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Longtime NCAA executive Jim Isch to retire

By WTOP Staff

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA’s massive overhaul is hitting the organization’s Indianapolis headquarters.

On Tuesday, chief operating officer Jim Isch announced he would retire early next year, a move that is prompting NCAA President Mark Emmert to reorganize his top staff. He will create a new executive vice president position to oversee regulatory matters and will delegate most of Isch’s other responsibilities to others already working at college sports’ largest governing body. Those changes will take effect Oct. 1.

Isch, who joined the NCAA in 1998, will continue to assist Emmert in an advisory capacity until he leaves at a yet to be determined date.

“Jim has devoted his career to serving young people, and he has distinguished himself as a leader at the campus level and nationally as well,” Emmert said in a statement. “Whether he is working with our national office staff, student-athletes or college presidents, his ability to connect with others is exemplary. We all will miss his dedication, wit and personality, and I personally wish him and his family the best for the future. “

Isch was appointed interim NCAA president following the death of Myles Brand in September 2009, a position he held until Emmert took over in the fall of 2010. Isch then became one of Emmert’s closest confidantes.

During his tenure, Isch helped lead NCAA efforts for strategic planning and fiscal responsibility. He also was instrumental in negotiating a $10.8 billion, 14-year television contract for the men’s NCAA basketball tournament.

“Although sometimes the challenges were great, it is rewarding to see the positive changes in college sports from academics to health and safety, and all the major improvements to how we support student-athletes across all three divisions,” Isch said. “Although retirement will allow me to spend more time with my family, particularly my grandchildren, I will definitely miss working with the NCAA staff and our membership.”

Emmert says Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and NCAA executive vice president Mark Lewis will guide an outside firm in a national search to fill the new executive vice president position.

The move comes at a time that the NCAA is in transition. Earlier this month, university leaders approved a measure to give the five richest conferences more autonomy over some rules and a U.S. District Court ruled that football and men’s basketball players could have up to $5,000 per year of eligibility deposited into a trust fund that they could collect after they finish school. The NCAA is appealing that ruling.

Other changes at headquarters include giving executive vice president of education Bernard Franklin a bigger role working with Indianapolis civic organizations while serving as the primary liaison with new university presidents and promotions for Kathleen McNeely, who will serve as senior vice president of administration and chief financial officer; Cari Klecka, the new chief of staff; and Bob Williams, the new senior vice president of communications.

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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