By Noelle Phillips - nophillips@thestate.com
The economy is squeezing college students. Here’s how they can squeeze back.
College students may learn an important lesson before classes get started in a few weeks: Budgeting.
Families already are feeling pinched by rising gas and food costs. Add the expense of sending a kid off to college and something has to bend.
As a result, this year’s crop of college students are cutting back on gear for their dorms, or dipping into their summer job earnings to pay for extras such as televisions and decorations.
Students such as Mark Owens, a 19-year-old sophomore at Benedict College, are learning to bargain-hunt. “Now that I’m in college, one of my favorite grocery stores is the Family Dollar,” he said.
The National Retail Federation expects back-to-college spending to drop 7 percent this season with the average person spending about $599. The NRF reports students are cutting back on electronics, clothes and furnishings.
“Young adults this year more than likely had to fill up their car’s gas tanks with their own money and they were less likely to have part-time summer jobs,” said Kathy Grannis, an NRF spokeswoman. “Young adults are getting a good vision of what it means to have to be frugal.”
For Owens’ freshman year, he racked up on gifts from family and friends such as a bedspread and sheets from his grandmother and a mini-refrigerator from his pastor. He’s reusing most of those things this semester and will wait a few weeks to see what else he might want.
“When you come to school and get in the swing of things, you can go to stores and add what you need,” he said.
Owens is a veteran now, but freshmen and their families have more questions about how to outfit a dorm and how much they should spend.
During this summer’s freshman orientation at USC, parents asked more questions than usual about budgeting for dorm rooms, said Joe Fortune, assistant director for housing.
“I wouldn’t say they were worried about money, but they were trying to budget more than in the past,” Fortune said. “What is really necessary and what is really fluff? I’m sure the fluff is not going away but maybe there’s not as much fluff as in the past.”
Here are some tips on avoiding the fluff from students and those who counsel future students:
MAKE A CHECKLIST
This will help the student focus on what is needed and will help the family stick to a budget. Most schools — and many stores — offer a checklist for students moving into dorms, said Catherine Gentile, a spokeswoman for Bed Bath & Beyond.
NEXT, TALK TO YOUR ROOMMATE
No need to bring two irons, two microwaves and two televisions for a tiny room.
Benedict sophomores Robert Squirewell of Columbia and De’Kylen Jordan of Cincinnati waited until they arrived on campus Saturday to go shopping. They split the costs of a television, entertainment stand, floor lamp, microwave, fridge and carpet.
Not only did they save money but Jordan had fewer things to haul to South Carolina from his Ohio home.
LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
Families may have sheets, pillows, hair driers and other items that aren’t needed at home but would be perfect for the rough-and-tumble use they’ll get in a college dorm.
FIND IT USED
Squirewell and Jordan also accepted hand-me-downs from former classmates. A four-seat kitchen table fits nicely in their suite and was inherited from their freshman residence hall advisor.
While they failed to find suitable goods at thrift stores, the roommates recommended others give it a try.
LOOK FOR ON-CAMPUS DEALS
Many schools offer special packages for students moving onto campus.
At USC, the Residence Hall Association offers student packages for linens. The packs start with basic pillows, sheets and comforters to deals that include egg-crate foam pads and oversized towels, Fortune said. The linens are offered at a discount and are waiting on students when they move into their rooms.
And the USC bookstore stocks dorm gear, said Andy Shaffer, general manager for the USC Bookstore. “Most people don’t think the campus bookstore can be competitive with its pricing but we are,” Shaffer said. “It’s a way to keep people on campus and save them money.”
BARGAIN HUNT
Retailers know the market is down so they’re offering deals to get college students’ money, Grannis said.
“Do your research,” she said.
Students can do online price comparisons before heading out. And many retailers are offering free or discounted shipping straight to residence halls and apartments.
At Bed Bath & Beyond, students can pick out their supplies at a store in their hometown and place an order that will be delivered to their school even if it’s in a different city, Gentile said.
LEAVE YOUR INCENSE AT HOME
Every school has rules about what is allowed and what is banned from residence halls.
Common no-nos include candles, pets, firearms and toaster ovens. Check your school’s Web site for other things; USC, for example, doesn’t allow weights in its students’ rooms.
“You don’t want to buy something you can’t use,” Gentile said.
Source: http://www.thestate.com/business/story/483409.html
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Governor's Competitiveness Council
By Terrence Stutz/The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – Texas schools must improve math and science education in all grades and improve low graduation rates if the state is to remain competitive in the global economy, a panel of business, education and government leaders said in a report Wednesday.
The report by the Governor's Competitiveness Council also called for holding schools fully accountable for "producing results" in making sure their students acquire the knowledge and skills they'll need.
And the 29-member panel said state and education leaders must begin work now on a solution to expected "critical" workforce deficits in six key industries. Among those: energy, computer technology, advanced technologies in manufacturing, and aerospace and defense.
"In a competitive global economy, companies will locate where there is a constant stream of available human resources that can rapidly fill workforce needs," the report said.
But in Texas, the council noted, the state's economy is "creating an employment demand that will far exceed the supply created by the state's skills pipeline. In coming years, this employee supply deficit will be exacerbated by the retirement of the state's skilled baby boomer population.
"If the state's talent development system [schools, colleges and training programs] does not make critical changes at every level to ensure a dependable workforce is available, Texas will not remain a high quality place for doing business."
Gov. Rick Perry commented on the report at a conference Wednesday, signaling his support for the panel's recommendations and promising to work with the Legislature next year in enacting many of their suggestions.
"We need to do a better job developing our state's talent," Mr. Perry said. "In particular, we need to equip our education and workforce systems to get Texans ready for the jobs demanded in the global economy."
Former Bush education adviser Sandy Kress, a member of the council, also spoke at the conference, saying that while Texas schools and colleges have done many things right, they also have failed in key areas.
For example, he said, Texas is near the bottom of populous states in percentage of its workforce with a college degree, and he noted that half of college freshmen in Texas are enrolled in remedial classes. Further, he added, only 18 percent of high school students who took the ACT met college readiness standards in all four core subjects.
"All this data should surprise us and shock us, and should force us to take dramatic and aggressive action," said Mr. Kress, an Austin lawyer and former president of the Dallas school board.
In calling for improved, uniform curriculum standards in kindergarten through 12th grade, the council said a "great disparity" exists in the way standards are now implemented and taught in the state's 1,031 school districts. The State Board of Education is revising the state curricula in core subjects.
"Texas needs to develop or identify model curricula and teaching practices, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math courses," the council said in its report.
Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-collegeready_07tex.ART.State.Edition2.4d66d29.html
AUSTIN – Texas schools must improve math and science education in all grades and improve low graduation rates if the state is to remain competitive in the global economy, a panel of business, education and government leaders said in a report Wednesday.
The report by the Governor's Competitiveness Council also called for holding schools fully accountable for "producing results" in making sure their students acquire the knowledge and skills they'll need.
And the 29-member panel said state and education leaders must begin work now on a solution to expected "critical" workforce deficits in six key industries. Among those: energy, computer technology, advanced technologies in manufacturing, and aerospace and defense.
"In a competitive global economy, companies will locate where there is a constant stream of available human resources that can rapidly fill workforce needs," the report said.
But in Texas, the council noted, the state's economy is "creating an employment demand that will far exceed the supply created by the state's skills pipeline. In coming years, this employee supply deficit will be exacerbated by the retirement of the state's skilled baby boomer population.
"If the state's talent development system [schools, colleges and training programs] does not make critical changes at every level to ensure a dependable workforce is available, Texas will not remain a high quality place for doing business."
Gov. Rick Perry commented on the report at a conference Wednesday, signaling his support for the panel's recommendations and promising to work with the Legislature next year in enacting many of their suggestions.
"We need to do a better job developing our state's talent," Mr. Perry said. "In particular, we need to equip our education and workforce systems to get Texans ready for the jobs demanded in the global economy."
Former Bush education adviser Sandy Kress, a member of the council, also spoke at the conference, saying that while Texas schools and colleges have done many things right, they also have failed in key areas.
For example, he said, Texas is near the bottom of populous states in percentage of its workforce with a college degree, and he noted that half of college freshmen in Texas are enrolled in remedial classes. Further, he added, only 18 percent of high school students who took the ACT met college readiness standards in all four core subjects.
"All this data should surprise us and shock us, and should force us to take dramatic and aggressive action," said Mr. Kress, an Austin lawyer and former president of the Dallas school board.
In calling for improved, uniform curriculum standards in kindergarten through 12th grade, the council said a "great disparity" exists in the way standards are now implemented and taught in the state's 1,031 school districts. The State Board of Education is revising the state curricula in core subjects.
"Texas needs to develop or identify model curricula and teaching practices, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math courses," the council said in its report.
Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-collegeready_07tex.ART.State.Edition2.4d66d29.html
Saturday, August 2, 2008
College students and credit cards: A good focus for regulatory reform
The following editorial appeared in the Kansas City Star on Thursday, July 31:
Oh, the solicitations sound so good . . . easy money, free T-shirts, free meals. Apply Instantly!
But when it comes to credit cards and college students, Congress is right to focus some of its industry reform efforts on questionable tactics used to lure new card-holders.
Bills pending in both the House and the Senate are attempting to better regulate firms soliciting students.
Certainly, 18- to 21-year-olds should have some access to credit. Many in that age range are working and raising families.
Establishing a good credit history can help them as they buy their first homes or start businesses.
And having a credit card for emergencies is smart for many college-age people - especially if they are at a campus far from their hometowns and families.
But many university students are also operating on tight budgets or still financially dependent on their parents.
Those students should not fall victim to unscrupulous credit card companies trolling for easy marks.
And their parents do not deserve to be saddled with debt they did not accumulate.
Some firms are clearly not seeking credit-worthy people when they sign up some students without doing credit checks.
Such practices can lead to debts that the young people can ill afford.
People of all ages can benefit from greater financial literacy. Programs that educate at the middle and high school levels could be very effective in instilling sensible spending habits before credit problems occur.
Credit card issuers should do their part by clearly and fairly explaining policies and ratcheting back costs and fees that have increased while billing periods shortened.
Source: http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_10073058
Oh, the solicitations sound so good . . . easy money, free T-shirts, free meals. Apply Instantly!
But when it comes to credit cards and college students, Congress is right to focus some of its industry reform efforts on questionable tactics used to lure new card-holders.
Bills pending in both the House and the Senate are attempting to better regulate firms soliciting students.
Certainly, 18- to 21-year-olds should have some access to credit. Many in that age range are working and raising families.
Establishing a good credit history can help them as they buy their first homes or start businesses.
And having a credit card for emergencies is smart for many college-age people - especially if they are at a campus far from their hometowns and families.
But many university students are also operating on tight budgets or still financially dependent on their parents.
Those students should not fall victim to unscrupulous credit card companies trolling for easy marks.
And their parents do not deserve to be saddled with debt they did not accumulate.
Some firms are clearly not seeking credit-worthy people when they sign up some students without doing credit checks.
Such practices can lead to debts that the young people can ill afford.
People of all ages can benefit from greater financial literacy. Programs that educate at the middle and high school levels could be very effective in instilling sensible spending habits before credit problems occur.
Credit card issuers should do their part by clearly and fairly explaining policies and ratcheting back costs and fees that have increased while billing periods shortened.
Source: http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_10073058
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