmi of Florida.

"Got Tuition?" visits Western Carolina University

"Got Tuition?" visited with students at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina today, where 75 students and parents signed the "Got Tuition" petition asking elected leaders to invest more federal resources in student aid, and 17 recorded videos discussing the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Whitley Barber, Western Carolina University


Kendra Bettis, Western Carolina University


Latoya Blackwell, Western Carolina University


Kim Browning


Aaron Camp, Western Carolina University


Deon Clark, Western Carolina University


Marley-Ann Cunningham, Western Carolina University


James Hinnant, Western Carolina University


Katie Johnson, Western Carolina University


Rachel Karriker, Western Carolina University


Danielle Lightner, Western Carolina University


Parker Millar, Western Carolina University


Shelby Schiller, Athens State Univ, GA


Sydny Small, Western Carolina University


Joshua Swayngim, Western Carolina University


Brandon Ward, Western Carolina University


Nancy Yang, Western Carolina University

"Got Tuition?" visits UNC-Asheville

"Got Tuition?" visited with students at the University of North Carolina at Asheville today, where 87 students and parents signed the "Got Tuition" petition asking elected leaders to invest more federal resources in student aid, and seven recorded videos discussing the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Michael Yakima, University of North Carolina at Asheville


Daniel Roberts, University of North Carolina at Asheville


Lauren Porricelli, University of North Carolina at Asheville


Emily Porter-Fyke, University of North Carolina at Asheville


Amidha Porter, University of North Carolina at Asheville


Ashley Jenk, University of North Carolina at Asheville


Joanna Boone, University of North Carolina at Asheville

"Got Tuition?" visits Warren Wilson College

"Got Tuition?" visited with students at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa today, where 13 students and others signed the "Got Tuition" petition asking elected leaders to invest more federal resources in student aid, and three students and others recorded videos discussing the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Hastings Blumer


Julienne Mulzac, Warren Wilson College


Courtney Oliphunt, Warren Wilson College

College Affordability in the news

Our first article comes from the Philadelphia Inquirer. With the Wall Street meltdown, many schools are scrambling to find ways to keep students in class and help them pay their tuition bills. This article features Graham B. Spanier, president of Penn State University, explaining what his campus is doing to try and help students. Read the complete article here.

The Denver Post has a guest commentary talking about Amendment 58, which would repeal some oil and gas subsidies and instead funnel the money into scholarships. You can check it out here.

"The Strain to Pay for College," from the Washington Post shared some stories from individuals in the class of 2009 who have been priced out of their chosen Universities. Read the complete article here (free registration required).

"Got Tuition?" visits UNC-Charlotte

"Got Tuition?" visited with students at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where 21 students signed the "Got Tuition" petition asking elected leaders to invest more federal resources in student aid, and seven recorded videos discussing the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Christina Villa, University of North Carolina at Charlotte


Leon Seke, University of North Carolina at Charlotte


Janelle McFarlane, University of North Carolina at Charlotte


Sara Howard, University of North Carolina at Charlotte


Asha Burnette, University of North Carolina at Charlotte


Chuck Beamon, University of North Carolina at Charlotte


Robert Ashton, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

"Got Tuition?" visits UNC-Greensboro

"Got Tuition?" visited with students at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro today, where 55 students signed the "Got Tuition" petition asking elected leaders to invest more federal resources in student aid, and 12 recorded videos discussing the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Alex Titus, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Halston Simmons, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Kristen Prosser, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Madison Potter, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Jerrica McDonald, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Vanessa Hunter, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Elizabeth Gwyn, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Chanelle Davis, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Aquella Copeland-Reid, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Shawn Bradford, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Joseph Boatwright, University of North Carolina at Greensboro


Tara Beal, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

"Got Tuition?" lobbies NC Lt. Gov Bev Perdue

From Perdue

Educator Pam Stowell talks with North Carolina Lt. Governor Bev Perdue in Greensboro about NEA's "Got Tuition?" campaign to win greater investment of federal and state funding in student financial aid programs, making the opportunities of college education more accessible and more affordable to more students and their families.

Perdue told "Got Tuition?" that she has strongly supported efforts to make college more affordable, including her proposal to expand North Carolina's EARN scholarship program from two to four years. Perdue's proposed expansion would allow eligible students to qualify for up to $16,000 in grants for college.

"Got Tuition?" visits the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Got Tuition?" visited with students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill today, where 31 students signed the "Got Tuition" petition asking elected leaders to invest more federal resources in student aid, and 15 recorded videos discussing the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Victoria Allen, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Kelly Chesson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Amber Clifford, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Taner Ergin, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Laura Escobar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Sara Fender, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Anslei Foster, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Keyachtta Hawkins, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Brint Hayes, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Raquel Hoover, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Alexis Ivey, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Danielle Kucera, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Kristen Maye, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Jordan Teague, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Got Tuition?" visits Meredith College

"Got Tuition?" visited Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, today, where 328 students, parents, grandparents and others signed the "Got Tuition" petition asking elected leaders to invest more federal resources in student aid, and three recorded videos discussing the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Bethany Burris, Meredith College


Courtney Cooke, Meredith College


Joelle Gordon

Students at North Carolina Central Univ weigh in

Two students attending North Carolina Central University recorded videos today discussing the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Orlando Curry, North Carolina Central University


Natasha Gordon, North Carolina Central University

"Got Tuition?" at St. Augustine's College

Thanks to an invitation from St. Augustine's College student body president Amber Thomas, "Got Tuition?" visited with students there today. Six students and others recorded videos promoting the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Westley Brand of St. Augustine's College


Julese Dortch of St. Augustine's College


Christopher Reed of St. Augustine's College


Clarenda Stanley


Amber Thomas of St. Augustine's College


Brent Wright of St. Augustine's College

"Got Tuition?" visits East Carolina University

Thanks to an invitation from SNCAE advisor Tarrick Cox at East Carolina University in Greenville, "Got Tuition?" visited with students there on Monday. Twenty-five students signed the "Got Tuition?" petition asking elected leaders to invest more federal resources in student aid, and nine students recorded videos promoting the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Emily Cash at East Carolina University


Allison Cherry at East Carolina University


Ebony Graham at East Carolina University


Rebeckah Hauss at East Carolina University


James Kennington at East Carolina University


Alyssa Mahon at East Carolina University


Alex Maxfield at East Carolina University


Lauren McMahon at East Carolina University


Margie Sample at East Carolina University

"Got Tuition?" visits UNC-Wilmington

Thanks to an invitation from SNCAE advisor Kathy Fox at University of North Carolina at Wilmington, "Got Tuition?" visited with students at the Watson School of Education and in the Fisher Student Union there on Monday. One hundred and five students signed the "Got Tuition?" petition asking elected leaders to invest more federal resources in student aid, and eight students recorded videos promoting the issue of college affordability and discussing the positions of gubernatorial candidates Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory on this issue.

Stephanie Buck at UNC-Wilmington


Laura Callonia at UNC-Wilmington


Chakyra Cherry at UNC-Wilmington


Toby Fakuale at UNC-Wilmington


Richelle Fonville at UNC-Wilmington


Stephanie Huza at UNC-Wilmington


Whitney Kornegay at UNC-Wilmington


Shannon Murdico at UNC-Wilmington

Tammi Smith of Charlotte, North Carolina

Tammi Smith of Charlotte, North Carolina

Erin Galbreath of Durham, North Carolina

Erin Galbreath of Durham, North Carolina:

Barry Melamed, NJ

Today we have another video from this summer's National Education Association RA. This video is courtesy of Barry Melamed of New Jersey.



Want to share your story with got tuition? Please e-mail your stories, pictures, and videos to gottuition08@gmail.com.

got tuition? visits Indiana State

The Indiana Student Education Association local chapter at ISU hosted a ‘Got Tuition’ table at ISU on Monday, October 13. ISEA members passed out information, t-shirts, and mini-footballs to all participants. Students had the opportunity to sign a nonpartisan ‘Got Tuition’ petition asking Congress to address college affordability and student debt. Over 200 signatures were collected, information about Indiana student aid was distributed, and students learned policymakers’ positions on the issue of college affordability.

 

Got Tuition? visits Tennessee State University

On Tuesday, October 7, "Got Tuition?" visited Tennessee State University in Nashville. While the presidential candidates were spending the rainy day preparing for the second Presidential debate, students at TSU were holding a "Day of Action" in their Student Center.

Obama, McCain address college affordability in debate

For the last question of the last presidential debate sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS asked Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain how each will address the challenges of education policy in America. Both spoke about the college affordability crises facing American families in their responses.

The text of the question and the candidates' responses follows:

Schieffer: Let's stop there, because I want to get in a question on education and I'm afraid this is going to have to be our last question, gentlemen.

The question is this: the U.S. spends more per capita than any other country on education. Yet, by every international measurement, in math and science competence, from kindergarten through the 12th grade, we trail most of the countries of the world.

The implications of this are clearly obvious. Some even say it poses a threat to our national security.

Do you feel that way and what do you intend to do about it?

The question to Sen. Obama first.

Obama: This probably has more to do with our economic future than anything and that means it also has a national security implication, because there's never been a nation on earth that saw its economy decline and continued to maintain its primacy as a military power.

So we've got to get our education system right. Now, typically, what's happened is that there's been a debate between more money or reform, and I think we need both.

In some cases, we are going to have to invest. Early childhood education, which closes the achievement gap, so that every child is prepared for school, every dollar we invest in that, we end up getting huge benefits with improved reading scores, reduced dropout rates, reduced delinquency rates.

I think it's going to be critically important for us to recruit a generation of new teachers, an army of new teachers, especially in math and science, give them higher pay, give them more professional development and support in exchange for higher standards and accountability.

And I think it's important for us to make college affordable. Right now, I meet young people all across the country who either have decided not to go to college or if they're going to college, they are taking on $20,000, $30,000, $50,000, $60,000 worth of debt, and it's very difficult for them to go into some fields, like basic research in science, for example, thinking to themselves that they're going to have a mortgage before they even buy a house.

And that's why I've proposed a $4,000 tuition credit, every student, every year, in exchange for some form of community service, whether it's military service, whether it's Peace Corps, whether it's working in a community.

If we do those things, then I believe that we can create a better school system.

But there's one last ingredient that I just want to mention, and that's parents. We can't do it just in the schools. Parents are going to have to show more responsibility. They've got to turn off the TV set, put away the video games, and, finally, start instilling that thirst for knowledge that our students need.

Schieffer: Sen. McCain?

McCain: Well, it's the civil rights issue of the 21st century. There's no doubt that we have achieved equal access to schools in America after a long and difficult and terrible struggle.

But what is the advantage in a low income area of sending a child to a failed school and that being your only choice?

So choice and competition amongst schools is one of the key elements that's already been proven in places in like New Orleans and New York City and other places, where we have charter schools, where we take good teachers and we reward them and promote them.

And we find bad teachers another line of work. And we have to be able to give parents the same choice, frankly, that Sen. Obama and Mrs. Obama had and Cindy and I had to send our kids to the school -- their kids to the school of their choice.

Charter schools aren't the only answer, but they're providing competition. They are providing the kind of competitions that have upgraded both schools -- types of schools.

Now, throwing money at the problem is not the answer. You will find that some of the worst school systems in America get the most money per student.

So I believe that we need to reward these good teachers.

We need to encourage programs such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers where people, after having served in the military, can go right to teaching and not have to take these examinations which -- or have the certification that some are required in some states.

Look, we must improve education in this country. As far as college education is concerned, we need to make those student loans available. We need to give them a repayment schedule that they can meet. We need to have full student loan program for in-state tuition. And we certainly need to adjust the certain loan eligibility to inflation.

Schieffer: Do you think the federal government should play a larger role in the schools? And I mean, more federal money?

Obama: Well, we have a tradition of local control of the schools and that's a tradition that has served us well. But I do think that it is important for the federal government to step up and help local school districts do some of the things they need to do.

Now we tried to do this under President Bush. He put forward No Child Left Behind. Unfortunately, they left the money behind for No Child Left Behind. And local school districts end up having more of a burden, a bunch of unfunded mandates, the same kind of thing that happened with special education where we did the right thing by saying every school should provide education to kids with special needs, but we never followed through on the promise of funding, and that left local school districts very cash-strapped.

So what I want to do is focus on early childhood education, providing teachers higher salaries in exchange for more support. Sen. McCain and I actually agree on two things that he just mentioned.

Charter schools, I doubled the number of charter schools in Illinois despite some reservations from teachers unions. I think it's important to foster competition inside the public schools.

And we also agree on the need for making sure that if we have bad teachers that they are swiftly -- after given an opportunity to prove themselves, if they can't hack it, then we need to move on because our kids have to have their best future.

Where we disagree is on the idea that we can somehow give out vouchers -- give vouchers as a way of securing the problems in our education system. And I also have to disagree on Sen. McCain's record when it comes to college accessibility and affordability.

Recently his key economic adviser was asked about why he didn't seem to have some specific programs to help young people go to college and the response was, well, you know, we can't give money to every interest group that comes along.

I don't think America's youth are interest groups, I think they're our future. And this is an example of where we are going to have to prioritize. We can't say we're going to do things and then not explain in concrete terms how we're going to pay for it.

And if we're going to do some of the things you mentioned, like lowering loan rates or what have you, somebody has got to pay for it. It's not going to happen on its own.

Schieffer: What about that, Senator?

McCain: Well, sure. I'm sure you're aware, Sen. Obama, of the program in the Washington, D.C., school system where vouchers are provided and there's a certain number, I think it's a thousand and some and some 9,000 parents asked to be eligible for that.

Because they wanted to have the same choice that you and I and Cindy and your wife have had. And that is because they wanted to choose the school that they thought was best for their children.

And we all know the state of the Washington, D.C., school system. That was vouchers. That was voucher, Sen. Obama. And I'm frankly surprised you didn't pay more attention to that example.

Now as far as the No Child Left Behind is concerned, it was a great first beginning in my view. It had its flaws, it had its problems, the first time we had looked at the issue of education in America from a nationwide perspective. And we need to fix a lot of the problems. We need to sit down and reauthorize it.

But, again, spending more money isn't always the answer. I think the Head Start program is a great program. A lot of people, including me, said, look, it's not doing what it should do. By the third grade many times children who were in the Head Start program aren't any better off than the others.

Let's reform it. Let's reform it and fund it. That was, of course, out-of-bounds by the Democrats. We need to reform these programs. We need to have transparency. We need to have rewards. It's a system that cries out for accountability and transparency and the adequate funding.

And I just said to you earlier, town hall meeting after town hall meeting, parents come with kids, children -- precious children who have autism. Sarah Palin knows about that better than most. And we'll find and we'll spend the money, research, to find the cause of autism. And we'll care for these young children. And all Americans will open their wallets and their hearts to do so.

But to have a situation, as you mentioned in our earlier comments, that the most expensive education in the world is in the United States of America also means that it cries out for reform, as well.

And I will support those reforms, and I will fund the ones that are reformed. But I'm not going to continue to throw money at a problem. And I've got to tell you that vouchers, where they are requested and where they are agreed to, are a good and workable system. And it's been proven.

Obama: I'll just make a quick comment about vouchers in D.C. Sen. McCain's absolutely right: The D.C. school system is in terrible shape, and it has been for a very long time. And we've got a wonderful new superintendent there who's working very hard with the young mayor there to try...

McCain: Who supports vouchers.

Obama: ... who initiated -- actually, supports charters.

McCain: She supports vouchers, also.

Obama: But the -- but here's the thing, is that, even if Sen. McCain were to say that vouchers were the way to go -- I disagree with him on this, because the data doesn't show that it actually solves the problem -- the centerpiece of Sen. McCain's education policy is to increase the voucher program in D.C. by 2,000 slots.

That leaves all of you who live in the other 50 states without an education reform policy from Sen. McCain.

So if we are going to be serious about this issue, we've got to have a president who is going to tackle it head-on. And that's what I intend to do as president.

Schieffer: All right.

McCain: Because there's not enough vouchers; therefore, we shouldn't do it, even though it's working. I got it.

Schieffer: All right.

Kenasha Paul, FL

This video from the recent USSA conference is courtesy of Kenasha Paul of Florida.



Want to share your story with got tuition? Please e-mail your stories, pictures, and videos to gottuition08@gmail.com.

College affordability in the news

The Gainesville Sun (Florida) has a great article that compares and contrasts the McCain and Obama college affordability plans. You can read the article here.

The Seattle Times has a story about Lora Ladd, a recent graduate who can't afford to pay for her loans. Check it out here.

Your stories, part 5

Our first story comes from Sabrina I.

My name is Sabrena I, I'm a single mom of two and 33. I got laid off in March of this year and thought I would go back to school to become a nurse. I tried for aid but since I already had a degree and too many hours the college wouldn't award me a grant of any kind. On top of that my unemployment was stopped since I was going back to school because being a student is considered an occupation. College is a BIG financial crunch on many today and in the future if something is not done to help students and parents. What I have been through it seems to me everyone wants your money but if you don't have any these people do not want to help so we can better ourselves in anyway.

Our next story is from a student at Oakland University.

Every year I calculate about how much it will cost to live on campus and take 16 credit hours and obtain enough scholarships and grants to cover my costs and without fail every year they take away my grants as my scholarships process and raise tuition and housing fees. I'm always left short enough to clear out my entire bank account every year. My school has raised tuition over 20% since I started at Oakland University in Fall 2006. That is ridiculous and unacceptable for a public university. Every student I know works 1-4 jobs while taking classes in order to pay for one of the least expensive educations in the state. I am tired of earning scholarships based on my good performance in the Honors College and then being penalized by having housing grants taken away. My family cannot afford to pay for my education and that is shown on my FAFS A so I should at least get the financial aid I was proposed to get in the beginning of the year. This is a major issue for all students and we need to let our voices be heard.

Want to share your story with got tuition? Please e-mail your stories, pictures, and videos to gottuition08@gmail.com.

Matthew Wendt, WI

This video from the USSA conference is courtesy of Matthew Wendt of Wisconsin.



Want to share your story with got tuition? Please e-mail your stories, pictures, and videos to gottuition08@gmail.com.

Some more articles

GoDanRiver, the news source for Danville, VA has a great opinion piece written by a student who is struggling to pay for college. Read it here.

The Witchita Eagle (Kansas) has an article about recent grads trying to get by. You can check it out here.

The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) is having trouble keeping up with credit crunch. Read about it here.

Kathleen Templin, AZ

This video from the USSA conference comes courtesy of Kathleen Templin of Arizona.



Want to share your story with got tuition? Please e-mail your stories, pictures, and videos to gottuition08@gmail.com.

College Affordability hits the news

We have some articles about college affordability today. Tons of stories have been popping up lately, especially with the financial meltdown.

Student Life, the Washington University in St. Louis has a great article that outlines both Presidential candidates college affordability plans. You can read it here.

The Seattle Times has an article exploring how the financial crunch is affecting student lending. Check it out here.

The Wall Street Journal is running an article about how the financial meltdown is affecting college savings, they also offer some tips on how to help finance your education. The article is available here.

Your stories, part 4

Today we'd like to share some more of your stories.

Our first story comes from Nicholas G.

When I graduated high school in May of 2004, the thought of being in debt for a majority of my life because of student loans was the primary deterrent for not going to school. I chose to work the next semester (Fall of 2004) rather than beginning a life of debt. Realizing that my job was not what I wanted to do the rest of my life, I reluctantly decided to go to college. At the time of my admittance into Western Illinois University, my parents were still married. According to their income, I was not able to gain financial aid; which is a problem of its own that I will comment on later.

During college, I became involved in many things. Greek Life played a major role in my experience and I took on many officer roles including President my last year as an undergrad. I was also involved in an exuberant amount of volunteer activities, Interfraternity Council, Student Government Association, Promoting the Rights of Individuals with Disabilities Everywhere (P.R.I.D.E.), and numerous committees. The validity behind mentioning these activities is because with all of my time being devoted to studying and extracurricular activities, there was no time for a job during the school year to make money other than on my summer vacations. With that, my student loans paid not only my tuition but also so I could eat.

In August of 2008 I graduated from Western Illinois University and was thrown into a economy that is less than suitable for finding a career. I realize patience is a virtue and a job will come, but rather I find a career or not, the student loans are still in repayment after 6 months. My parents are not going to pay my student loans, I am. So for the government to have said that I couldn't get financial aid because of my parents income is foolish.

I majored in law enforcement and justice administration in college and minored in psychology. I'm not naive to the fact that as a civil servant I will never become a millionaire, and will probably never be classified as anything other than middle class. However, I am worried that I will never get ahead of that $50,000 it cost me for my education. The next step in my life would be to buy a house... Possibly a new vehicle to replace my 17 year old truck... I would love to have children... I would love the American cliche of a picket fence... But my next steps are all on hold. I already lived beyond my means by going to college... The sad part of it all is had I known then what I know now, my decision to go to college may have been decided against because I personally don't believe the juice was worth the squeeze.

Our second story comes from Georgette P.

I attend school out of state and owe a prior balance of 8,500. I attend D'Youville college in Buffalo NY. I am eligible for aid to cover the up coming year but am not able to register for classes until that outstanding balance is paid. I am an African American living in a single parent house hold that makes less than 6,000 a year. My Mother is on social security,SSI, and food stamp benefits to make ends meet. Since elementary through high school I had free lunch because she couldn't afford to pay it. She also has a life threatening disease and my father passed away in 2001. No one in my family is eligible to cosign loans for me to pay this balance. I have tried and they all got denied. I really would hate to stop my education because I cannot afford it. I am a hard working student with some financial issues.

Want to share your story with got tuition? Please e-mail your stories, pictures, and videos to gottuition08@gmail.com.

Alexander Scott, NC

This video from the USSA conference is courtesy of Alexander Scott of North Carolina



Want to share your story with got tuition? Please e-mail your stories, pictures, and videos to gottuition08@gmail.com.

"Got Tuition?" organizer lobbies Gwen Ifill

Fontbonne University education major David Dickerson, part of the team that helped to rally student support for the "Got Tuition?" campaign in St. Louis in the days leading to last night's vice presidential debate, continued his advocacy this morning at the St. Louis-Lambert Airport, where he met debate moderator Gwen Ifill. On his way to attend an NEA Student Leadership Conference in Minneapolis, Dickerson caught Ifill's eye with his distinctive black-and-white t-shirt and used the connection to talk with -- and snap a photo with -- the PBS news anchor.

From Washington Univ. Public Viewing Area

3 new news clips

Got tuition has been in the news a lot lately, and we'd like to share the 3 most recent clips with you.

KTKA News: Topeka, Kansas



KGWN News: Cheyenne, Wyoming



KTWO News: Casper, Wyoming

Students rally support for "Got Tuition?" at VP debate

Fontbonne University education majors and student organizers David Dickerson and Sharon Atlas joined "Got Tuition?" tonight at the public viewing area outside the vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis and canvassed those gathered to support our campaign.

As a result, 245 students, parents and grandparents signed the "Got Tuition?" petition asking federal and state elected leaders to make college education more affordable for more students and put on "Got Tuition?" t-shirts to raise awareness of college affordability as a national issue in 2008.

From Washington Univ. Public Viewing Area

From Washington Univ. Public Viewing Area

From Washington Univ. Public Viewing Area

From Washington Univ. Public Viewing Area

From Washington Univ. Public Viewing Area

Update from Ohio

Hello everyone!
A lot has happened in Ohio and around my campus in the past week and a half since I wrote my first blog. I was trying to decide what I should focus this blog on and finally came up with the idea to focus briefly on several different key issues that college students nationwide would find both interesting and pertinent to their struggles with tuition. I have included two newspaper articles from my campus newspaper and my thoughts on these articles. I have also included some general information about a Rock the Vote event on my campus this past week and the upcoming Got Tuition events in Ohio in October. Happy reading!

“Struggling economy will affect students.”

“Students could face difficulties finding loans.”

These articles are from about a week ago discussing the struggling economy and relating it to the issues college students are facing with funding. As the articles suggest the economy is an issue that affects college students whether we like it or not. If the stock market continues to decline at its current rate or fails to rebound from the mortgage crisis currently rocking Wall Street, it will become increasingly difficult for all college students to obtain loan money and acquire credit. In the upcoming election all voters who are active in the election probably have an issue or two that are personal to them such as education, taxes, etc, etc. But the economy and its state will affect all Americans in the upcoming weeks, months, and years to come. Even though news and commentary centering on the economy is not the most exciting topic to discuss, as educated voters we must pay attention to what the upcoming congressional and presidential candidates have to say on these issues because they are the ones that will decide the future of our economy and how our money is going to be spent.

“College Funding at center of Got Tuition?’s message”

This article begins by focusing around the message of Got Tuition?! Though the article’s focus shifts a bit as it goes on it is a great article based on the importance of college students becoming involved in the upcoming election. Much like the Got Tuition? site, this article compares the presidential candidates on their views regarding college funding and other higher education issues. I was actually quoted in this article as the chair of the Ohio Student Education Association (although I was slightly misquoted, my message was still clear.) As college students we need to be our own advocates, we no longer have anyone to speak for us. As high school students or younger we had our teachers (NEA members for example) and our parents to stand up for us in what they believed would best help us to grow and to learn. Now we are adults and we need to be politically active and educated voters because we have no one else to do it for us. Middle-aged adults who have paid off their college loans already do not have a stake in lowering loan interest rates or increasing Pell Grant spending. They may not even care because they feel that, having paid off their own college loans without assistance, our generation needs to as well. This view, however, fails to account for the fact that college loan interest rates and college tuition in general is much greater than it was thirty, twenty, or even ten years ago.

Most importantly from these two articles I am hoping that college students see the importance of voting and being an educated voter. Regardless of who or what you are voting for or what your opinions are. Please…. If you care about your future as an American make sure you VOTE! In Ohio you must be registered by October 6! But even more important than registering is actually casting your vote on election day. This year that is Nov 4! In every election, not just this one… as college students concerned about our futures we must VOTE! It is your right as an American and you need to use that right! Some people in other countries do not have the option to vote. In this country people used to be discriminated against due to their wealth, race, and gender when it came to voting. There have been many Americans up to this point that have worked hard to ensure that WE are all able to vote. Tell these people thanks by using your right. It is the least you can do. When it comes to being an educated voter I believe we should all read up on the issues, talk to others and explore different viewpoints. Don’t vote for someone just because a friend or a family member thinks you should. Have your own reasons and be able to back up your principles. It really isn’t too hard these days to find out information on the campaigns; use the internet, turn on the TV. Again, this is your right and responsibility as an American to vote AND to make an educated vote based on your personal beliefs, values, and convictions. I also feel that to be an educated voter you need to be able to look at ALL of the issues, or at least many of them and not just focus on one or two. As a future educator and a current very active member of the NEA I put an extreme focus on Educational issues. I can recognize that there are other issues that affect me and my future and I realize that I need to be educated on these as well. To me this is a major part of being an educated voter. I know many of you feel the same, I would just again like to point out the importance and significance of each and every election.

Rock the Vote at Kent State Friday September 26
The rock the vote bus pulled onto KSU’s campus on Friday afternoon. I helped out with the event alongside two other Got Tuition? volunteers. This event, as with all RTV events, educated college students on the importance of voting in the upcoming election. In addition to the concert that featured Hawthorne Heights and Ben Taylor (James Taylor’s son), RTV registered KSU students to vote on November 4. This was a somewhat under-crowded event but for those that did attend it was a fun time and gave them encouragement to vote in this election. Below are some pictures from the event.

Got Tuition? Days of Action comes to Ohio
As noted in my last blog, there will be three Days of Action coming up in Ohio in just two weeks! We are busy planning for these events and are very excited to get the word about Got Tuition? out to college students at three of Ohio’s largest campuses. Each of the events will occur from 9am-4pm on the respective campuses with dates listed below.

Monday, October 13 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
Wednesday, October 15 at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio
Thursday, October 16 at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio

If you are interested in more information on these specific events or anything else I have addressed in this blog please contact me at dsherrit@kent.edu and I would be excited to talk with you! Thanks and keep promoting Got Tuition? at your campuses across the country!

"Got Tuition?" visits STLCC at Meramec

"Got Tuition?" visited students at St. Louis Community College at Meramec today, where 116 students and instructors signed the "Got Tuition?" petition asking federal and state elected leaders to make college education more affordable for more students and put on "Got Tuition?" t-shirts to raise awareness of college affordability as a national issue in 2008.

During the past two weeks, "Got Tuition?" has organized a series of eight "Day of Action" activities at six area colleges and universities -- including the University of Missouri at St Louis, Harris Stowe State University, Maryville University, Fontbonne University, and the St Louis Community College campuses at Florissant Valley and Meramec -- leading to tonight's Vice Presidential Debate at Washington University. A total of 687 students, instructors and parents have signed the "Got Tuition?" petition, and many of them also wore our distinctive black-and-white t-shirts to promote the issue and our campaign.

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

From STLCC-Meramec

Gloria Schindler, CA

This video from the USSA conference comes courtesy of Gloria Schindler of California.



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