Comments for Mid-Riffs

Comment on Playing the Blame Game by BKisida

BKisida — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:47:00 +0000

Bill is clearly out of his element on this issue…

Comment on News Flash: LA Times Tells Us What We Already Knew by Mid-Riffs » Blog Archive » Playing the Blame Game

Mid-Riffs » Blog Archive » Playing the Blame Game — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:19:58 +0000

[...] culture of blame and defense is evident in the brouhaha in Los Angeles over teacher ratings being shared with the public. Many are spending their time highlighting the teachers who received bad ratings or complaining [...]

Comment on News Flash: LA Times Tells Us What We Already Knew by GRitter

GRitter — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:19:15 +0000

FYI … NPR had another follow up on this on today’s Morning edition. Here is the link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129456212

I imagine this story is not going away.

Comment on Lottery scholarships awarded…sort-of (update below) by Barbara Dunnam

Barbara Dunnam — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:22:50 +0000

I am a non-traditional delayed entry category student. I am told this is the category for those who did not go to college right after HS. I have an 85 Compass score average. That was used to determine my eligibility. I did not get a scholarship. I qualify for the Honors program at my school but no funding for me. I am told my Compass is roughly equivalent to a 31 on the ACT. 249 scholarships were awarded in my category. I have no clue how many applied or what their scores are. I am told I am wait listed today.
I look at the FOIA information and see nothing about a waiting list for delayed entry. Only Earn-In. The guy I spoke with on the phone was super helpful My application still had not even been matched to my HS transcript or test scores. He kept me on the phone and took care of it.
I applied 1/25/10. I don’t know if there is anything to be done. I am pretty sure if I had been evaluated I would have been awarded. My Compass scores are after all pretty good.
It stinks. Yet,for those who did get awarded it will be much better for some of our students this year. That is in fact a very good thing.
I have an EFC of 0 on My FAFSA and a need of over 20,000.00 I have been given a PELL and thats it at school. They have nothing else to give.
Still have not heard about the GO Grant either or Workforce Improvement. I will just have to figure it out.

Comment on Lottery scholarships awarded…sort-of (update below) by Jr. Year College Student

Jr. Year College Student — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:27:46 +0000

I am entering my junior year at a private college here in Arkansas. I recently just transfered with my Associates of General Education. I had never recieved the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship before and I figured since I was in my Jr. year, my GPA was a 3.85, and I was going to go 16 hrs. this fall semester, that I would be able to recieve it. I am a non-traditional student. It took months before I recieved my e-mail stating that I would not recieve my Arkansas Challenge. Now that Im not able to get it I have to pull out a loan (my first loan ever). Im having to pull this loan out just ONE WEEK before school starts. I think it is crazy that there are high school students being awarded this scholarship with a lower GPA than me. Yes, I did only go 3 hours my final semester at my last college… this was because I only had one more class to take before I graduated. Hopefully I will reapply for the year 2011 – 2012 and recieve it, or I will yet again have to pull out a loan for the remaining semesters until I recieve my Bachelors.

Comment on Lottery scholarships awarded…sort-of (update below) by Mr. J

Mr. J — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:51:49 +0000

I have a 3.98 GPA, I am under 24, and I have attended college full time except for one summer semester where I was taking the last class to get my two year degree before I transferred. I am a year or less away from my degree

I am classified as a “non-traditional student”, but I’m not sure why. I’ve emailed ADHE and never got a response, but not too long after emailing I got an acceptance letter.

I’m happy that I got my scholarship, but this is really screwed up. I know colleges students with horrible GPAs that got the scholarship without a hitch who haven’t always taken full-time courses. This is a “SCHOLAR” ship and should be awarded to the most deserving first. Otherwise we should call it the Arkansas Lottery Grant.

Comment on Lottery scholarships awarded…sort-of (update below) by Mid-Riffs » Blog Archive » More scholarships

Mid-Riffs » Blog Archive » More scholarships — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:52:03 +0000

[...] are still unclear. I think that, based upon the numbers cited in the original press release (see my earlier post here) and the numbers cited in the Dem-Gaz (article here), it sounds like around 30,000 students who [...]

Comment on Lottery scholarships awarded…sort-of (update below) by BKisida

BKisida — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:14:42 +0000

Rebecca,

I have asked the ADHE for more information about the ranking process. I ultimately hope to learn more details about the 30,000 students in the non-trad category who were denied, as well as learn more about the “current achiever” category.

Even without the data, though, it’s clear that there are thousands of people like you, with superb academic records, who lost out to “current achievers” with poorer records. That’s a shame. They might’ve better served students had they actually disbursed awards through a lottery, as it appears their decision rules were seriously mis-guided.

Comment on Lottery scholarships awarded…sort-of (update below) by Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:03:20 +0000

I am a “non-traditional student” who was denied one of these scholarships. I have a 3.9 GPA, have a critical need major, and five semesters to complete my degree. I applied for this on January 11, 2010, had all documentation submitted and verified by June 15, 2010, and was finally notified on August 11, 2010 that I would not receive any assistance. I would like to know exactly where I was on that list of applicants and what about the funding for the scholarship program that the Academic Challenge Scholarship replaced? Needless to say, I am very disappointed in this program already.

Comment on Why I am Voting For the Millage by Daniel Maner

Daniel Maner — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:45:04 +0000

I do remember the tax credits being mentioned and reading through the links I see that is the same program. It was explained differently last year and didn’t emphasize the interest free aspect.