New Century Scholars – Problem and Solution
Utah has breached a promise to 2,000 of our brightest stars. After 2,000 high school students satisfied their part of a supposed bargain, Utah reneged on its part of the deal. The State previously held out significant scholarship offers to high school students who earned an Associate’s Degree during high school (New Century Scholarship) and students who took rigorous core courses and met specified standards for grades and ACT scores (Regents’ Scholarship). Students who met those requirements are now learning some tough lessons about the value of a government’s commitments.
The system of higher education had a budget cut of 8% – with much discretion given to the Board of Regents to figure out how to apportion those cuts. (To accurately describe the scenario, it should be noted that in this time of budget deficits, growth in higher education and in these 2 scholarship programs is steep – thereby adding to the budgetary strain. Though the Legislature cut $172,000 from these programs, the shortfall – factoring in growth – is $1.7 million.). The cut to the Regents’ Scholarship largely reflects the cuts made to higher education (e.g., the base awards of $1,000 and the supplement awards of $400 to College Savings Accounts are not cut at all; in fact, an $80 bonus was added to the base award for timely applications; beyond that, the exemplary award (tuition) is cut from 75% to 55%). Much to the contrary, the heavy cut to the New Century Scholarship seems to reflect a program in disfavor with the Regents.
Despite amazing efforts having been made by dedicated students to qualify for the New Century Scholarship (NCS), the amount of tuition assistance (which, unlike the tripartite awards of the Regents’ Scholarship, is the only aspect of the NCS) was slashed from 75% to 40%. I think this misses the mark significantly. The cut to the New Century Scholarship program was too deep, and should have been moderated by cuts elsewhere in the higher education program. (The Legislature gave higher education the authority to go between line items, to do the best it could with its budget).
Representative of the injustice caused by this cut, here is an email I received from a constituent:
My name is ** and I am a new graduate of Dixie High School. While I was in high school I took advantage of the Concurrent Enrollment program and completed many college courses. I'm sure you are aware of the New Century Scholarship that is available to students who complete their Associate degree by September 1st of the year they graduate high school. When I heard of this program I enrolled in twice as many college classes because I needed this scholarship. I sacrificed so much more than I could ever write in an e-mail but knew that in the end it would be worth it to have 75% of my tuition paid for. I just barley finished the last requirement for my Associate of Science degree a couple of weeks ago on the summer block semester.
It came to my attention this morning that the 2009 budget cuts have reduced scholarship funds, and consequently my 75% has been lowered to 40% and in the next year will be reduced to 20%. I understand that we are in a tough spot right now and the budget needs to be cut. My father is in construction and we are feeling the effects of the economy as much as anyone. I understand this needed to happen; however, I don't feel like it is right to cut scholarship money from the hardest working students. There are many other places the budget should be cut before money that has been rightfully earned and promised is taken from some of the top students in the state.
I'm not sure who exactly I need to talk to about this but I am frustrated and was wondering if you could point me in the right direction as far as who I need to talk to in order to express my concerns and frustrations. I appreciate your time, I'm sure you are busy. I hope to hear from you soon and thank you again for listening.
I agree; it’s not right to cut scholarship money from the hardest working students. Here’s my idea. The Governor’s office still has unallocated “economic stabilization” money (about $18.5 million, I believe). Governor Herbert should put $1.7 million of that money toward these scholarship funds – which would keep them level for one year. Then, the Legislature should decide how to handle this situation for next year. (Short of that, let’s consider a special session, so that Legislature can move around funds now.). We need to sit in a committee room with these students and their parents, as well as the many other worthy interests competing for the State’s limited resources, and hammer out the policy in the open – now, if Governor Herbert won’t apply the bandage, or in January, if he will.
These students have gone above and beyond. Education is a key economic engine, and these students are supercharged. We need to keep our word, and we need to encourage achievement.
The system of higher education had a budget cut of 8% – with much discretion given to the Board of Regents to figure out how to apportion those cuts. (To accurately describe the scenario, it should be noted that in this time of budget deficits, growth in higher education and in these 2 scholarship programs is steep – thereby adding to the budgetary strain. Though the Legislature cut $172,000 from these programs, the shortfall – factoring in growth – is $1.7 million.). The cut to the Regents’ Scholarship largely reflects the cuts made to higher education (e.g., the base awards of $1,000 and the supplement awards of $400 to College Savings Accounts are not cut at all; in fact, an $80 bonus was added to the base award for timely applications; beyond that, the exemplary award (tuition) is cut from 75% to 55%). Much to the contrary, the heavy cut to the New Century Scholarship seems to reflect a program in disfavor with the Regents.
Despite amazing efforts having been made by dedicated students to qualify for the New Century Scholarship (NCS), the amount of tuition assistance (which, unlike the tripartite awards of the Regents’ Scholarship, is the only aspect of the NCS) was slashed from 75% to 40%. I think this misses the mark significantly. The cut to the New Century Scholarship program was too deep, and should have been moderated by cuts elsewhere in the higher education program. (The Legislature gave higher education the authority to go between line items, to do the best it could with its budget).
Representative of the injustice caused by this cut, here is an email I received from a constituent:
My name is ** and I am a new graduate of Dixie High School. While I was in high school I took advantage of the Concurrent Enrollment program and completed many college courses. I'm sure you are aware of the New Century Scholarship that is available to students who complete their Associate degree by September 1st of the year they graduate high school. When I heard of this program I enrolled in twice as many college classes because I needed this scholarship. I sacrificed so much more than I could ever write in an e-mail but knew that in the end it would be worth it to have 75% of my tuition paid for. I just barley finished the last requirement for my Associate of Science degree a couple of weeks ago on the summer block semester.
It came to my attention this morning that the 2009 budget cuts have reduced scholarship funds, and consequently my 75% has been lowered to 40% and in the next year will be reduced to 20%. I understand that we are in a tough spot right now and the budget needs to be cut. My father is in construction and we are feeling the effects of the economy as much as anyone. I understand this needed to happen; however, I don't feel like it is right to cut scholarship money from the hardest working students. There are many other places the budget should be cut before money that has been rightfully earned and promised is taken from some of the top students in the state.
I'm not sure who exactly I need to talk to about this but I am frustrated and was wondering if you could point me in the right direction as far as who I need to talk to in order to express my concerns and frustrations. I appreciate your time, I'm sure you are busy. I hope to hear from you soon and thank you again for listening.
I agree; it’s not right to cut scholarship money from the hardest working students. Here’s my idea. The Governor’s office still has unallocated “economic stabilization” money (about $18.5 million, I believe). Governor Herbert should put $1.7 million of that money toward these scholarship funds – which would keep them level for one year. Then, the Legislature should decide how to handle this situation for next year. (Short of that, let’s consider a special session, so that Legislature can move around funds now.). We need to sit in a committee room with these students and their parents, as well as the many other worthy interests competing for the State’s limited resources, and hammer out the policy in the open – now, if Governor Herbert won’t apply the bandage, or in January, if he will.
These students have gone above and beyond. Education is a key economic engine, and these students are supercharged. We need to keep our word, and we need to encourage achievement.
posted by steve u. at 8/14/2009
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10 Comments:
to whom it may concern,
My name is **. I started taking classes at Dixie State College in the summer of 2006, between my freshman and sophomore year in high school. After being advised by a counselor at my high school about the State of Utah New Century Scholarship I began working towards my Associate Degree. I graduated with my Associates Degree from Dixie State College in December 2008, six months before my high school graduation.
I never joined any charter school such as Success Academy to do this work, in fact, I started working toward achieving the State of Utah New Century Scholarship at my local college before the Success Academy program had been brought to Southern Utah. Because I never joined the local Success Academy program, I paid for all of my classes on my own and I didn't have a freebie at college.
I took classes with normal college students, and I attended college on my own time. I had to make many sacrifices when I did this, giving up high school sports that I love, to attend night classes and online classes and block classes. I chose to take my college classes during other times of the day so I could perhaps have a more normal high school experience, and not be away from the high school for more than half the days my sophomore, junior and senior years and summers.
I had to personally pay for ALL of my Associate Degree. The State of Utah only paid for a few of my required classes. I personally paid to enroll in college and I personally paid for my required credits.
I feel like I really accomplished something for myself and contributed to my future college fund by earning the State of Utah New Century Scholarship. I wasn't occupying my time with seeking other scholarships that my classmates earned because I assumed I would get 75% of my tuition paid for the next 2 years.
In the Fall, I have been accepted to attend Brigham Young University. Now that I will only be receiving 45% of the scholarship that was promised to me at 75%, I feel helpless and cheated. After working very hard to graduate from college 6-months before my high school graduation, I am not getting my promised reward and I will again have to come up with the extra money I was expecting would follow.
I feel like I could have done very average, mediocre work and stayed in high school and could have received better scholarships for taking easier classes. I could have played for my high school basketball team. I could have played on a club team to get better at my one love, soccer, and helped out my school soccer team more than I was able to. I feel like I could have had more of a social life by not having to stress and cram for exams and tests none of my classmates even dreamed about. By the way, I was the only student at my high school to achieve what I achieved. It is disappointing to know that some of my classmates got scholarships to pay a lot more than 45% for taking non honor, non challenging, very average, classes and just because they have the same drive and ambition that I do for success they chose to do it the easy way. The State of Utah is teaching me that when you do things the harder way, achieve more, have more ambition and drive, it doesn't pay off.
I am only asking to be rewarded for what motivated me through all those overnighters, stresses and sacrifices, the full scholarship of 75%. Thank you for taking your time to read and understand my personal situation, and I hope it will help you understand why I feel so strongly about the budget cuts. I'm glad that Steve Urquhart is taking the time to find a solution to this problem. I hope my story will make a difference in the decision.
My parents, being both teachers, taught me the great value of an education from a very young age, but for the same reason do not have considerable means to put me through college. Throughout my entire life I understood that if I wanted to go to school I would have to work hard for scholarships and savings to put myself through.
I found such a scholarship opportunity in 9th grade. I learned that the Success Academy program made it possible for high school students to earn their Associates Degree, and therefore qualify them for the New Century Scholarship. In the presentations on Success Academy, the New Century was presented continually as the carrot at the end of the stick: the end all, be all goal of the program. Administrators warned Success Academy would be grueling academically, but that the New Century would be worth it in the end.
I decided to join the program and learned the true meaning of grueling. Staying up all night studying became a common occurrence for me, as were long hours at the Dixie State computer center doing homework while my friends were at high school activities. I gave up a lot. I never went to a high school football game. I lost contact with a good majority of my school-aged friends, and went through periods of social isolation all for the sake of earning the grade and the scholarship. Making these sacrifices, to me, would be worth it in the long run when I could put myself through college with no worry of considerable debt.
Though I wanted to quit the entire time, I kept my eye on that carrot at the end of stick and completed what was asked of me. I earned my Associates Degree. I got the required GPA. I graduated with honors, even. So you can imagine my great disappointment and anger when I found out that what I had sacrificed my golden high school years for was cut in half. You can imagine how much more angry I felt when I wasn’t notified and found out on my own only weeks before I start college. In a word, I feel betrayed. I fully understand the need for budget cuts in light of the economic recession, but this cut cuts much farther than pure appropriations and taxpayer dollars. It is quite frankly a robbery of kids’ (emphasis on the word kids’) hard work, scholarship, blood, sweat and tears.
Thank you so much Sen. Urquhart for taking this issue on and looking for a solution. Though I lost a good deal of faith in government when the cuts occurred, the responses I have gotten from supportive legislators about their efforts have helped to restore a degree of that faith.
Thank you Senator Urquhart for taking a stand on this issue and also for proposing a solution with some real numbers. In addition to the cuts that have been made, it has been very disheartening that almost no communication was even made to any of the students about this situation. This scholarship can not just be pushed under the table after so much has been sacrificed.
Thank you for taking a stand on this issue. As a recipient of this scholarship,it is nice to know we have lawmakers on our side.Reading the facts you posted about budget cuts upset me even more. With only an 8% budget cut it seems like we took a lot of the blow. As a whole, we are students who take education seriously. I do not take the money from the state lightly, and will continue to work hard so as not to waste it.
Tax the rich, and make it hurt. Distribute the nation's wealth fairly through robust education systems, fair wages and progressive taxes.
Do it now, Utah. The top 1 percent of Americans have more wealth than than the bottom 90 percent. It's disgusting and unChristian. Free the American serfs and bring dignity to this nation.
This scholarship is the perfect example of programs that need to be preserved. Federal stimulus money to cover the gap does not solve the underlying problem.
The mega rich, simply put, need to be taken down a nothc, pronto.
Senator,
As a former supervisor of Concurrent Enrollment at my university, I wondered when the State was going to wake up. With a push from a few high school counselors, hundreds of students were jumping on board the NCS program--all expecting "free tuition" to finish college. I have some serious questions about the NCS program and its quality, but at this point, the promises have been made. Please, Utah, don't teach students that government need not be ethical.
This is SO funny. When the water gets hot the republicans can never just take accountability for what they have done to people. They have been in control for the last 34 years and they are always screwing people over, but for some reason they just will not be responsible for what they are doing. I would hope that this would be a wake up call for public to see the true colors of the republican party.
Case in point, they can give 35 million for a soccer field but not fund the scholar program. Enough is enough. Lets throw the bums OUT!!!
Re anon @11:58 PM:
So, stealing from people that have been successful in accumulating more wealth than you is not, uh, "unChristian"?
What in the world are we teaching in our schools? What are they teaching in churches?
The earlier comments that said we need to "tax the rich to make it hurt" and "bring the ultra rich down a notch" is punishing someone for working hard and being sucessful...which is exactly what the Utah Legislature and State Board of Higher education has done to these New Century Canidates.
Don't punish someone for thier hard work... they should be rewarded. The "ultra rich" have worked hard and have been rewarded financially for their efforts and these New Century Students should be rewarded (as promised) with the scholarship that they were counting on. They put in a huge amount of time, effort and money to reach thier goal of earning an associate degree while in high school. This goal came at a tremendous cost. They gave up so much... but the end goal was worth it (or so they thought.) If cuts need to be made, cut it elsewhere where promises have not been made!
Let future students decide if the sacrifice is worth it, don't penalize those students who have already worked so hard.
It took my daughter 3 years to reach this goal. She took college night classes, AP classes, CE classes, online college classes as well as online High School classes just to meet the requirements. On 4 different occasions, she re-took classes that she didn't score high enough to earn the necessary credit. She did not give up! She only worked harder. She did not pursue other scholarships because she was focusing all of her efforts on finishing up the needed classes.She was counting on the 75% scholarship. Can't anything be done? This is a great injustice to these students!
This program should be more than cut; it should be eliminated. There's a principle called self reliance that students should be learning in school instead of getting benefits using money that is forcibly taken from others through taxation.
Scholarships are fine if you can't make it on your own, but don't steal money from people who work for a living. It should be voluntarily contributed and completely within the private sector.
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