College enrollment is up throughout Missouri, with some institutions posting record numbers.
The University of Missouri is showing a record enrollment this yearwith more than 5,500 freshmen … that’s up nearly 600 from twoyears ago.
Department of Higher Education Commissioner Robert Stein says that trend is being noted statewide.
Stein says the reason behind the college enrollment boost is theflat economy. He says people who have lost their jobs are returning tothe classroom to retrain get new skills, others are diversifying andgetting multiple skills to protect themselves and looking to additionalavenues to be productive to the future economy.
While most are reporting increases in enrollment this year, they’re also facing budget cuts over the past several years. Stein says it’s a nationwide problem. He says educational institutions have to find the balance betweenraising tuition rates to hold the line while not pricing students out.
Governor Nixon has asked the legislature to approve an $800 million bond for capital improvements at Missouri’s colleges anduniversities. Stein says capital needs on campuses and the state needsto find an ongoing and predictable source to fund them.
Myles Hinkel says he and his wife Lora have sat down many times to talk about whether to re-mortgage their home, move into an apartment or ask their parents for another five thousand dollars to continue treatment for their son, Blake.
business is to push to strengthen the ethics that commission members must follow. Zweifel says the steps will remove conflicts of interest and build trust in the agency.
Obama reminded a large audience gathered outside at the university’s quadrangle late Thursday night that the campaign is five days away from transforming America.
Obama sought to tie McCain directly to President Bush, especially on economic policies. Obama blamed the current economic crisis on the policies put into place the past eight years by the Bush Administration. At one time, Obama contrasted the economy under Bush with that under President Clinton, a fellow Democrat, insisting that he would return to the policies that spurred the economy during the Clinton years.