higher education2003

How Can Students Protect Their Interests

WASHINGTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would crack down on misconduct in the private college loans business, adding to major reforms proposed for the scandal-plagued student loan industry.

The Senate bill would take several steps, including barring lenders from offering inducements in exchange for favorable consideration by colleges on campus; prohibiting revenue-sharing and loan co-branding arrangements that use the name or logo of an institution; and requiring clearer disclosure to students of loan terms and other college education borrowing options.

Over the last 20 years, college textbook prices have increased at twice the rate of inflation but have followed close behind tuition increases.

Increasing at an average of 6 percent per year, textbook prices nearly tripled from December 1986 to December 2004, while tuition and fees increased by 240 percent and overall inflation was 72 percent.

Ideally a group of students could form a student consumer rights group and after talking to the student body could then relay those concerns and ideas to a financial administrator for the college.

Students can do this themselves by talking to SGA Representatives and professors .

Students can also write or call their local and state representatives. Stan Berry, Arkansas state Representative, berrys@arkleg.state.ar.us

CampusBookSwap.Org is a website that matches student sellers to student buyers, helping student sellers get more than the campus bookstore will give for buyback and costing the buyer less than the campus bookstore would charge, or students can swap books for books. A Win-Win Situation, except for the campus bookstore.

Many campuses already have a book rental organization where you can bring your old books and for a small fee and a returnable deposit you can rent books by the semester.

If Student needs are unmet and no compromise is made then students are left at the mercy of their educational institute. Dollar votes will be changed.

Competition can help to alleviate some of these problems but regulation will be the most powerful tool to solve this problem.

Student interests must be represented in colleges everywhere, it is their right, and it is right.

If students do not try to protect their best interests who will?

The level of corruption in college financial affairs has already gotten so out of hand the Federal Government has had to intervene, so if nothing is done how much worse will it get?