DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Biden to call for a fight against antisemitism at a precarious moment in Israel’s war in Gaza and amid protests on campus
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Betsy Klein | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden on Tuesday aims to issue a clarion call to fight a swiftly rising tide of antisemitism amid a precarious moment in Israel’s war against Hamas and as protests have swept American college campuses, laying bare Biden’s trouble with some young voters. Biden’s longtime and stalwart support for Israel has come under intense pressure as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza grows. The president plans to address the long history of antisemitism and issue what one senior administration official familiar with the remarks described as a “call to action” on combatting antisemitism. The protests are not expected to be a major part of the speech, the official added. However, Biden does not intend to use his speech on Tuesday to delve into Middle East policy or the current situation in Israel or Gaza.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden’s, Israel, Biden, White, “ recommit, ” Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, ” Jonathan Greenblatt, John Kirby, Biden “, Benjamin Netanyahu, it’s, Jean, ”, “, Miguel Cardona, Doug Emhoff, Yom HaShoah, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Adolf Hitler “, CNN’s Dana Bash Organizations: Washington CNN, US, White, CNN, Defamation League, ADL, Hamas, National Security, Qatari, White House, Education’s, Civil, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Department’s Office, Institute of Politics, Harvard University’s Kennedy Locations: Israel, Gaza, Cairo, Doha, Qatar, Gazan, Rafah, America, Poland

☆ Why student loan forgiveness remains a key issue for the Biden campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Still, the Biden campaign sees student debt forgiveness as a winning issue. The administration is working on developing another student loan forgiveness program, relying on a different legal authority this time. Student debt policy has come a long wayStill, student loan borrower advocates agree that forgiveness for nearly 4 million people is worth acknowledging. Before the 2016 presidential campaign, broad student debt cancellation was not an issue that candidates usually campaigned on. Cole also served on the Department of Education’s rulemaking committee tasked with developing the new student loan forgiveness program.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, It’s, –, ”, Braxton Brewington, “, ” Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, we’ll, it’s Joe Biden, Seth Schuster, Trump Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren –, Betsy DeVos, “ Joe Biden, ” Warren, DeVos, he’s, The Trump, it’s, There’s, that’s, Brewington, Wisdom Cole, Cole, Jill Biden’s, ” Cole, Warren, CNN’s Ariel Edwards, Levy Organizations: Washington CNN, Supreme, Republican, Biden, Trump Democratic, CNN, Education Department, Corinthian Colleges, The, PSLF, Department of Education, NAACP Youth & College Division, Department, Education’s, State, Union, Black, KFF, NAACP Locations: California, United States, Massachusetts

☆ FAFSA Delays Make Affording College Even Harder - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Justin Draeger | Ted Mitchell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Each year, more than 17 million students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, hoping to secure the financial support they need to afford college. But this year, operational glitches and repeated delays in the U.S. Department of Education’s “Better FAFSA” rollout threaten to harm the very students and families that financial aid is intended to help. Despite promises of an easier, more straightforward application process, students and families so far have been met with glitches and delays, and still today, there are entire groups of students blocked from even completing the form. Students may not receive financial aid offers until April and are typically expected to make a decision about where to attend college by May 1. Others may delay enrolling in college for another year, once the aid application process is running more smoothly.

Organizations: Federal Student Aid, U.S . Department

☆ Palestinian and Muslim students demand investigation into Harvard for allegedly failing to protect them from harassment
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —A federal civil rights complaint was filed on Monday against Harvard University on behalf of Muslim and Palestinian students who say the school failed to protect them from harassment and intimidation, according to the Muslim Legal Fund of America. The complaint, filed with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, calls for an immediate investigation into Harvard, the legal group said. “They are trying to walk the campus but they’re getting accosted because they look like someone who might be Palestinian or Muslim. Last fall, the Education Department launched a federal investigation into Harvard and other universities over alleged incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia. In October, the names and faces of Harvard students allegedly linked to an anti-Israel statement were plastered on a mobile billboard truck that drove near campus.

Persons: MLFA, ”, Christina Jump, “, they’re, “ We’ve, ” MLFA, Alan Garber, ” Garber Organizations: New, New York CNN, Harvard University, Muslim, Fund of America, Department of Education’s, Civil Rights, Harvard, Civil Litigation Department, CNN, Education Department Locations: New York, Israel

☆ Department of Education makes another fix to the FAFSA, unlocking an additional $1.8 billion in financial aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —The Department of Education said this week that it is making an additional adjustment to this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, that will make $1.8 billion more available in financial aid. The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal Pell Grants and federal student loans – and in most cases, the financial aid provided by colleges as well. But initially, the Department of Education did not tie the new FAFSA calculation to the latest inflation data, as required by law. It remains to be seen whether colleges can announce financial aid awards on their usual timeline. FAFSA overhaul will make more students eligible for financial aidSeparate from the inflation adjustment, the overhaul of the FAFSA makes the form easier to fill out and increases the number of families eligible for financial aid.

Persons: ” Justin Draeger, ”, Pell Organizations: Washington CNN —, Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, CNN, NPR, The Washington Post, of Education, National Association of Student Financial, The, Republican, Department of

The departure of Election Assistance Commission executive director Steven Frid, confirmed by the agency on Tuesday, comes just as voting begins in the U.S. presidential election. Frid held the position for less than a year and was the agency’s third executive director in three years. The EAC's chief information officer will serve as acting executive director while a search for a permanent replacement is underway, the EAC commissioners said in a statement. The executive director, along with the general counsel, are the agency’s top two staff positions and have experienced heavy turnover since 2019. The EAC now heads into a major election year without an executive director or general counsel.

Persons: Steven Frid, Frid, chad ” Organizations: U.S, EAC, U.S . Department of, Secret Service, U.S . Coast Guard, Personnel Management, Help, Associated Press, AP Locations: Florida

☆ University of Tampa facing investigation in the wake of Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Katie Lobosco | Rene Marsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —The University of Tampa and a Florida school district, Hillsborough County Schools, are under investigation by the Department of Education related to alleged incidents of discrimination in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The investigations were launched by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Any person or organization can file a Title VI complaint with the Office for Civil Rights. The Office for Civil Rights has now opened a total of 27 Title VI investigations this year. Kenneth Marcus, founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center, told CNN he thinks the Office for Civil Rights could be doing more.

Persons: CNN doesn’t, they’ve, ”, Jonathan Fansmith, Kenneth Marcus, Trump, “ It’s, ” Marcus Organizations: Washington CNN — The University of Tampa, Hillsborough County Schools, Department of Education, New York’s Columbia University, Columbia, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Education’s, Civil Rights, Civil, Office, CNN, American Council, Education, “, University of Tampa, Columbia University, College, FBI, Ivy League school’s, Brandeis Center, Wellesley College Locations: Florida, Hillsborough, Israel, New, ”, Massachusetts

☆ U.S. Investigates Colleges for Antisemitism and Islamophobia Complaints
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Hurubie Meko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Protests by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups on college campuses have intensified tensions between students groups, faculty and administrations in recent weeks. Universities have struggled to contain the blowback as students and faculty raise concerns over both security and free speech. On Tuesday, about 400 students gathered at Columbia University to protest the war and to criticize university leaders for suspending two pro-Palestinian student groups through the end of the semester. The university said it would cooperate with the investigation and said it was taking steps to address antisemitism. Three Jewish students sued New York University this week over what they said was a hostile environment that had allowed antisemitism to go unchecked.

Persons: Biden, Catherine E, Lhamon, Ben Chang, Kathy Hochul, banged, N.Y.U, John Beckman Organizations: Columbia, Cooper Union, Cornell, Hamas, U.S . Department of Education’s, Civil Rights, Wellesley College, University of Pennsylvania, Lafayette College, Maize, Office, Civil, Israel, Universities, Columbia University, Cornell University, Gov, New York University Locations: New York, Israel, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kansas

☆ Miguel Cardona, Miseducation Secretary
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona Photo: Lev Radin/Zuma PressThe federal Department of Education’s mission is supposed to be . Apparently Education Secretary Miguel Cardona thinks it’s something other than improving educational results. New national test results this week showed eighth-grade U.S. history scores at an all-time low, and Mr. Cardona’s response was to attack the GOP. Scores dropped the most among the lower performers. The civics results are similarly depressing.

☆ What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Student Loans?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

Read on to understand the details of not paying your student loans:What happens if you don’t pay your student loans? “The key is to communicate with their servicer or lender.”What happens when you don’t pay your student loans varies by loan type: Defaulting on federal student loans can follow you for life, whereas private student loan collections efforts have a statute of limitations. Here’s a closer look at what happens when you don’t pay your federal student loans, followed by what happens when you don’t pay your private loans. What happens if you don’t pay your federal student loans? “The Fresh Start program is likely the best pandemic-era student loan program to actually fix structural problems hurting student loan borrowers,” says Farrington.

☆ LGBTQ students wrestle with tensions at Christian colleges
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

“It’s kind of a tightrope,” said John Scarano, campus ministry director at John Carroll University, a Jesuit school near Cleveland with “safe zone trainings” as part of its ministry to LGBTQ students. Last year, 33 LGBTQ students or former students at federally funded Christian schools filed a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education, claiming the department’s religious exemption allows schools that receive federal dollars to unconstitutionally discriminate against LGBTQ students. In May, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights launched a separate investigation for alleged violations of the rights of LGBTQ students at six Christian universities — including Liberty University. A high-stakes clash between students, faculty and the school’s board of trustees over hiring LGBTQ faculty is unfolding at Seattle Pacific University, a 131-year-old school affiliated with the Free Methodist Church. “I find that tragic.”To students like Fisher in Minnesota, concrete actions will show if LGBTQ people can truly be welcomed on Christian campuses.

☆ How to Apply for Student Loan Forgiveness
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +15 min

The official student loan forgiveness application is available on the Federal Student Aid website. What you can do now to prepare for student loan repayment and reliefFirst and foremost, you can fill out the application for up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness on the Federal Student Aid website. “January will almost certainly be a chaotic time for the [student loan] servicers,” says Michael Lux, attorney and founder of The Student Loan Sherpa. You might also check out alternative options for student loan forgiveness, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Teacher Loan Forgiveness. If your state charges a tax rate of 5%, for example, expect to pay about $500 in taxes on $10,000 in loan forgiveness or $1,000 on $20,000 in loan forgiveness.

Search resuls for: "Department of Education’s"

12 mentions found