Notes in the Margins: AP fees, senior-citizen debt and monitoring athletes

Colleges Shed Non-Core Operations Public universities across the U.S. have seen financial support from state governments decline, and have faced growing criticism for raising tuition to help cover the gap. That has prompted some to turn to the private sector for services beyond common areas such as bookstores and restaurants. (The Wall Street Journal)

Universities Track Athletes Online, Raising Legal Concerns Some universities are monitoring the activities of athletes on social media sites, raising privacy concerns. (The New York Times)

Public No More: Why the B-School Model Works As state funds continue to diminish, public universities can select a strategic alternative: They can choose to follow an entrepreneurial path to become “public no more,” with more financial self-reliance and less dependence on entitlement and internal subsidy. As business schools and other areas of the university have shown, this path can lead to academic excellence in a financially sustainable framework, but it requires making some tough choices. (Bloomberg Businessweek via University Business)

Seniors over 60 still stuck paying off college loans  New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that Americans in that age bracket still owe about $36 billion in student loans, providing a rare window into the dynamics of student debt. More than 10 percent of those loans are delinquent. As a result, consumer advocates say, it is not uncommon for Social Security checks to be garnished or for debt collectors to harass borrowers in their 80s over student loans that are decades old. (The Washington Post via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Low-income students struggle with AP exam fee waiver cuts Because of a federal budget cut, tens of thousands of low-income high school students will face steeper price tags for their Advanced Placement exams this May — forcing many to scramble to meet costs and others to forgo exams that could save thousands in college tuition.

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 (The Los Angeles Times)

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