Colorado implements college vouchers
DENVER “”mdash; Gov. Bill Owens signed Colorado’s
first-in-the-nation college voucher plan into law Monday, calling
it a landmark step that will empower thousands of students.
Owens said the vouchers send a message to high schoolers that
college is not out of reach and that state money is available to
help them.
Stipends will be available to all Colorado undergraduate
students who qualify for in-state tuition.
Every year, the Legislature would set the value of the stipend
based on the state budget. For next fall, the amount is set at
$2,400 for students attending a public institution in Colorado, and
$1,200 for low-income students attending three private
institutions: Regis University, which is a Catholic institution,
the University of Denver and Colorado College. The money can go to
religious schools, as long as they are not
“˜”˜pervasively sectarian.”
The National Conference of State Legislatures says no other
state has attempted a voucher program on such a scale.
Students might not get the full $2,400 this year because of
budget problems, state lawmakers have said. They said the amount
will have to be cut to $1,600 unless voters ease fiscal restraints
embedded in the state Constitution or agree to use millions of
dollars Colorado gets from the national settlement with the tobacco
industry.
Opponents of the voucher program complained that giving state
funds to private colleges would draw money away from state
institutions and could be challenged in court.
Owens and others, however, say vouchers would encourage more
students to go to college.
With reports from Bruin wire services.
UC President to visit, run on campus
UC President Robert Dynes will visit UCLA on Wednesday, and he
has invited students and staff to run the perimeter with him
Wednesday morning.
Dynes will begin his warm-up at 6 a.m. in Wilson Plaza at the
bottom of Janss Steps. He will begin his run at 6:30 a.m.
The last time Dynes visited UCLA was in December as part of his
inaugural tour of the UC campuses. About 55 students turned out to
run with Dynes in December.
After his run on Wednesday, Dynes will be participating in a
breakfast and round table discussion with about 20 selected
students.
Compiled from Bruin reports and wire services.