Education: Recent Headlines

Tuition to rise at Vermont State Colleges

2008-11-26T21:21:14Z

Vermont Public Radio reports that according to Robert Clarke, chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges, "The Vermont State Colleges will need to raise tuition in the coming budget year." Clarke commented that the state has "chronically underfunded the college system" and "with the financial crisis creating an even tighter state budget, the colleges are left with few options." He concluded that " the amount of the increase hasn't been determined, and won't be voted on until April." He also said that "the state college system began cost-cutting measures years ago, and that effort will continue."

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Nine Vermont college presidents want drinking debate

2008-11-24T18:01:08Z

Vermont Public Radio reports that "ten leading Vermont college educators are among scores of their colleagues from across the country calling for a debate about the merits of the minimum drinking age of 21." Educators who have signed onto the Amethyst Initiative, which was developed by former Middlebury College President John McCardell, maintain that the 21-year-old minimum drinking age is not working because more young people are drinking irresponsibly. College of St. Joseph President Frank Miglorie commented that "once people reach 18 years of age they are given full citizenship, except the right to drink alcohol." Since July 2008, 134 college presidents from around the country have signed the initiative."

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Burlington schools hire director of diversity

2008-10-31T14:52:15Z

The Burlington Free Press reports that the Burlington School District has hired Daniello "Dan" Balon, "a University of Maryland administrator to be director of diversity and equity." Balon will "start his new job Nov. 10 and help oversee district programs and policies that relate to race, religion, ethnicity and fairness. He will assist in hiring and recruiting and oversee the district's English Language Learners program, which provides services to about 12 percent of Burlington's approximately 3,600 students." Notably, "about 26 percent of Burlington school students are minorities -- making the city much more racially diverse than the state as a whole, whose population is about 96 percent white. In the face of criticism that the school district has not done enough to hire minorities, particularly U.S.-born black teachers, the Burlington School Board this fall passed a resolution re-stating its commitment to diversity in hiring and education."

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