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Penn St. trustees vote to stay course on sanctions

By WTOP Staff

MARK SCOLFORO
Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A divided Penn State board voted Wednesday to endorse a potential legal settlement that would keep its $60 million fine over the Jerry Sandusky scandal within Pennsylvania, signaling their support for a deal to end a dispute between state officials and the NCAA over the sanctions.

The trustees voted 19-8 for the resolution over a possible deal to end a Commonwealth Court lawsuit over the use of the money. Penn State was added as a defendant in that case earlier this year.

The resolution states that keeping the money in Pennsylvania “would be a win for the commonwealth, a win for the university and a win for the children of Pennsylvania.”

Much of the debate focused on a statement that the university “remains committed to full compliance with the consent decree,” which included the fine, a multi-year ban on postseason play and a temporary loss of football scholarships. Most of the board’s nine alumni members voted to strip that from the resolution, but they were defeated and then also lost the vote on the overall resolution.

The lawsuit in question is one of three pending legal disputes concerning the consent decree reached in the wake of the child sex-abuse scandal involving the former assistant football coach.

A federal lawsuit by the NCAA against Gov. Tom Corbett and others that challenges the legality of a 2013 state law requiring the $60 million remain in Pennsylvania is on hold for a month while the parties negotiate. The Paterno family and others have also filed a lawsuit in county court that attacks the legality of the sanctions, among other things.

Board chairman Keith Masser told the trustees on Wednesday that there is no agreement on the terms of a possible settlement, but the parties have asked for the board’s position.

Rick Dandrea, who chairs the board’s legal committee, said the majority favored continuing compliance with the consent decree, which the university accepted two years ago, shortly after Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts of child sexual abuse. Some of the crimes for which he was convicted occurred on university property.

“I think it would be a huge mistake for the university to retreat from that commitment,” Dandrea said.

But Bob Jubelirer, a former state Senate leader and an alumni-elected board member, said the matter needed more time to be fully considered.

Fighting the consent decree at this time could produce a legal battle with no end in sight, as opposed to the sanctions that will run a few more years and could be reduced before then, said trustee Keith Eckel.

“It would be a major mistake to turn back now,” Eckel said.

The lawsuit at issue was brought by state Sen. Jake Corman, a Republican who represents the State College area, and state Treasurer Rob McCord, who lost the Democratic nomination for governor earlier this year.

Commonwealth Court added Penn State as a defendant and said it needed more information about the legality of the consent decree. A status conference in the case is scheduled for Thursday.

The NCAA last year loosened the consent agreement’s temporary loss of football scholarships. The penalties also included the loss of 112 wins by the football team from Paterno’s later years. The hall of fame coach died of complications from cancer in January 2012, less than three months after Sandusky was arrested. Sandusky is serving a 30- to 60-year state prison sentence.

Penn State has five years to pay the $60 million. It has so far set aside $24 million, the first two payments.

___

Online:

Resolution: http://www.psu.edu/trustees/agenda/scheduleaugust132014.html

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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