As the year rapidly comes to an end, let’s look back at some of the biggest education news stories of 2011.
Occupy Wall Streets Occupies College Campuses
The Occupy Movement began on Wall Street in September, and eventually found its way to college campuses across the country. Students used the movement to protest and voice their concerns over the rising cost of tuition. This led to a variety of controversial events, including campus police pepper-spraying students at UC Davis.
The American Jobs Act
The American Jobs Act was the president’s proposal to put more people back to work and more money in the pockets of those who are working. One of the biggest concerns for recent college graduates has been the lack of jobs available to them. The Senate did not approve the bill, so President Obama has begun to break the bill apart with hopes of passing each part separately.
Penn State Scandal
Whether or not you are a college football fan, you heard the horrific news that came out of Penn State University this year. The actions of one man – as well as the people around him – singlehandedly destroyed an esteemed university’s reputation and one of the most legendary athletic departments in college history. The trial has not yet begun, but the entire scandal has left students, alumni and Nittany Lion fans devastated.
California Passes the DREAM Act
In October, California governor Jerry Brown signed the DREAM Act. The bill allows children of illegal immigrants who are of good moral character and academic standing to receive state financial aid in order to attend universities and community colleges. California is one of the first states to put the bill into effect, but other states are planning to follow suit shortly. The DREAM ACT passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives last December, but fell short of the 60 votes necessary to clear the Senate in June.
Is College Worth It?
The increasing cost of college had nearly everyone asking: “Is college worth it?” The short answer, according to multiple studies, including “The College Payoff” by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, is “yes.” College degrees lead to higher-earnings over a lifetime. In August, Explorer Blog’s senior editor Debra Eckerling moderated a panel of college students at the 140edu (Education) Conference in New York to discuss the necessity of college from the students perspective. The panelists agreed: College is worth it – you just need to make the most of whatever higher education you pursue.
What do you think was the biggest education news story of 2011?
