Over the past few years, public college tuition has skyrocketed. Auburn Montgomery and Auburn University are no exceptions.
Since 1999, undergraduate tuition at Auburn Montgomery has increased 92.8 percent.
According to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education Survey, thirty credit hours of undergraduate tuition and fees for the 1999-2000 school year were $2577. Fast forward to the current school year, tuition and fees are $4965 (aum.edu).
Auburn is no better.
Over the same time period, Auburn undergraduate tuition has increased 101.5 percent.
According to the ACHES, thirty credit hours of undergraduate tuition and fees for the 1999-2000 school year were $2895. For the current school year, tuition and fees are $5834 (auburn.edu).
Alicia Ramsey, an AUM student since 2000, has witnessed the increases in tuition costs, “When I started taking classes at AUM in the fall of 2000, tuition for undergraduate residents was considerably less than today.” She goes on to say, “Now, it’s getting much harder to pay tuition, much less textbooks.”
Despite the rise in tuition, Auburn Montgomery enrollment has remained flat.
AUM undergraduate and graduate enrollment for fall 2007 is 5124. In 1999, AUM’s enrollment was actually higher at 5354.
However, over the same time period, Auburn enrollment has steadily climbed. The undergraduate and graduate enrollment for fall 2007 is 24,137. That is 24.9 percent higher compared to 19,327 in fall 1999.
State funding for the Auburn University System, which includes Auburn Montgomery and Auburn University, has steadily increased.
State funding for the 1999-2000 budget was a total of $479,771, 796. Currently, the Auburn System is working off of an $812,857,322 budget or 69.4 percent higher than the 1999-2000 budget.
Over the last couple of years, due to a strong state economy, the school budget has witnessed healthy increases in funding. The Auburn System receives its state funding from the Education Trust Fund, which is the same fund that K4-12 receives its funding.
Ramsey continues to pursue her degree despite the higher costs. She believes that student loan debt has become inevitable, “It seems almost impossible to get your degree without accumulating massive amounts of debt in the process.”
AUM tuition and fees 1999-00: $2577
AUM tuition and fees 2000-01: $3000
AUM tuition and fees 2001-02: $3440
AUM tuition and fees 2002-03: $3620
AUM tuition and fees 2003-04: $4130
AUM tuition and fees 2004-05: $4460
AUM tuition and fees 2005-06: $4640
AUM tuition and fees 2006-07: $4760
AUM tuition and fees 2007-08: $4965
Source: Alabama Commission on Higher Education Survey & aum.edu
Auburn tuition and fees 99-00: $2895
Auburn tuition and fees 00-01: $3154
Auburn tuition and fees 01-02: $3380
Auburn tuition and fees 02-03: $3784
Auburn tuition and fees 03-04: $4426
Auburn tuition and fees 04-05: $5068
Auburn tuition and fees 05-06: $5278
Auburn tuition and fees 06-07: $5496
Auburn tuition and fees Fall-07: $5834
Source: Alabama Commission on Higher Education Survey & auburn.edu
AUM enrollment Fall 1999: 5354
AUM enrollment Fall 2000: 4900
AUM enrollment Fall 2001: 4982
AUM enrollment Fall 2002: 5104
AUM enrollment Fall 2003: 5298
AUM enrollment Fall 2004: 5123
AUM enrollment Fall 2005: 5128
AUM enrollment Fall 2006: 5079
AUM enrollment Fall 2007: 5124
Source: AUM Office of Institutional Studies
Auburn total enrollment Fall 1999: 19,327
Auburn total enrollment Fall 2000: 19,050
Auburn total enrollment Fall 2001: 19,650
Auburn total enrollment Fall 2002: 20,346
Auburn total enrollment Fall 2003: 23,152
Auburn total enrollment Fall 2004: 22,928
Auburn total enrollment Fall 2005: 23,333
Auburn total enrollment Fall 2006: 23,547
Auburn total enrollment Fall 2007: 24,137
Source: oira.auburn.edu
Auburn University System
Funding for 1999-2000 Ed. Trust Fund- $196,659,613
Earmarked Funds- $283,112,183
Total- $479,771,796
Funding for 2000-2001 Ed. Trust Fund- $194.620,279
Earmarked Funds- $298,922,285
Total- $493,592,564 (after 6.2% proration)
Funding for 2001-2002 Ed. Trust Fund- $200,782,602
Earmarked Funds- $301,620,845
Total- $502,403,447
Funding for 2002-2003 Ed. Trust Fund- $206,337,817
Earmarked Funds- $324,351,357
Total- $530,689,174
Funding for 2003-2004 Ed. Trust Fund- $207,783,992
Earmarked Funds- $361,898,913
Total- $569,682,905
Funding for 2004-2005 Ed. Trust Fund- $215,593,341
Earmarked Funds- $388,369,450
Total- $604,232,791
Funding for 2005-2006 Ed. Trust Fund- $245,510,178
Earmarked Funds- $411,617,543
Total- $657,127,721
Funding for 2006-2007 Ed. Trust Fund- $288,020,332
Earmarked Funds- $435,627,324
Total- $723,647,656
Funding for 2007-2008 Ed. Trust Fund- $334,380,516
Earmarked Funding- $478,476,806
Total- $812,857,322
Source: State records
Friday, November 16, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Judge Lynn Bright
Montgomery County District Judge Lynn Bright will not remain in retirement for long. City employees are currently renovating officies at Fain Park. One of the offices will be for Judge Bright. The City Maintenance Department has been steadily working on the project this past week.
Her office will either be on the 2nd or 3rd floor behind the softball fields. The first floor is the concessions.
No word yet on what her job title will be or whether she will be a paid city employee.
Lynn Bright is the wife of current Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright.
Fain Park is located at 8700 Minnie Brown Road.
Her office will either be on the 2nd or 3rd floor behind the softball fields. The first floor is the concessions.
No word yet on what her job title will be or whether she will be a paid city employee.
Lynn Bright is the wife of current Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright.
Fain Park is located at 8700 Minnie Brown Road.
Blah
Ra-Swimming Upstream
The sun disappeared right before my eyes
My heart turned and walked away
I gave you the keys to an open door
And you threw them right back at me
Once again I'm alone with a pain in my chest
So sad, so sad, so alone
The clouds start to gather, here comes the rain
You meant more than you could know
I can't say I miss you
You're always around
I can't say I love you
'Cause you'll cut me down
I'm wounded and hurt
And that's my fault
But I made my decision with my back to the wall
And I gotta move on from here
I've done all that I can do
Yeah I gotta move on from here
I've been swimming upstream for you
As time passes by, I can't explain
It's hard to be next to you
Is it my face or is it everything
That you're not attracted to?
I'm so lost and confused when I look at you
Your eyes, your lips, so soft
And then when you see me, I turn away
'Cause I know that I turn you off
I can't say I miss you
You're always around
I can't say I love you
'Cause you'll cut me down
I'm wounded and hurt
And that's my fault
But I made my decision with my back to the wall
And I gotta move on from here
I've done all that I can do
Yeah I gotta move on from here
I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
Yeah, I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
The sun disappeared right before my eyes
My heart turned and walked away
I gave you the keys to an open door
And you threw them right back at me
Once again I'm alone with a pain in my chest
So sad, so sad, so alone
The clouds start to gather, here comes the rain
You meant more than you could know
I can't say I miss you
You're always around
I can't say I love you
'Cause you'll cut me down
I'm wounded and hurt
And that's my fault
But I made my decision with my back to the wall
And I gotta move on from here
I've done all that I can do
Yeah I gotta move on from here
I've been swimming upstream for you
As time passes by, I can't explain
It's hard to be next to you
Is it my face or is it everything
That you're not attracted to?
I'm so lost and confused when I look at you
Your eyes, your lips, so soft
And then when you see me, I turn away
'Cause I know that I turn you off
I can't say I miss you
You're always around
I can't say I love you
'Cause you'll cut me down
I'm wounded and hurt
And that's my fault
But I made my decision with my back to the wall
And I gotta move on from here
I've done all that I can do
Yeah I gotta move on from here
I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
Yeah, I've been swimming upstream for you
I've been swimming upstream for you
Sunday, September 23, 2007
WSFA
This article was for Ken Hare's class in early November 06. We had to hear Don Logan speak and then write an article.
According to Don Logan the chairman of Time Warner who has experience and extensive background in the field of journalism, there are “four principles that are critical to the journalism profession: credibility, independence, ethics, and quality.”
In a newscast that is already jammed for time, WSFA feels compelled to create a minute towards an opinion spoken by their general manager.
For example, Alabamians are voting on Amendment 2, which is an amendment to require all counties to have a minimum of 10 mills of property tax to account for education funding.
WSFA has now played the Amendment 2 opinion twice. The opinion was shown last week. Then, the same opinion was shown on the eve of the statewide election, which included the vote on Amendment 2.
The news station of WSFA is giving the citizens of Montgomery and the tri-county area a disservice.
They are campaigning and pushing for Amendment 2.
Ethics should be questioned.
The opinion also made Amendment 2 a wedge issue.
During the general manager’s spoken opinion, graphics of young children in education settings were used. Then, at the end of the opinion, “Vote YES on Amendment 2.”
How is one portrayed with a vote of NO? If one votes no, then one must not care about the education of children.
Does the word ethics hold any water?
WSFA’s six o’ clock newscast consists of: sports, plugging their website wsfa.com, flashy graphics, music, three segments of weather, and now a minute of the general manager’s opinion. All of the elements just listed take away precious time from this thing called “news.”
The Montgomery local news leader finds itself covering sports stories in the segments designated for news. Last week, during a six o’ clock newscast, WSFA covered a high school football game, which included two, playoff bound football teams in Luverne and Brantley. The story could have easily been presented in the Sports block of the newscast.
WSFA is lacking quality.
Apparently, quality in journalism is becoming an issue. According to a 2004 poll conducted by people-press.org, quality of coverage was the second biggest issue on the local level. Quality of coverage was the second biggest problem with thirty- three percent, only trailing Business and Financial with thirty-five percent.
In a recent Montgomery Advertiser article, two Montgomery City department heads received a pay increase, while other city employees have yet to receive their merit raises.
What’s the hold up?
The budget has yet to be passed. In fact, the City of Montgomery is working off of last year’s budget.
Where is WSFA?
Yes, they are covering the delay of the passing of the new budget, but they have failed to pressure city government in regards to the two department heads pay raise.
Opinions in a thirty minute nightly news show should be treated like the seperation church and state to government.
Cable news have blocks of news. Then, there are talking heads such as: LouDobbs, Paula Zaun, Bill O' Reilly, Chris Matthews, and Tucker Carlson.
They are never mixed together.
If WSFA wants to get into the opinion of things, so be it. Just don't waste a whole minute of it and cut into actual news time. If the general manager wants to do his own little blog and thus, plug the website once more, that is fine. Opinion is not appropriate in an already crammed thirty minute newcast (less than thirty minutes of a newscast due to commericals).
Newspapers endorce political candidates in the opinion section. Opinions or endorcements made by the Montgomery Advertiser are never made directly next to or in an article in relation to an election race or issue.
News is always around and available to be found. News of substance also follows suit. WSFA must realize that news is not just a crime report here and there followed by a blueberry, peanut, watermelon, or anything under the sun fesival happening in rural, small town Alabama.
While WSFA’s news coverage has recently been soft, their fascination with music and flashy graphics has intensified. WSFA appears now to favor presentation over the actual product. One is inundated with an attempt to lure you in with hype due to the mood of the music and the urgency of “breaking news” and “top story” in eye popping colors and blinking and moving words. Despite all of this, one can expect to sometimes find the hyped story only to fall prey to the teleprompter and/or video malfunction.
Watching a WSFA preview feels more so of a movie preview than of a news segment.
WSFA is failing to meet two of the four journalism priciples stated by Don Logan and failing the citizens of the tri-county area.
According to Don Logan the chairman of Time Warner who has experience and extensive background in the field of journalism, there are “four principles that are critical to the journalism profession: credibility, independence, ethics, and quality.”
In a newscast that is already jammed for time, WSFA feels compelled to create a minute towards an opinion spoken by their general manager.
For example, Alabamians are voting on Amendment 2, which is an amendment to require all counties to have a minimum of 10 mills of property tax to account for education funding.
WSFA has now played the Amendment 2 opinion twice. The opinion was shown last week. Then, the same opinion was shown on the eve of the statewide election, which included the vote on Amendment 2.
The news station of WSFA is giving the citizens of Montgomery and the tri-county area a disservice.
They are campaigning and pushing for Amendment 2.
Ethics should be questioned.
The opinion also made Amendment 2 a wedge issue.
During the general manager’s spoken opinion, graphics of young children in education settings were used. Then, at the end of the opinion, “Vote YES on Amendment 2.”
How is one portrayed with a vote of NO? If one votes no, then one must not care about the education of children.
Does the word ethics hold any water?
WSFA’s six o’ clock newscast consists of: sports, plugging their website wsfa.com, flashy graphics, music, three segments of weather, and now a minute of the general manager’s opinion. All of the elements just listed take away precious time from this thing called “news.”
The Montgomery local news leader finds itself covering sports stories in the segments designated for news. Last week, during a six o’ clock newscast, WSFA covered a high school football game, which included two, playoff bound football teams in Luverne and Brantley. The story could have easily been presented in the Sports block of the newscast.
WSFA is lacking quality.
Apparently, quality in journalism is becoming an issue. According to a 2004 poll conducted by people-press.org, quality of coverage was the second biggest issue on the local level. Quality of coverage was the second biggest problem with thirty- three percent, only trailing Business and Financial with thirty-five percent.
In a recent Montgomery Advertiser article, two Montgomery City department heads received a pay increase, while other city employees have yet to receive their merit raises.
What’s the hold up?
The budget has yet to be passed. In fact, the City of Montgomery is working off of last year’s budget.
Where is WSFA?
Yes, they are covering the delay of the passing of the new budget, but they have failed to pressure city government in regards to the two department heads pay raise.
Opinions in a thirty minute nightly news show should be treated like the seperation church and state to government.
Cable news have blocks of news. Then, there are talking heads such as: LouDobbs, Paula Zaun, Bill O' Reilly, Chris Matthews, and Tucker Carlson.
They are never mixed together.
If WSFA wants to get into the opinion of things, so be it. Just don't waste a whole minute of it and cut into actual news time. If the general manager wants to do his own little blog and thus, plug the website once more, that is fine. Opinion is not appropriate in an already crammed thirty minute newcast (less than thirty minutes of a newscast due to commericals).
Newspapers endorce political candidates in the opinion section. Opinions or endorcements made by the Montgomery Advertiser are never made directly next to or in an article in relation to an election race or issue.
News is always around and available to be found. News of substance also follows suit. WSFA must realize that news is not just a crime report here and there followed by a blueberry, peanut, watermelon, or anything under the sun fesival happening in rural, small town Alabama.
While WSFA’s news coverage has recently been soft, their fascination with music and flashy graphics has intensified. WSFA appears now to favor presentation over the actual product. One is inundated with an attempt to lure you in with hype due to the mood of the music and the urgency of “breaking news” and “top story” in eye popping colors and blinking and moving words. Despite all of this, one can expect to sometimes find the hyped story only to fall prey to the teleprompter and/or video malfunction.
Watching a WSFA preview feels more so of a movie preview than of a news segment.
WSFA is failing to meet two of the four journalism priciples stated by Don Logan and failing the citizens of the tri-county area.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Another AUM Editorial
Similar to the other one, but this one was for Ken Hare's class:
Auburn University Montgomery has once again proved that there is a strong disconnect between the administration and the student body.
AUM once offered a three-pay and four-pay payment plan. As difficult as paying tuition has become, these payment plans offered students and their families an alternative to bank loans and student loans.
Last year, and giving students a rather short notice, AUM enforced a payment plan that required 50 percent of total tuition for a semester to be paid upfront. Following a payment of 50 percent, students were required to pay the remaining balance over a two-month period.
Now, AUM has taken more flexibility away from students despite continued tuition increases.
The current payment plan required 50 percent to be paid by Jan. 5, 2007. The remaining balance will no longer be paid over a two month time period. Students must now make the full payment by Jan. 14, 2007, or they will not be able to keep their registered class schedule.
Currently, 12 credit hours cost $1912, including fees.
AUM has offered an alternative, but not in the way of a payment plan. The alternative is a loan program.
Basically, AUM is all, but forcing students and families to pay tuition via bank loan. Most use the payment plan in order to avoid taking out a loan and/or the hassle of going through a bank.
Enrollment has not increased despite a strong campaign to do so with billboards and television commercials. According to aum.edu, enrollment for undergraduate students was 4300 for the fall semesters of 2005 and 2006.
According to a 2006 issue of the Montgomery Advertiser, AUM spent $20,000 on an independent study of people’s perception of AUM. Five hundred people were surveyed either via phone, online surveys, or interviews. One of the main issues of the surveys was “internal and external communications.”
Despite the independent study hearing of internal and external communications, AUM gave students less than a two-month notice of the new reformed payment plan.
Yes, AUM should do everything in its power to appeal to as many people as possible, but when an institution is in heavy debt, the school cannot afford to go deeper in debt.
According to an Aumnibus January 2006 article, “AUM housing is $1.9 million in debt with no money in reserve.” What is likely to happen when no money is in reserve? Raise the rates. After all, a raise to an “interim” president can be justified in this time of an across the board increase of costs on students.
Most of us know how popular sports are in this state. There is so much popularity that sports, preferably college, has the second largest base only behind Southern Baptist. AUM recently made a strong push to move AUM athletics into NCAA Division II status. While serious talks of the move began, the Athletic Department of AUM was not making their ends meet. According to documents obtained by the Aumnibus, as of May 1, AUM’s Athletic Department remains $400,000 in debt.
The move to the NCAA level would more than likely not raise morale at AUM. In fact, the move might cause a decline.
Think about it.
The majority of the students attending AUM came for academic reasons. Yes, the thought of AUM becoming an NCAA institution sounds great, but the sports we have are not truly supported by the students. All a student has to do is show their student identification and can watch a sporting event for little to no cost. The only time the gym seems to be full is at graduation or whenever a United States president stops for a visit.
How can AUM fund the move to the NCAA, when an infamous parking fee is regularly presented to go towards maintaining school parking lots? Throw in the numerous tuition increases and the situation looks misleading to the student body. Again, this does not add up.
The AUM administration appears to be going in the opposite direction of its priorities. Priorities should be taken care of first. Without the priority (students) there would not be an AUM.
Auburn University Montgomery has once again proved that there is a strong disconnect between the administration and the student body.
AUM once offered a three-pay and four-pay payment plan. As difficult as paying tuition has become, these payment plans offered students and their families an alternative to bank loans and student loans.
Last year, and giving students a rather short notice, AUM enforced a payment plan that required 50 percent of total tuition for a semester to be paid upfront. Following a payment of 50 percent, students were required to pay the remaining balance over a two-month period.
Now, AUM has taken more flexibility away from students despite continued tuition increases.
The current payment plan required 50 percent to be paid by Jan. 5, 2007. The remaining balance will no longer be paid over a two month time period. Students must now make the full payment by Jan. 14, 2007, or they will not be able to keep their registered class schedule.
Currently, 12 credit hours cost $1912, including fees.
AUM has offered an alternative, but not in the way of a payment plan. The alternative is a loan program.
Basically, AUM is all, but forcing students and families to pay tuition via bank loan. Most use the payment plan in order to avoid taking out a loan and/or the hassle of going through a bank.
Enrollment has not increased despite a strong campaign to do so with billboards and television commercials. According to aum.edu, enrollment for undergraduate students was 4300 for the fall semesters of 2005 and 2006.
According to a 2006 issue of the Montgomery Advertiser, AUM spent $20,000 on an independent study of people’s perception of AUM. Five hundred people were surveyed either via phone, online surveys, or interviews. One of the main issues of the surveys was “internal and external communications.”
Despite the independent study hearing of internal and external communications, AUM gave students less than a two-month notice of the new reformed payment plan.
Yes, AUM should do everything in its power to appeal to as many people as possible, but when an institution is in heavy debt, the school cannot afford to go deeper in debt.
According to an Aumnibus January 2006 article, “AUM housing is $1.9 million in debt with no money in reserve.” What is likely to happen when no money is in reserve? Raise the rates. After all, a raise to an “interim” president can be justified in this time of an across the board increase of costs on students.
Most of us know how popular sports are in this state. There is so much popularity that sports, preferably college, has the second largest base only behind Southern Baptist. AUM recently made a strong push to move AUM athletics into NCAA Division II status. While serious talks of the move began, the Athletic Department of AUM was not making their ends meet. According to documents obtained by the Aumnibus, as of May 1, AUM’s Athletic Department remains $400,000 in debt.
The move to the NCAA level would more than likely not raise morale at AUM. In fact, the move might cause a decline.
Think about it.
The majority of the students attending AUM came for academic reasons. Yes, the thought of AUM becoming an NCAA institution sounds great, but the sports we have are not truly supported by the students. All a student has to do is show their student identification and can watch a sporting event for little to no cost. The only time the gym seems to be full is at graduation or whenever a United States president stops for a visit.
How can AUM fund the move to the NCAA, when an infamous parking fee is regularly presented to go towards maintaining school parking lots? Throw in the numerous tuition increases and the situation looks misleading to the student body. Again, this does not add up.
The AUM administration appears to be going in the opposite direction of its priorities. Priorities should be taken care of first. Without the priority (students) there would not be an AUM.
AUM Payment Plan
This is an editorial I wrote concerning AUM's payment plan.
Here we go again.
AUM has taken more flexibility away from students despite continued tuition increases.
AUM once offered a three-pay and four-pay payment plan. As difficult as paying tuition has become, these payment plans offered students and their families an alternative to bank loans and student loans.
In 2005, and giving students a rather short notice, AUM enforced a payment plan that required 50 percent of total tuition for a semester to be paid upfront. Following a payment of 50 percent, students were required to pay the remaining balance over a two-month period.
T he current payment plan required 50 percent to be paid by Jan. 5, 2007. The remaining balance will no longer be paid over a two month time period. Students must now make the full payment by Jan. 14, 2007, or they will not be able to keep their registered class schedule.
Currently, 12 credit hours cost $1912, including fees.
AUM has offered an alternative, but not in the way of a payment plan. The alternative is a loan program.
In a letter dated Nov. 21st, AUM announced that Bank Trust would take over the more flexible aspect of tuition payment plans.
The letter was obviously written as positive as possible. If one was not yet nauseous after reading the beginning, then most stomachs should have turned away from their Thanksgiving meals when they read the glistened, public relation touch of “AUM is proud to partner with Bank Trust to offer this service to its students. In addition to ease of service, students will benefit from opportunities to establish credit and develop with a respected financial institution.”
Give me a break.
Sounds as if one is reading a business letter. Only problem is that AUM is not a business. They fall under the state umbrella of public universities.
Nowhere in the letter was a logical explanation for the move to the loan program, but they did not fail to mention every method of payment if one could manage making two lump sum payments in ten days.
The only logical reason for the move to the loan program is perhaps too many students neglected to fulfill payments on the payment plan. While this may be the case, when one signed and agreed to the payment plan, all collection fees and cost are the student’s responsibility, not AUM’s.
The easy answer to that problem is to take note of those who failed to finish payments on the plan and take away their eligibility. Do not proceed in punishing the ones who kept their word.
Basically, AUM is all, but forcing students and families to pay tuition via bank loan. Most use the payment plan in order to avoid taking out a loan and/or the hassle of going through a bank.
According to a 2006 issue of the Montgomery Advertiser, AUM spent $20,000 on an independent study of people’s perception of AUM. Five hundred people were surveyed either via phone, online surveys, or interviews. One of the main issues of the surveys was “internal and external communications.”
Despite the independent study hearing of internal and external communications, AUM gave students less than a two-month notice of the new reformed payment plan. What made matters worse is that students and parents had the holiday season to also contend with.
Hopefully, Santa was extra special to everyone this go around or needy students happened to stumble upon a money tree.
Here we go again.
AUM has taken more flexibility away from students despite continued tuition increases.
AUM once offered a three-pay and four-pay payment plan. As difficult as paying tuition has become, these payment plans offered students and their families an alternative to bank loans and student loans.
In 2005, and giving students a rather short notice, AUM enforced a payment plan that required 50 percent of total tuition for a semester to be paid upfront. Following a payment of 50 percent, students were required to pay the remaining balance over a two-month period.
T he current payment plan required 50 percent to be paid by Jan. 5, 2007. The remaining balance will no longer be paid over a two month time period. Students must now make the full payment by Jan. 14, 2007, or they will not be able to keep their registered class schedule.
Currently, 12 credit hours cost $1912, including fees.
AUM has offered an alternative, but not in the way of a payment plan. The alternative is a loan program.
In a letter dated Nov. 21st, AUM announced that Bank Trust would take over the more flexible aspect of tuition payment plans.
The letter was obviously written as positive as possible. If one was not yet nauseous after reading the beginning, then most stomachs should have turned away from their Thanksgiving meals when they read the glistened, public relation touch of “AUM is proud to partner with Bank Trust to offer this service to its students. In addition to ease of service, students will benefit from opportunities to establish credit and develop with a respected financial institution.”
Give me a break.
Sounds as if one is reading a business letter. Only problem is that AUM is not a business. They fall under the state umbrella of public universities.
Nowhere in the letter was a logical explanation for the move to the loan program, but they did not fail to mention every method of payment if one could manage making two lump sum payments in ten days.
The only logical reason for the move to the loan program is perhaps too many students neglected to fulfill payments on the payment plan. While this may be the case, when one signed and agreed to the payment plan, all collection fees and cost are the student’s responsibility, not AUM’s.
The easy answer to that problem is to take note of those who failed to finish payments on the plan and take away their eligibility. Do not proceed in punishing the ones who kept their word.
Basically, AUM is all, but forcing students and families to pay tuition via bank loan. Most use the payment plan in order to avoid taking out a loan and/or the hassle of going through a bank.
According to a 2006 issue of the Montgomery Advertiser, AUM spent $20,000 on an independent study of people’s perception of AUM. Five hundred people were surveyed either via phone, online surveys, or interviews. One of the main issues of the surveys was “internal and external communications.”
Despite the independent study hearing of internal and external communications, AUM gave students less than a two-month notice of the new reformed payment plan. What made matters worse is that students and parents had the holiday season to also contend with.
Hopefully, Santa was extra special to everyone this go around or needy students happened to stumble upon a money tree.
Alabama Football and the name "Mike"
The indenting on this blog is odd. I know how to indent. I'm copy and pasting them from Word. This is an editorial I wrote for Ken Hare's class:
Alabama finally decided to shop for a guy not named "Mike."
Mike Dubose coached Bama from 1997-2000. Dubose led Alabama to a 10-3 record in 1999, including two wins over Steve Spurrier and the Florida Gators. The second win over Florida came in the SEC Championship game. Alabama also made an appearance in the Orange bowl, but fell to Michigan in overtime due to a missed extra point. In 2000, despite the graduation of a great running back in Shaun Alexander, Alabama was given a preseason #3 ranking. Bama lost it's first game of the season to UCLA , and the team fell apart on and off the field. Dubose was fired before season's end. Bama finished the 2000 campaign with a staggering 3-8 record.
During the search for a coach after Dubose's firing, Oregon State head coach Mike Riley was a strong candidate. In fact, probably had the job, but held out too long for Alabama. Thus, Dennis Franchione 's two year stint. Mike Riley remains the current Oregon State coach. The Beavers gave USC their first loss of the 2006 season.
After Franchione headed to College Station to coach the Aggies of Texas A&M, Mike Price was hired. Price, “It's rolling baby”, came from Washington State and fresh off a Rose Bowl appearance. He would never coach a game at Alabama. He would have no doubt been a better coach than Shula, but Price could not keep his behavior in tact. He was fired not too long after spring practice. Apparently it was Alabama’s fate or “Destiny.” He is currently the head coach of University Texas El Paso.
Mike Shula, the most recent coach and “Mike”, finished his four year term with a medicore at best, 26-23 record. Of the twenty-six wins, only three of the wins were against ranked teams. Plus, add to the fact that numerous wins came against cupcakes such as Florida International, Louisiana Monroe, Utah State, and the lower tier of the SEC. Alabama had the talent to win most of it's games this past season, but coaching proved to be the pitfall. Alabama had Auburn in its grasps, as well as Arkansas and Tennessee. Shula just was not a great coach. Too conservative. Not creative.
After the termination of Shula, the Tide pursued Miami Dolphins head coach Nick Saban. He showed no public interest in taking the job at Alabama. So from there, the Tide met with West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez . Soon after, a deal was made public. Rodriguez agreed to the deal in principle. Instead of a job acceptance press conference, he reversed his decision and turned down the Tide.
The Alabama football program had hit its lowest point. Losing to your arch-rival 5 years in a row and not being able to maintain a coach are two main ingredients for a disaster.
They were considered a laughing stock.
So who was Alabama to pursue next?
Nick Saban?
Been there, done that.
They yet again pursued Saban.
Have to admire Athletic Director Mal Moore or at least see the desperation to restore the football program.
Moore waited until the end of the NFL regular season to contact Saban. A deal was presented. Days later, he agreed. Moore and Alabama knew they could not afford another bad hire, so they only offered a contract that would not only make him the highest paid coach in the Southeastern Conference, but in all of college football. In a recent espn.com article, the contract is $32 million for eight years, which equals $4 million a year.
Some Alabama fans remained apprehensive and made sure to hold back a reaction until the press conference.
The Bama Nation went from getting coal at Christmas to having a shiny, new, proven, head football coach.
Although Saban coached two seasons at the Miami Dolphins, he is no stranger to the Southeastern Conference.
Saban coached the LSU Tigers from 2000-2004. He posted five straight winning seasons, including two SEC Championships (01’ and 03’) and a National Championship (03’).
Fans are happy and excited about the hire. Also happy is Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore. As the last several years have been an embarassment to the football program, Moore should go ahead and retire. He can leave the program on a high, insecure note.
Alabama finally decided to shop for a guy not named "Mike."
Mike Dubose coached Bama from 1997-2000. Dubose led Alabama to a 10-3 record in 1999, including two wins over Steve Spurrier and the Florida Gators. The second win over Florida came in the SEC Championship game. Alabama also made an appearance in the Orange bowl, but fell to Michigan in overtime due to a missed extra point. In 2000, despite the graduation of a great running back in Shaun Alexander, Alabama was given a preseason #3 ranking. Bama lost it's first game of the season to UCLA , and the team fell apart on and off the field. Dubose was fired before season's end. Bama finished the 2000 campaign with a staggering 3-8 record.
During the search for a coach after Dubose's firing, Oregon State head coach Mike Riley was a strong candidate. In fact, probably had the job, but held out too long for Alabama. Thus, Dennis Franchione 's two year stint. Mike Riley remains the current Oregon State coach. The Beavers gave USC their first loss of the 2006 season.
After Franchione headed to College Station to coach the Aggies of Texas A&M, Mike Price was hired. Price, “It's rolling baby”, came from Washington State and fresh off a Rose Bowl appearance. He would never coach a game at Alabama. He would have no doubt been a better coach than Shula, but Price could not keep his behavior in tact. He was fired not too long after spring practice. Apparently it was Alabama’s fate or “Destiny.” He is currently the head coach of University Texas El Paso.
Mike Shula, the most recent coach and “Mike”, finished his four year term with a medicore at best, 26-23 record. Of the twenty-six wins, only three of the wins were against ranked teams. Plus, add to the fact that numerous wins came against cupcakes such as Florida International, Louisiana Monroe, Utah State, and the lower tier of the SEC. Alabama had the talent to win most of it's games this past season, but coaching proved to be the pitfall. Alabama had Auburn in its grasps, as well as Arkansas and Tennessee. Shula just was not a great coach. Too conservative. Not creative.
After the termination of Shula, the Tide pursued Miami Dolphins head coach Nick Saban. He showed no public interest in taking the job at Alabama. So from there, the Tide met with West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez . Soon after, a deal was made public. Rodriguez agreed to the deal in principle. Instead of a job acceptance press conference, he reversed his decision and turned down the Tide.
The Alabama football program had hit its lowest point. Losing to your arch-rival 5 years in a row and not being able to maintain a coach are two main ingredients for a disaster.
They were considered a laughing stock.
So who was Alabama to pursue next?
Nick Saban?
Been there, done that.
They yet again pursued Saban.
Have to admire Athletic Director Mal Moore or at least see the desperation to restore the football program.
Moore waited until the end of the NFL regular season to contact Saban. A deal was presented. Days later, he agreed. Moore and Alabama knew they could not afford another bad hire, so they only offered a contract that would not only make him the highest paid coach in the Southeastern Conference, but in all of college football. In a recent espn.com article, the contract is $32 million for eight years, which equals $4 million a year.
Some Alabama fans remained apprehensive and made sure to hold back a reaction until the press conference.
The Bama Nation went from getting coal at Christmas to having a shiny, new, proven, head football coach.
Although Saban coached two seasons at the Miami Dolphins, he is no stranger to the Southeastern Conference.
Saban coached the LSU Tigers from 2000-2004. He posted five straight winning seasons, including two SEC Championships (01’ and 03’) and a National Championship (03’).
Fans are happy and excited about the hire. Also happy is Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore. As the last several years have been an embarassment to the football program, Moore should go ahead and retire. He can leave the program on a high, insecure note.
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