FAP481: Mega Free Stuff Friday, expense reports from PHEAA, sweet scholarship, Jonathan Coulton

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FAP481: Mega Free Stuff Friday, expense reports from PHEAA, sweet scholarship, Jonathan Coulton

2 March 2007 1 views No Comment

FAP481: Mega Free Stuff Friday, expense reports from PHEAA, sweet scholarship, Jonathan Coulton

Student Financial Aid News
+ From InsideHigherEd: College rankings, such as those published annually by U.S. News & World Report, are typically thought to factor into a consumer’s perception of an institution. Plenty has been written about how high school students, parents and college counselors respond to the list. But what about state legislatures?
+ In the first draft of a working paper, two economists argue that for public institutions, a correlation exists between inclusion in the U.S. News rankings and a rise in state funding per student. “The Power of Information: How Do U.S. News Rankings Affect the Financial Resources of Pubic Colleges?,” available through the National Bureau of Economic Research, is intended to offer a snapshot of how news media coverage of higher education influences public policy.
+ Documents that a court ordered the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Authority to release show many intriguing expenses paid for by the state student loan agency. The Patriot-News, one of the news organizations that sued for the documents, reported on expenses such as chartering of a Lear jet, tickets to major league baseball games, and tuxedo rentals.
+ Expenses included $1,734 for a March 2004 dinner for four at Mastro’s Ocean Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., billed as a place “where price doesn’t matter.”
+ A travel itinerary for Dick Willey, PHEAA’s president and CEO, showed he chartered a Lear jet in October 2004 to travel with four or five others to Helena, Mont., among other destinations over four days.
+ A hotel bill for one employee who traveled to Dallas included charges for six movie rentals totaling $79. There was no indication that the employee paid those charges.
+ One receipt for a four-day stay at the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa on Florida’s Sanibel Island in June 2004 totaling $1,267 included a $14 beverage charge from the pool bar. There was no indication that business was done there.
+ PHEAA doesn’t allow employees to charge bar bills “unless they are taking a client to dinner,” New said.
+ A $775 charge appeared for state Rep. Joseph Markosek to fly nonstop from Pittsburgh to Palms Springs, Calif., for a trip March 7 to 10, 2005. Markosek, one of 16 legislators who serve on PHEAA’s board, said he went there as a board representative to a student aid conference to meet with clients.
+ Agency funded by federal student loans
+ Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday would allow the Education Department to provide up to $500 million over five years in grants to colleges that were closed for at least 30 days by Hurricane Katrina and continue to suffer from the damage. The grants, which would be distributed through the department’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, could be used for faculty salaries and incentives and student scholarships. The bill’s sponsors say the area needs its colleges and universities to be restored so they can help drive economic and cultural recovery in the region.

Scholarship Update
+ Less than 3 weeks away from the Bum Rush campaign
+ If you don’t have a profile on Scholarship Points, you need one!
+ AACT is proud to announce its National Candy Technologists Scholarship Program for the 2007-2008 academic year.
+ The scholarship award for the recipient is $5,000.00, paid in two $2,500.00 installments after verification of enrollment.
+ To qualify for this non-renewing scholarship award, the student must meet the following criteria:
+ Sophomore, Junior or Senior status (in 2007-2008).
+ Have a demonstrated interest in confectionery technology.
+ Attend an accredited, four-year college or university within North America.
+ Be majoring in a food science, chemical science, biological science, or related area.
+ Achieved a 3.0 (out of 4.0) GPA (or equivalent on another scale).
+ Your demonstrated interest in confectionery technology can include many activities including but not limited to research projects, work experience, and formal study.
+ Submission deadline is April 15, 2007 (application must be received by this date).
+ Details at our free college student scholarship search site

Free Stuff Friday
+ Mitch Joel live on video about personal brand
+ Other PodCamp Toronto videos
+ PodCamp Atlanta
+ Video on the Net
+ Bum Rush the Charts and Scholarship Points
+ Ambient Clock
+ Just One Club Card
+ Google Maps with traffic data
+ HotSpotr
+ Soundstream
+ Google Office Apps – word processor and spreadsheet
+ InstaCalc
+ Home and away for the Mac
+ Deligio free software search