Notes in the Margins: Bad professors, placement tests and debt

Massive college debt can burden graduates for decades Higher education costs are being passed on to students and their families, who find themselves deeper into debt as the tuition bill climbs. (USA Today)

Community college tries an alternative to placement tests The two-year college is making some placement decisions based on new students' high school grades instead of their scores on a standardized exam. (Los Angeles Times)

6 Ways to Deal With a Bad Professor Students should handle the situation, but parents can help. (U.S. News & World Report)

Why public university presidents are under fire We know an industry is in crisis when its top institutions cannot establish stable leadership. That is the case with some of our nation's best public universities today. (CNN)

Senate leaders say they have agreement on preventing student loan interest rate increase The Senate’s top Democrat and Republican said they’ve reached a deal to prevent interest rates on college loans from doubling beginning this weekend for millions of students. But House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has yet to decide whether the pact will be acceptable to his Republican-run chamber. (Associated Press via NAICU)

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