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Kelly: 5 players to have hearings by next week

By WTOP Staff

TOM COYNE
Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The future of five Notre Dame players barred from practices and games because of possible academic dishonesty could be determined by the end of next week.

Coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday that committee hearings into the case should be concluded by the of next week “if all things move in the manner that they’re hoping, and that they’re able to get through all of the information.”

The eighth-ranked Irish, who play Syracuse (2-1) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Saturday night, have been practicing and playing without cornerback KeiVarae Russell, receiver DaVaris Daniels, defensive end Ishaq Williams, linebacker Kendall Moore and defensive back Eilar Hardy.

The Rev. John Jenkins, the university president, said at news conference Aug. 15 that suspicion about the players was initially detected at the end of the summer session and the case was referred to the school’s compliance office July 29. Jenkins said if it is found the players violated the school’s honor code, penalties could range from an F on an assignment to an F in the course to dismissal from school.

University guidelines state that honesty committee hearings are held at the departmental or college level, which could complicate things because the players are in different departments at the university. Russell is in the college of business, Daniels, Williams and Hardy are in the college of arts and letters with three different majors and Moore is a graduate student.

Kelly declined comment on his thoughts on the process of the five players being withheld, saying he doesn’t have an opinion “and I really wouldn’t want to share it publicly.” Asked how the process could be improved, he said the situation is “very complicated” with “NCAA implications.”

“We’re probably going down a path that has never gone before,” he said.

Asked to elaborate, Kelly said “a committee of this fashion has not, in my understanding, been set up before.” University spokesman Dennis Brown would not elaborate, saying the university is not going to be commenting on the process.

Kelly said he didn’t know about anyone beyond the five being involved in the academic dishonesty investigation and said he isn’t aware of any possible NCAA violations or of victories from previous seasons possibly being vacated.

“I think I would have been informed of all those things, if we were in that kind of immediacy, if you will,” he said.

Separately, Kelly said the Irish coaching staff is looking at making changes along the offensive line to get more physical inside.

“We’re still in the process of figuring out who the best five are on the offensive line,” he said.

The Irish (3-0) struggled along the line in a 30-14 win over Purdue on Sept. 13. They needed to settle for a field goal early in the second quarter after having the ball 1st-and-goal from the 3-yard line, failing to get in the end zone on consecutive runs. On their next drive, they started on their own 2-yard line and got just 1 yard on consecutive runs. Everett Golson was sacked four times and knocked down several other times during the game.

Kelly said a final decision hasn’t been made yet, but the depth chart passed out Tuesday listed left tackle Ronnie Stanley as the only player still in the spot where he’s been the first three games. Steve Elmer, who started the first three games at right tackle, and Christian Lombard, who started the first two games at right guard, were flip-flopped.

Nick Martin, who started the first three games this season and 11 games last season at center, is listed at right guard. Matt Hegarty, who started the last two games last season at center, is listed as starting center. Kelly said Conor Hanratty, who started the first three games at right guard, and Mike McGlinchey are also being considered as possible starters.

“We’re still in the mix of trying to find the right five guys,” he said.

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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