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Ed Dept: VMI engaged in sex discrimination

By WTOP Staff

STEVE SZKOTAK
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Military Institute and the Obama administration announced an agreement Friday to address what the government called a sexually hostile environment for female cadets on the Lexington campus.

The Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights said the state school also failed to provide prompt and equitable resolution of complaints of sexual harassment and assault.

VMI said it agreed, with reservations, to sign the agreement, stating many of the issues raised by the government had already been instituted at the school. VMI said in a statement that it was in its best interest to “put an end to this six-year investigation.”

Title IX of the Civil Rights Act prohibits gender discrimination at schools that receive federal funds.

The department said it negotiated revisions to VMI’s marriage and parenthood policy, which had required a pregnant cadet to resign or leave the school. Under the revised policy, effective last month, VMI now allows cadets who become pregnant, or have a child, to continue their education.

It also says the college agreed to implement a new policy on handling sexual-assault cases.

“All members of the VMI community must be able to live, study and work in a safe environment,” Catherine E. Lhamon, the department’s assistant secretary for civil rights, said in a statement.

In a statement, VMI said it had strived during the investigation to put in place many of the measures called for by the resolution. The college said it was “profoundly disappointed” with the department’s findings.

“We are committed to moving forward to do all in our power to ensure the safety and well-being of our cadets and employees,” the statement concluded.

The Education Department said VMI agreed to initiate or continue programs aimed at ending sex discrimination. They include:

— A unified policy on sexual harassment and sexual assault.

— Submitting to the department for review all sexual-harassment and sexual-assault complaints, plus investigative files and findings, for the 2014-15 academic year.

— Annual assessments of the climate for cadets, faculty and staff concerning sexual harassment and sexual assault.

— Annual training of cadets, faculty and staff on identifying and reporting sexual harassment and sexual assault. This also includes mandatory group sessions for cadets on sexual assault.

The department’s civil rights office said it would monitor VMI to ensure that the policy changes are fully implemented.

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Steve Szkotak can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sszkotakap .

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Online:

VMI: http://www.vmi.edu/

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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