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TECHNOLOGY A23
Monday 14 September 2015
Obama promotes online search tool with college-specific data
sive look at after-college es and hard work in col- the rankings would be ar-
earnings for students who lege is going to pay off,” bitrary and unfair. GOP op-
attended all types of un- said Education Secretary ponents in Congress called
dergraduate institutions, Arne Duncan. it government overreach.
based on tax records. He kicks off a seven-state, The administration ulti-
Someone heading to col- back-to-school bus tour on mately scrapped plans to
lege could see the pro- Monday; Obama is set to use the ratings as a ba-
portion of students at a appear at the first stop, in sis to parcel out billions of
school who earned more Des Moines, Iowa. The two federal dollars in financial
than they would have had will host a town hall meet- aid, and decided against
they entered the job mar- ing on college affordability rating the more than 7,000
ket right after high school. and access. colleges and universities in
Also available: the median The updated scorecard the country.
earnings of former students falls well short of the presi- Instead, the government
who received federal fi- dent’s original plan, pro- said earlier this summer it
nancial aid, at 10 years posed two years ago be- would take a different ap-
after entering the school, fore a crowd of 7,000 at the proach, offering students
with a comparison to the University of Buffalo. and families more data
national average. Obama had said the gov- to help them make better
Searches also show gradu- ernment would design a choices - and draw their
ation rates and typical college ratings system that own conclusions.
student debt and monthly would judge schools on af- Leaders in higher educa-
payments a student would fordability and return on tion who opposed the
owe for each school. investment. Many in higher ratings system cautious-
“Students deserve to know education quickly criticized ly welcomed the new
their investment of resourc- the idea and worried that approach.q
Schumer wants to keep drones
This image provided by the Education Department shows part way from airports, major events
of a new web page that will help students choose the right col-
lege. BY MICHAEL BALSAMO tive locations,” like sporting day.
ASSOCIATED PRESS events, parades or near Schumer said his amend-
Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) -- Drone the Pentagon, Schumer ment was an “elegant so-
manufacturers would be told The Associated Press lution” to a rise in drone in-
BY JENNIFER C. KERR dent Barack Obama said forced to implement tech- on Saturday. cidents at sporting events
ASSOCIATED PRESS in his weekly radio address. nology to keep the un- “God forbid a drone was and parades across the
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Presi- “Many existing college manned crafts away from sucked into the engine of a country. He believed the
dent Barack Obama on rankings reward schools for airports and possibly events passenger airline that was proposal will pass this
Saturday debuted a rede- spending more money and like parades and major flying, it’d be a huge trag- month with bipartisan sup-
signed online tool with col- rejecting more students - sporting contests under edy,” he said. “And it’s a port among legislators.
lege-specific information at a time when America a proposal Sen. Charles matter of time before that Schumer pointed to an in-
about student costs, loans needs our colleges to fo- Schumer plans to introduce happens.” cident earlier this month
and potential earning pow- cus on affordability and this week. Under current regulations, where a drone buzzed
er, scaling back a planned supporting all students who Schumer said he would in- drone pilots must get clear- above a match at the U.S.
ratings system that critics enroll.” troduce an amendment to ance to fly within 5 miles of Open before it crashed into
derided as too subjective The department’s original a bill that funds the Federal a sizeable airport in most empty seats in the stadi-
and unworkable. scorecard had allowed Aviation Administration re- cases. The FAA also noti- um. A high school science
The College Scorecard users to search schools by quiring drones sold or op- fied drone enthusiasts in teacher who had been fly-
- athttps://collegescore- majors offered, ZIP code, erated in the U.S. to have October that the law does ing the drone in a park sur-
card.ed.gov - provides a size and campus setting, geo-fencing technology not allow them to fly the rounding the tennis center
snapshot of what former among other things. that would prevent them aircraft near Major League was arrested on a reckless
students of each school The updated site provides from operating within two Baseball, NFL and NCAA endangerment charge.
might earn, how much fresh data to help students miles of an airport or above Division I college football “Somebody could attach
debt they leave with, and choose the right college, 500 feet. games and major auto weaponry to them, or ex-
what percentage can re- with an emphasis on cost The amendment would races. plosives,” Schumer said.
pay their loans. and post-graduate results, also encourage the FAA FAA officials did not imme- “No one has yet, but soon-
“Everyone should be able department officials said in to enact policies forbid- diately return a message er or later someone will
to find clear, reliable, open promoting the changes. ding drones in other “sensi- seeking comment on Sun- think of that.”q
data on college afford- For example, the scorecard
ability and value,” Presi- offers the first comprehen-
