New College Update
For those who were wondering what happened after the Public Good intervention at New College of California this summer, here's the latest.
As warned by the U.S. Department of Education in early August, the revenues have been cut off until the school proves it has instituted sufficient accountability to avoid further fraud. As we predicted, the school failed to forewarn incoming students of the seriousness of the situation, and students are now losing their apartments they rented expecting their student loans a month ago.
The announcement by the school's trustees yesterday is that they hope to have the federal funds available by Christmas. Some consolation to students who enrolled while employed at minimum wage part-time jobs.
PS: Word just in that some faculty have refused to teach classes.
As warned by the U.S. Department of Education in early August, the revenues have been cut off until the school proves it has instituted sufficient accountability to avoid further fraud. As we predicted, the school failed to forewarn incoming students of the seriousness of the situation, and students are now losing their apartments they rented expecting their student loans a month ago.
The announcement by the school's trustees yesterday is that they hope to have the federal funds available by Christmas. Some consolation to students who enrolled while employed at minimum wage part-time jobs.
PS: Word just in that some faculty have refused to teach classes.
posted by Jay Taber at 12:46 PM
6 Comments:
The head of the Counseling Clinic resigned without notice two weeks ago. The new Registrar resigned after a couple of unnamed board members treated her with disdain. They didn't like her report.
Every batch of files sent to the DOE has been returned due to errors. The Financial Aid office is closed. Students are being threatened with collection agencies by the Business office, which isn't communicating adequately with the Financial Aid, according to new Financial Aid officer Rose Stattler. Rose said the money might be available in early Dec.
The students are starting an emergency fund. Worst hit are Grad. Psych., because they cannot work for pay due to being required to do full time, unpaid internships while going to school full time. They say they are on the brink of being unable to afford carfare to go class or to buy food.
Sappho
I'm really sorry to hear about NCOC's problems-- I hope they can fix things.
Jonathan,
The fix has been in for some time. The feds finally decided to do something about it.
My take on this is that the most socially beneficial solution is for the school to close down. Nothing good can come of an enterprise designed to exploit underprivileged students and promote moral theatrics.
The Continuity Initiative is an authentic, alternative counterproposal.
I'm a 3d year law student at NCOC, and agree with the one of the posts that the best idea is for the school to close down. At least there would be respite from the $80K federal loans most students have incurred in so far as we can have them discharged--other conditions apply, of course. This whole debacle is a devastating blow for those of us who have put so much time and energy into this school.
Indeed, the Law School at least should be shut down.
The U.S. Dept. of Education provides various forms of relief including financial support for teach-out of the current academic year and loan forgiveness in some cases.
But this relief depends on the law school being closed. For the trustees to keep the school open when financial collapse is inevitable is not only in breach of their duty as trustees but harms the students by preventing timely access to US DoE relief. If they do not announce an intent to close the law school in January 2007 then relief will not be timely unless the DoE actively intervenes. The window to act is small.
If the trustees will not act then the DoE should "deem" the law school closed for DoE purposes effective 1/1/2008 due to the trustees' inaction.
The trustees have never in 36 years acted in the students' interest. I would not bet on that changing.
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