News

Politically Speaking: Does Snyder’s budget add up for state?

This week’s Free Press column by Jill Alper, “Politically Speaking: Does Snyder’s budget add up for state?“
 

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Lynda Tocci receives the 2011 Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Award

Our colleague Lynda Tocci is a 2011 recipient of the Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Award from the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
 
Previous Roosevelt Awardees include: Philanthropist Barbara Lee, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Senate President Therese Murray, Joseph P. Kennedy, II, Congressman Ed Markey (2003).  Alan Solomont-Current Ambassador to Spain, former Treasurer of DNC,
 
Lynda has been a tireless advocate of Democrats and women candidates for years doing the hard work that gets people elected: field. Nobody is better at getting folks organized and to the polls in a campaign than Lynda. Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Jeanne Shaheen and countless others know just how talented and relentless Lynda is when it comes to winning campaigns.

The Roosevelt Dinner is an annual event hosted by the Massachusetts Democratic Party to honor members of the community who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to furthering the ideals of the Democratic Party through public service.  This tradition celebrates those values, by awarding one woman and one man with awards signifying their impact in continuing the values that President Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt brought to their work and to the lives of so many Americans. This year Lynda Tocci will be honored the Eleanor Roosevelt Award on May 12, 2011 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.
 
Please join us in congratulating her.

Dewey Square helps coordinate today’s launch of “Disable Bullying”

Dewey Square group was honored to help coordinate today’s launch of “Disable Bullying”, a nationwide campaign sponsored by AbilityPath.org, Special Olympics,and Best Buddies International to end the bullying of youth with special needs. Glee actress Lauren Potter will serve as the campaign’s spokesperson and has recorded a public service announcement available here. 

Today’s press conference announcing the launch featured Potter and her mother Robin Sinkhorn, Abilitypath.org CEO Sheryl Young, Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver, Best Buddies International Chairman Anthony Shriver, Calif. Congresswoman Jackie Speier and California State Superintendant for Public Education Tom Torlakson. More information about the “Disable Bullying” Campaign can be found at www.Abilitypath.org. The event was covered by national press, including KTLA-TV, CBS radio, La Opinion, the Huffington Post and blogs around the country.

Join Us for a Very Important Briefing at 10:30 am PST/1:30 pm EST: Abilitypath.org to Launch Disable Bullying Campaign

Tomorrow, Abilitypath.org will launch its nationwide “Disable Bullying” campaign in collaboration with Special Olympics and Best Buddies International, the country’s premier organizations representing those with intellectual disabilities. Participants will be available to brief media on the launch of the “Disable Bullying” Campaign on Tuesday, February 15, at 10:30 am PST/1:30 pm EST. A summary on the report may be viewed here.

Join us!
 
Who: Sheryl Young, CEO, Abilitypath.org
Lauren Potter, Actress, Glee, & mother Robin Sinkhorn
Timothy P. Shriver, Chairman and CEO, Special Olympics
Anthony K. Shriver, Founder and Chairman, Best Buddies International
Congresswoman Jackie Speier, U.S. Representative (CA-12)
Tom Torlakson, California State Superintendant of Public Instruction                     

Call-in Number: (866)219-5269
Call Title: Abilitypath.org Bullying Report
When: Tuesday, February 15, 10:30 am PST/1:30 pm EST

Difficulty Balancing Commitments is Top Reason Adult College Students Drop Out

SAN FRANCISCO—Almost 30 percent of dropouts among adult college students are due to challenges balancing school, work and family, according to a study of more than 45,000 non-traditional students across the United States. Coupled with financial strain, work and family commitments account for more than 50 percent of adult college student dropouts, according to the study conducted by InsideTrack, a national student coaching company.  Just seven percent of adult students who dropped out cited academic challenges.

“The vast majority of adult college students can successfully handle the academic rigors of completing a degree,” said Alan Tripp, InsideTrack CEO.  “But if we want to improve our nation’s graduation rates, particularly among non-traditional students, we need to support them in managing the work, family and financial obstacles that get in the way.”

Nearly two-thirds of adult college students in the U.S. drop out prior to graduation, according to Indiana Wesleyan University research. InsideTrack’s study found, however, about a third of those who drop out do so because of their difficulty balancing commitments. Finances, at 26 percent, were listed as the second-most reported drop reason, with personal effectiveness following at about 14 percent.  Academic reasons alone were reported as the least likely cause for students dropping out.  The study’s results were based on a review of 45,000 student records used to document the results of structured InsideTrack one-on-one coaching sessions and included students from 17 colleges and universities throughout the country.

The majority of university students under 25 years old (about 31 percent) attributed finances as their lead cause for dropping out, according to the InsideTrack data.  For the same age group, managing commitments followed in second place at 23 percent.  Overall, men were a bit more likely than women (31.3 percent for men compared with 27.5 percent for women) to list managing commitments as the main reason for discontinuing their studies. 

Of the approximately two million students who begin bachelor’s degree programs every year, 800,000 will never graduate.  In recent years, the United States has lost valuable ground to other nations, slipping to 9th among nations with the highest percentage of college graduates.  In his 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama said improving the graduation rate is crucial to the U.S. becoming more competitive globally.

“Non-traditional students are quickly becoming the norm in higher education,” Tripp said.  “Addressing our nation’s graduation crisis and regaining our competitive edge will require an increased focus on the factors that prevent adult students from successfully completing their college degrees.”

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The study’s results can be viewed here.

About InsideTrack, Inc.
InsideTrack is the nation’s premier provider of student coaching services. Our mission is to improve student engagement, persistence, and success. InsideTrack has coached more than 250,000 students at more than 50 campuses nationally. Our clients include Penn State University, University of Dayton, Florida State University, and Chapman University. To learn more about InsideTrack, please visit: www.insidetrack.com