A growing number of colleges and universities are asking their donors to pay pledged donations early, at a reduced rate, to raise capital during the economic recession, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported on Tuesday. Cornell University, for example, announced on Tuesday that Sanford I. Weill, one of the university's top contributors, had donated $170 million to the Weill Cornell Medical College in December and January, instead of the $250 million he had originally pledged to donate at a later date as part of a $300 million total gift to the university. Brown University has made similar requests to donors, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy. One foundation will contribute $23.9 million to Brown this June, instead of the $25 million it had planned to give in 2012, The Chronicle reported.
Increases in federal financial aid to college students have contributed to the rising overall cost of higher education, according to a study by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity. The study called the inclusion of expanded tuition tax credits in the 2009 federal stimulus bill, which were offered to both low-income and some middle-class families, "a step backward," The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. Federal loans should only be given to low-income households, the study concluded, because colleges tend to spend more when middle-class families receive extra aid. Colleges can use Free Application for Federal Student Aid forms to determine the maximum tuition that a student can afford to pay, and may then charge the student up to that amount, the study said. To prevent colleges from raising tuition costs unnecessarily, the study recommended that the U.S. government determine student need in a simpler way than using the FAFSA forms, and prevent colleges from gaining access to these results, The Chronicle reported.
A retired energy officer from the State University of New York at Buffalo has penned a guide for campuses seeking to create climate change action plans in response to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, according to Inside Higher Ed. More than 600 college representatives have signed the commitment. Walter Simpson's 12-part "Climate Planning for Campuses: A How To Guide" addresses strategies to decrease the effects of greenhouse gases, develop an institutional framework to tackle climate change and determine emissions targets. The guide also includes suggestions for financing these actions, and outlines ways that they can be implemented, Inside Higher Ed reported. In addition to his previous role as an energy officer, Simpson also formerly served as director of UB Green, SUNY Buffalo's environmental stewardship office.
