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Prince George’s Community College bans e-cigarettes

By WTOP Staff

It’s hardly newsworthy these days when an institution announces it’s going smoke-free. But Prince George’s Community College introduced one of the strictest policies around Monday, banning e-cigarettes along with all other smoke and tobacco products.

Starting Sept. 15, electronic devices for smoking won’t be allowed on campus — or even in personal vehicles — at the Largo college. That policy applies to regular cigarettes as well as hookahs, chew and any other product tobacco companies invent, said Lark Dobson, the dean of human resources.

“They get creative,” Dobson said, referring to a broad list of smoke and tobacco products students bring to campus. “We knew it was coming and even got some complaints about students smoking e-cigarettes in class. We wanted to make sure there is no confusion for our students or our staff.”

The reasoning behind the ban: E-cigarettes produce a vapor from nicotine that is considered a tobacco product.

While many organizations have smoke-free and tobacco-free policies, few explicitly mention e-cigarettes or the booming industry of smoking alternatives, including dissolvable tobacco called “orbs” and snuff pouches called “snus” as smokers face more and more restrictions on where they can light up.

The e-cigarette industry — which has been hit with heavy regulation this year even as it has marketed a less-toxic alternative and, in some cases, a tool for quitting — was expected to see sales double to $1.7 billion last year. Smokeless tobacco advertising rose to $451.7 million in 2011, up from $444.2 million in 2010, according to the most recent available data from the Federal Trade Commission.

Dobson said by waiting to introduce a smoke-free policy until now, the community college was able to incorporate these new products into its ban and benefit from the experiences of other smoke-free institutions.

The school is planning a “Breathe Free” program with cessation and wellness materials, screenings and workshops to support tobacco users in their efforts to quit. School officials plan to have campus police start enforcement by handing out cards containing cessation resource information.

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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