text:
LONG BEACH - Faced with ongoing state budget cuts and a record number of undergraduate applications, Cal State Long Beach is considering changes to its entrance requirements that will likely make it harder for some students to get accepted.
Beginning Friday, the university will have a series of three public hearings to discuss the proposed changes that would start in the 2013-2014 academic year. The Cal State University Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the policy change later this year.
David Dowell, the university's vice provost for planning and budgets, said the changes would help shorten the time it takes for students to earn a degree and allow the campus to use scarce resources more efficiently.
"Before we make any changes, however, it is important that we get the public's input," he said. "We will carefully consider all comments we receive from the campus and the community before we change admissions guidelines."
In one of the biggest proposed changes, transfer students would be required to take more prerequisite courses under their major before they can transfer from a community college. Criteria for freshmen would involve higher grade point averages, higher test scores and/or additional courses.
Within the 23-campus Cal State University system, Fullerton, San Diego, San Jose and San Louis Obispo have already adopted similar admissions guidelines.
Dowell said students, especially transfer students, may have to choose a major sooner, but the new criteria would help reduce the number of unnecessary courses taken and create a more streamlined path to graduation.
"We'll be working closely with counselors in high schools and community colleges to make sure students get the information they need and take the right classes," he said, adding that the changes would be phased in over the next few years to give students time to adjust.
The new admissions requirements would have an impact on the Long Beach College Promise, a partnership between Cal State Long Beach, the Long Beach Unified School District and Long Beach City College that guarantees all LBUSD graduates a slot at the university if they meet the minimum criteria.
Under the new guidelines, Dowell said the bottom 10 percent of local students currently eligible for admission would be required to take remedial classes at LBCC before they could begin taking college-level courses. The remedial courses would give students in danger of dropping out more time to prepare, while allowing for more room at the university for highly qualified, non-local students who have a good chance of graduating, he said.
"We're still deeply committed to the College Promise," Dowell added. "We are going to continue to admit 90 percent of (LBUSD) students who meet CSU minimum requirements."
University officials said the changes wouldn't have an effect on overall enrollment numbers.
LBCC President Eloy Oakley said the proposal could create an influx of students vying for community college classes over the next few years. The college has already been working to create a more streamlined path for transfer students, he said, adding that the changes are necessary for students to have college success in tough economic times.
"Ultimately, it will be better for the students because they can get the classes they need right from the beginning," he said. "We want to develop pathways that are much more efficient and get students into the CSU system as quickly as possible."
The changes come at a time of major state budget cuts to public education.
The CSU and University of California systems last year each saw a $750 million cut in state funding, while at the same time the demand for public education is growing. For fall 2012, Cal State Long Beach saw a record 76,600 applications, the highest in the CSU system.
With the possibility of more tuition hikes, budget cuts and tougher competition on the horizon, some students are taking extra measures to finish college as quickly as possible.
Sophia Magaña, an 18-year-old freshman at LBCC, says she's planning to take summer courses so that she can transfer to Cal State Long Beach in two years.
"I figured it out, and I have to take summer school if I want to transfer in two years," said Magaña, who wants to major in environmental science. "There's just no other way."
Others say they're crossing their fingers with the hopes of getting in to increasingly impacted majors. LBCC student Dennis Pech, 19, hopes to transfer to Cal State Long Beach to study nursing, an extremely popular major. Pech, a freshman, said he's started taking nursing classes but still isn't clear on what he needs to transfer and graduate.
"I'm a little concerned, but I'm meeting with my counselor this semester," he said. "Hopefully they can help me make sure I'm on the right path."
firstname.lastname@example.com, 562-714-2181, twitter.com/kellypuentept
CSULB hearings
Friday - 10:30 a.m. in the Board Meeting Room of Coast Community College, 1370 Adams Ave., Costa Mesa.
Feb. 29 - 3 p.m. in the Barrett Athletic Administration Center at CSULB, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach.
March 7 - 2 p.m. in the Board Room at Long Beach City College, 4901 E. Carson St., Long Beach.
For more information, call 562-985-5454.


text:
microsoft Microsoft Consigning Itself to the Recycle Bin of History
Started by
38 posts in this topic
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new account
Sign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now
Recently Browsing 0 members
No registered users viewing this page.

subset: commoncrawl


text: When I was studying in Jordan, I got a kick out of watching student elections unfold each fall. The campaign blitz was like nothing I've ever seen. Apparently, UJ students who run for student office feel obligated to print hundreds of photographs of themselves and plaster them all over every tree on campus. Some even print massive banners, which they hang from buildings. I always meant to take some photographs to share on my blog but never got around to it. Fortunately, an online Jordanian newspaper called 7ibr (prounced "Hibr") just released a photo essay a couple weeks ago couple. Here are a few of my favorites, but you can see more over at 7ibr.


text:
Investing FAQs
What is a charitable gift annuity, and how does it help the Library?
A charitable gift annuity is an irrevocable gift of $10,000 or more to the Cary Memorial Library Foundation that guarantees you or your designee income for life. It is a contract by which a donor transfers cash or other property to the Cary Memorial Library Foundation. In return, the Foundation agrees to pay a fixed sum of money to the annuitant (or "beneficiary") for a period measured by one or two lives. The donor is usually, but not necessarily, the annuitant. The maximum number of annuitants is two. Payments can be made to them jointly or successively. When the last individual annuitant dies, the gift annuity terminates and the remaining assets are used to support the Library according to the wishes of the donor.
How are charitable gift annuity payments paid?
Payments from a charitable gift annuity are fixed from the outset. They do not fluctuate. The Foundation is contractually obligated to make the payments, even if it means dipping into its general funds to do so. Payments are made on a quarterly basis.
What is the amount of the payments?
The amount of the payments from a charitable gift annuity depends on (1) the age(s) of the annuitant(s), (2) the number of annuitants, (3) the value of the contribution, and (4) the gift annuity rate offered by the Foundation.
What rates are used to determine gift annuity payments?
The Foundation offers charitable gift annuity rates recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities [1].
Is a charitable gift annuity right for me?
Most gift annuity donors are retired, want to increase their cash flow, seek the security of guaranteed payments, and would like to save taxes. You might want to consider a charitable gift annuity if:
- The interest rates on your CDs or other fixed-income investments have declined, and you would like to increase your cash flow.
- You own appreciated stock or mutual fund shares and have considered selling some of the shares and reinvesting the proceeds to generate more income, but have hesitated because you don't want to pay tax on the capital gain.
- You would like to count on fixed payments, which are unaffected by interest rates and stock prices.
- You want to assure continuation of payments to a surviving spouse without the delay of probate proceedings.
- You wish to provide financial assistance to an elderly parent, sibling, or other person in a tax-advantaged manner.
How are gift annuity payments taxed?
If the gift annuity is funded with cash, part of the payments will be taxed as ordinary income and part will be tax-free.
If funded with appreciated securities or real estate owned more than one year, and the donor is the annuitant, part of the payments will be taxed as ordinary income, part as capital gain, and part may be tax-free.
The Foundation's administrator will send a Form 1099-R to the annuitant each year. This form will specify how the payments should be reported for income tax purposes.
For details on the taxation of gift annuity payments, please consult the Foundation as well as financial advisors.
Are income tax charitable deductions available?
Taxpayers who itemize deductions can claim a charitable deduction for a portion of the original gift. The deduction is equal to the amount of the contribution less the present value of the payments that will be made to the annuitant during life. The present value is determined using IRS tables regarding life expectancy and assumed earnings, and taking into consideration the amount contributed and the gift annuity rate.
How do I establish a charitable gift annuity with the Cary Memorial Library Foundation?
- Contact the Cary Memorial Library Foundation's Director of Development at 781-862-6299 extension 322, or email@example.com [2] , and explain that you are considering establishing a charitable gift annuity to benefit Cary Memorial Library.
- You should contact an attorney or financial advisor regarding the amount of payments, how they will be taxed, and the charitable deduction generated by the gift.
- Establish with the Library and the Foundation the charitable purpose of your gift.
- Execute a contract with an authorized representative of the Foundation, and transfer the assets to the Foundation. The gift is now complete.


text:
Just Days Before Fathers' Day, Cedar City Dad Loses His Life, Saving His Son
When the wind carried several items out of Jeremy Gunter's boat -- and into Otter Creek Reservoir -- his 12-year-old son, jumped into the water to retrieve them.
Tragically, the boy was not wearing a life jacket, and the water was extremely cold.
When the boy got into trouble, Gunter jumped in after him -- also with no life jacket.
Authorities say the man succeeded in getting his son back to the boat -- but then disappeared under the water.
Search divers located his body several hours later.


text:
Frankie Andreu and Rock Racing
Cyclelicious Shop
Bicycle Lights
Wald Baskets
IMPORTANT: This content is deprecated. Please visit the new
Friday, January 04, 2008
By Yokota Fritz
In spite of their flash, publicity and high profile, I've boycotted mention of Rock Racing on this blog until now. The team cars and podium girls are something else and I like part of what Rock Racing does with their flair, excitement and showmanship, but cultivating the bad boy image and signing dopers to their roster is the antithesis of what pro cycling organizers are trying to do. Maybe they're all clean, but these days image and perception counts for a lot.
This news
that Rock Racing team director Frankie Andreu ended his contract with Rock Racing caught my attention. Andreu was team captain of the USPS cycling team with Lance Armstrong from 1998 to 2000. In 2006, Andreu attracted controversy when he and his wife revealed that Lance Armstrong admitted in their presence of doping with EPO. He was fired shortly afterwards as director of the Toyota-United Team. After that, Andreu came clean himself and admitted to doping with EPO before the 1999 Tour de France.
I have no idea of Andreu's motives here. Reading between the lines, it might be a personality conflict between him and team sponsor Michael Ball. It must be frustrating when the sponsor makes team decisions without the team director's input. Or it could be that Andreu is standing up for principles and clean sport, as
this cycling fan proposes
What do you think? Did Frankie Andreu quit because of principles? Or was he ticked for being bypassed on decisions that belong to him? Maybe he understood what Rock Racing stood for, thought he could handle it but then found out he was in over his head?
pro cycling
Send to Twitter
IMPORTANT: Please post comments for this article at the new
version of this page.
Frankie is doing the right thing. The owners of Rock and Toyota are out of control.
I see him rebounding with his OWN team in 2009.
posted by
I dunno, this is a tough one. I've met him a few times, we've exchanged pleasantries at various races and though that hardly qualfies me to judge his character he always seemed like a straight shooter in that "aw-shucks" midwestern sort of way.
As far as he and his wife in Lance's hosital room and Lance's possible-deathbed admission - why would Becky Andreau lie? To protect her husband? My take on that whole scenario is that Armstrong is fucked up, he could die, and the doctor says something like 'you'd better tell me' so he comes clean.
I guess time will tell.
posted by
...tough call...i always felt like frankie outed himself to regain validity after the 'lance epo accusations' kinda backfired on he & his wife...kind of a "i can prove lance did cuz, ah well, see, i did too"...
...i found it much easier to rewarm up to someone like bjarne riis, a man who's admissions offered him nothing to gain but personal piece of mind (& a lotta industry flack)...
...that being said, andreu as 'team director' had his hands tied by micheal ball, a man who having put a very successful clothing biz together, assumes his business model will work in bicycle racing...who's to say it wouldn't but obviously not w/ a personality like frankie's (or a lot of cycling fans)...
...andreu was a good team player as a rider but his career has been nothing short of tumultuous since...he's not a favorite of mine but i wish him good luck...
posted by
For anyone watching the apparel business, Mr. Ball's (Rock Racing) behavior in the world of cycling is mild, so far. In 2007 he was sued for sexual harassment, defamation, assault, extortion, breach of contract and other charges at Rock & Republic.
Papers filed in one case refer to Ball's "criminal activities, acts of violence, court ordered psychiatric treatment, Ball's own use of a false social security number (which he presented to police upon his arrest and sentencing), and evidence that at least three different social security numbers were used…two examples of are attached hereto as arrest and sentencing report and Solis v. Ford, L.A. Superior Court, Case No. BC 228258."
Seems that all we know about Ball in the cycling world is what he said about himself in his R&R biography, "In the late '80s, Michael was considered one of the fastest, smartest and most aggressive cyclists on the circuit. The avid athlete had discovered he had the stamina to succeed at any task he took on. Michael won the LA Tri-Sprint Series and then went on to the national track rankings where he conquered the Velodrome. However, an unfortunate racing crash forced him to put his racing aspirations on hold."
Guess he's back.
posted by
"In the late '80s, Michael was considered one of the fastest, smartest and most aggressive cyclists on the circuit. The avid athlete had discovered he had the stamina to succeed at any task he took on. Michael won the LA Tri-Sprint Series and then went on to the national track rankings where he conquered the Velodrome. However, an unfortunate racing crash forced him to put his racing aspirations on hold."
Has this been independently verified?
posted by
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
See links to this post
<$I18NPostedByBacklinkAuthor$> @ <$BlogBacklinkDateTime$>
Create a Link
Cyclelicious Home
Scotts Valley Cycle Sport
Subscribe to
Posts [