Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Sin of omission


How upset would you be if as an Idaho resident who had wanted to go to college but couldn't afford it, you found out later that state scholarship money you could have gotten had gone unused?

How much more steamed would you be if you found out that because the money hadn't been used for scholarships, it reverted to the state's general fund and was used for ordinary government expenses?

Would it calm you down to find out that the reason you didn't get the money was because no one told you it was available?

That's apparently what happened to $1.3 million in scholarship funds over the last two years, according to the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations.

It's a sin of omission in a state that already ranks low in providing financial aid to students.

At Boise State University's published tuition rate for a full-time student, the money could have paid for 490 semesters of study. It would have paid for four or five years of study for up to 60 students.

The report said one reason the money went unspent might be that there are not enough high school counselors to advise students. Another may be that scholarships are based on merit, not need.

The scholarship money went unused even though the state Board of Education's goal is to double the number of Idahoans between 25 and 34 who have a college degree or a professional credential.

Legislators are looking for answers.

Here are some: Tell teachers, parents and students by letter, by phone, in meetings—by carrier pigeon, if necessary—that the money is available. Advertise. Hold funding fairs and put university financial advisers together with prospective students and their families. Put up banners that say, "Scholarships here, apply today."

Communicate. Then, it's a good bet that the money won't go unused again.




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