After abusive marriages and a 28-year quest to earn a degree, Brown Mackie College graduate Ramona Newsom has found new life in a small Kansas town.
Once the sun broke through the buttery lace curtains, the senior citizens at the Dignity Care Home sat on the front porch discussing how the storm came up. The subject of the weather replaced the normal conversation, when they usually curse the
parents of senseless children who ride bicycles too close to the nearby thoroughfare.

Nationwide credit crunch creates added challenges for 90-10 funding
Not a day goes by that Brian Stewart isn't getting an update from his financial aid office on his school's 90-10 status. It's the ratio of how much tuition comes from federal funding versus private funding or cash. These days, it's constantly changing on the three small campuses of Bryan College. Lose track or miscalculate how much tuition revenue comes from federal funds, and proprietary schools suffer what amounts to a funding death sentence: being cut off from all federal funding.
"If a student is eligible for 100 percent federal funding, you can't deny them that. What do you do? Turning them away has to be considered," said Stewart, President of
Bryan College.

Career colleges that want to do business in the Volunteer State are facing increased legislation.
Beginning in 2009, colleges in Tennessee will have to disclose credit transfer policies and graduation information on their web pages and in writing before students sign enrollment agreements or contracts. In addition, colleges must disclose total tuition costs and detailed job placement information specific to the field of study the student is considering. If a college does not comply, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) may suspend the school's license to operate in Tennessee.
Tennessee Senator and Speaker Pro Tem Rosalind Kurita (D), Clarksville, sponsored the bill.

Paying for higher education is just one of many worries facing Americans during these troubling economic times. People understand that, in order to be qualified for many jobs in today's society, some sort of higher education is necessary. But how will they find the finances to help them expand their professional skills? Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act which gives the government sole control over lending student loans. With the proposed new loan program, private lenders would no longer have the ability to directly grant loans to students. While the new legislation passed in the House, it still has yet to receive approval from the Senate.

Since Sept. 9, 2009, when the Department of Education (DOE) first published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intent to establish negotiated rulemaking committees to discuss proposed regulations under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the career college sector has been on the edges of our seats. Waiting to see what the outcome of the negotiations would mean for our sector has been scary, stressful and, at times, frustrating.