Education

Education Commissioner Gist Responds to Teacher Concerns

Flo Jonic — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:11:59 +0000

State Education Commissioner Deborah Gist is responding to teachers who say she has an overbearing management style and is disconnected from the rank and file. At a meeting Monday night, more than 500 teachers demanded that Gist’s contract not be renewed when it expires next month.

Gist said she welcomes the feedback of teachers and hopes that in the years to come management and staff can avoid acrimony and focus on what’s best for students.

Thousands of College Students Graduate Over the Weekend

Flo Jonic — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:25:37 +0000

Rhode Island is teeming with freshly minted college graduates this morning. Over the weekend, commencement ceremonies were held at all three public colleges, as well as Johnson &Wales, Roger Williams University, Bryant University, Salve Regina University and Providence College.

At Rhode Island College a flash mob formed at the end of the ceremony. Graduates from the music, theater and dance departments led the crowd of 1,400 in a special rendition of “I’ve had the Time of My Life.”

Former Brown President Simmons Honored by French Government

Flo Jonic — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:28:03 +0000

Former Brown University president Ruth Simmons is being honored by the French government for her contributions to the advancement of French arts and culture.

Brown has been named Chevalier in the French National Order of the Legion of Honor. The award is the highest decoration offered by the French government.

Simmons is not only fluent in French but has written about French-speaking authors and poets.

Sen. Jack Reed Proposes Changes to Student Loan Interest Rates

Catherine Welch — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:23:00 +0000

Staring down a July 1^st deadline, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are looking at ways to control the costs of federal student loans. Senator Jack Reed is behind a measure that would overhaul how student loan interest rates are calculated.

Reed and a handful of democrats in Congress are pushing legislation that offers adjustable rates and caps the maximum interest rates on federal loans. The bill also allows borrowers stuck with high interest rates to refinance.

Safety Concerns Push URI Graduation Indoors

Don Borman — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:34:04 +0000

The University of Rhode Island is moving its graduation indoors. The university said it’s for safety reasons.

URI said the recent gun scare on campus and the bombings in Boston prompted it to move the graduation ceremony into the Ryan Center. Graduating student Kelly Harris is unhappy with the move. She said students are limited to bringing two guests and that will make it harder for her friends and family to see her walk across the stage.

“This is affecting the vast majority of graduating seniors,” said Harris.

Do Rhode Island State College Police Need Guns?

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:15:17 +0000

The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear testimony Wednesday on a bill that would allow Rhode Island State College Police to carry guns.

Legislation Allows Arms for State Campus Police

Elisabeth Harrison — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:56:09 +0000

The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing this week on a bill to allow campus police to carry guns at Rhode Island state colleges and universities. The bill was filed long before a scare this month about a gunman on the University of Rhode Island Kingston campus.

Contract Extension Likely For Ed. Commissioner Gist

Elisabeth Harrison — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:46:50 +0000

Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist is working out terms for an extension of her contract. The controversial Gist is expected to remain at the helm of the state Department of Education.

Education Commissioner Deborah Gist led the team that brought Rhode Island a $75 million federal Race to the Top grant. But she’s also been criticized for shepherding in an era of tough teacher evaluations and high stakes testing as a graduation requirement.

Bill Would Make In-State Tuition for Immigrants Law

Flo Jonic — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:47:06 +0000

Two Providence lawmakers are throwing their support behind a bill that would upgrade in-state college tuition for undocumented students from a state policy to a state law. It’s a bill that’s been introduced before.

Two years ago the Board of Governors for Higher Education signed off on a policy that provides in-state tuition for undocumented students who have attended a Rhode Island high school for at least three years. State Senator Juan Pichardo of Providence says it’s time to upgrade that policy to a state law.

Student Loan Program Provides Relief in Exchange for Internships

Flo Jonic — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:48:10 +0000

Internships are generally unpaid. But they will pay off handsomely under a new program announced Tuesday by the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority. Starting May 1^st the Authority, known as RISLA, will forgive $2,000 of a student’s loan if he or she completes an internship worth three credit hours. It will be forgiven upon graduation.

RISLA director Charles Kelley says the idea is to stem the brain drain, the practice of promising young college students leaving the state for lack of work.