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What Happens When You Warn Students About Their Loan Debt?

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What if lowering student debt was as easy as sending students a letter?

by Sophie Quinton for Stateliness News/Pew Trust

Indiana University officials say borrowing by undergraduates at the school has dropped 18 percent since 2012. That’s when the university began sending students annual letters that estimate their total loan debt and future monthly payments, as part of a push to boost their financial literacy.

Inspired by the results at IU, Indiana last year began requiring all colleges that accept state aid to send letters. Nebraska followed with a similar law this spring.

Republican Rep. Casey Cox, the author of the Indiana legislation, says he gets phone calls from officials in other states interested in the idea. And U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, an Indiana Democrat, has proposed requiring the federal Department of Education to keep a list of financial literacy best practices, perhaps including student loan letters.

A growing number of students need to borrow — and borrow heavily — to finance their college educations. And giving them more information about their debt may help change their borrowing habits. Research suggests that students say no to loans when they’re told how much they’re borrowing and how loans could weigh on them in the future.

But the approach carries risks, too. In some cases, borrowing less may make it harder for students to graduate. They might have to spend more time working and less time studying. Or they might opt for less expensive institutions that do less to guide them.

Although IU officials think financial literacy makes a difference, they haven’t actually proven that the letters — or any other initiative — drove borrowing down.

“From a research perspective, we haven’t gotten to the point where we can say it had an impact,” said Victor Borden, professor of educational leadership and policy studies at IU Bloomington. He and a team of researchers are scouring data to find out exactly what worked.

Students Who Borrow Too Much

Cox, the author of the Indiana law, is one of the youngest members of the Legislature. The 30-something is still paying off his law school loans.

He said he was inspired by his alma mater’s efforts and his own memories of how tempting it was for students to borrow as much as possible. “At a young age, you may not really understand the consequences of that debt,” he said.

Some students may not know they’re borrowing at all. Researchers at the Brookings Institution, a centrist Washington, D.C., think tank, dug into federal survey data in 2014 and found that over a quarter of first-year college students with federal student loans didn’t know their loans came from the federal government. About half of those students had no idea they were borrowing money to pay for college.

Students can be confused for a number of reasons. Their parents may be handling the financial aid details, for example. The way student loans are packaged and disbursed doesn’t help, said Andrew Kelly of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-leaning Washington think tank.

A few months after a student sends a financial aid application to the federal government, an award letter arrives from the college, which may knock a chunk of money off the tuition bill — or cover it entirely. “It just kind of arrives, like manna from heaven,” Kelly said of financial aid.

Behind the scenes, two things happen: The government calculates how much the student’s family can afford to pay for the education. And the college calculates the total cost of attendance, including living expenses. Both of those calculations determine how much federal and state need-based grants, work-study aid and loans the student can receive. The college may provide scholarships, too.

Students usually accept whatever aid colleges award them without questioning whether they could live more cheaply — and borrow less. And, Cox has said, some students may borrow extra money to fund a better lifestyle.

The temptation to borrow too heavily may be particularly strong for part-time students, who can borrow the same amount for living expenses as full-time students. The students may end up borrowing for many years, racking up more debt or even hitting federal loan limits before they manage to graduate.

More Information May Help

When the news broke that borrowing at IU had fallen, students there told Bloombergthe loan letters had spurred them to avoid debt by working more, looking for scholarships, and avoiding spending on living expenses like new cellphones.

But it’s not clear that IU’s letters are driving the decrease in borrowing. The letters were part of a bigger push to educate students about money that included counseling, a podcast, and a new website that offers quizzes and calculators. The university also has changed its financial aid process to make it easier for students to say no to loans.

Before all the financial literacy work began, said Phil Schuman, the university’s director of financial literacy, “I don’t think students actually knew they had the option to take less.”

IU also has been pushing its 94,000 undergraduates to enroll in 15 credits each semester — the pace necessary for graduation in four years. “It might not necessarily be that students are taking out less money each semester, but that they’re graduating on time,” Schuman said.

Across IU’s seven main campuses, 42 percent of full-time students seeking a bachelor’s degree graduate in four years, up from 38 percent five years ago according to the latest data. This past year, the cost of attendance — including tuition, fees, room and board —ran to $21,412 for in-state IU students.

A team led by IU’s Borden will use statistical analysis to parse all the factors that could be affecting borrowing, from the availability of state grants to student wealth. They will try to determine whether the financial aid letters, the literacy push, or the change in loan processing did the most to lower overall debt. The university made other changes during the period, such as increasing institutional grant aid, which also could have made a difference.

Other research shows that a combination of letters and counseling can change students’ borrowing and academic behavior.

Montana State University students with high debt who received letters alerting them to that debt and encouraging them to seek counseling borrowed an average of one-third, or $1,360, less the next semester, according to a 2015 analysis by Montana State and Federal Reserve researchers.

The students went on to take more credits and earn better grades the following semester, the study found. The same research team found in a forthcoming study that students who received the letters were 2 percentage points more likely to switch to a major associated with higher-paying jobs.

Students with lower grades tended to switch their majors to business, while students with higher grades tended to switch to majors in science, technology, engineering or math.

The federal government mandates that students undergo counseling twice, once before they receive loans and once after they leave the institution. (Most colleges provide this information online.) The Indiana and Nebraska laws don’t require colleges to add additional counseling, although many colleges already offer services similar to IU’s.

Students Who Borrow Too Little

Yet student loan letters can also have a downside. They can deter students from taking out loans they really need to finance their education.

“It’s just a really complex issue,” said Robert Kelchen, an assistant professor at Seton Hall University who studies student debt. “The policy discussion is that students need to borrow less. And the reality is that some students may be able to borrow less, but some may need to borrow more.”

Students may choose to work their way through college to graduate debt-free. But by working rather than studying, they may find it harder to graduate on time — or to graduate at all.

“The one thing we don’t want is students who are so stressed about their finances they can’t focus on their academics,” Schuman said.

Whether a student is borrowing too much or too little depends on a range of factors, from family wealth to the chosen degree and whether the student graduates, said Kelly of the American Enterprise Institute. “Someone who borrows the maximum amount for a solid program at a community college or a four-year college and finishes — it’s hard to say that they overborrowed,” he said.

Schuman said he has had to tell students that debt isn’t necessarily a bad thing, particularly when they’re working toward a degree that will lead to a high-paying job. He recently talked to a chemical engineering major at another institution who had about $10,000 in debt and was scared it was too much. “She was going to be fine!” he said.

Comprehensive Mental Health Legislation Passes House Floor 

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(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passedH.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s mental health treatment system.

Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 2646:

“Our mental health system is broken and ineffective. Patients and their families are being left behind as they struggle to find help,” said Bucshon. “Every American deserves the opportunity to live out his life and pursue his potential with hope and dignity. This landmark legislation helps make sure that patients with mental illness have access to the treatment they need when they need it.  It reforms the delivery of care by focusing on evidence-based treatment and retailoring mental health programs and resources. As a physician, I’m proud of our work to pass this well-crafted legislation that will bring relief to families and will continue my work to make sure every American has access to quality, affordable healthcare.” 

H.R. 2646 previously passed unanimously out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in June with the support of Bucshon.

St. Mary’s Hospital for Women & Children Births Records

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Courtney and Matthew Marx, Haubstadt, Ind., Daughter, Emily Sue, Jun. 26

Heather and Ian Towns, Evansville, Daughter, Arya Roxanna, Jun. 26

Samantha and Michael Chappell, Princeton, Ind., Son, Braden Lee, Jun. 27

Michelle and Dusten Brown, McLeansboro, Ill., Daughter, Avery Grace, Jun. 27

Merry and Paul Neyenhaus Jr., Dale, Ind., Son, Westin Urban, Jun. 27

Briana and Chadd Huffman, Newburgh, Ind., Daughter, Bryleigh Taylor, Jun. 27

Aimee and Scott Ames, Newburgh, Ind., Son, Karter Matthias, Jun. 27

Erin and David Cates, Evansville, Daughter, Bradlee Rose, Jun. 28

Jessica Tucker, Evansville, Daughter, Harmony Nevaeh, Jun. 28

Holly and Jacob Pendleton, Evansville, Son, Robert Warren, Jun. 28

Tiah Conklin, Evansville, Daughter, Albany Starr, Jun. 28

Dorothy Burch and Bobby Courtney, Evansville, Daughter, Myrah Jay, Jun. 28

Amy and Bill West, Albion, Ill, Daughter, Bentley Maye, Jun. 29

Kristen and Jacob Hildenbrand, Evansville, Son, Dawson Michael, Jun. 29

Jaclyn and Gage Grogan, Evansville, Daughter, Lorna Elaine, Jun. 29

Latasha and Michael Biggs II, Henderson, Ky., Daughter, Claire Lillian, Jun. 29

Ambre and Anthony Kissel, Newburgh, Ind., Son, Laithan Anthony, Jun. 29

Ambre and Anthony Kissel, Newburgh, Ind., Daughter, Makenna Jo, Jun. 29

Keri Maddox and Erik Summitt, Haubstadt, Ind., Son, Osborne Reed, Jun. 29

Jessalyn and Kevin Jacks, Evansville, Daughter, Sophia Grace, Jun. 30

Jasmine Jones and Ras’Shan Johnson, Evansville, Daughter, Ra’Shiaana Diane Marie, Jun. 30

Sarah and Matt Latham, Newburgh, Ind., Daughter, Emily Marie, Jun. 30

Lacey McDonald, Evansville, Son, Napharoah Adam, Jun. 30

Laurie Schaefer and Blake Rhodes, Evansville, Son, Kayson Andru, Jun. 30

Shannon and Jonathan Eickhoff, Evansville, Son, Nolan Fredrick, Jul. 1

Cassandra and Edwin David, Newburgh, Ind., Son, Griffin Kenneth, Jul. 1

Carneluia Fields, Evansville, Son, Prince Glad’Ameris La’Troy, Jul. 1

Vanderburgh County Democratic Party Calendar of Events 7/6/2016

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Friday,
July 15th
Fundraiser TBD Red’s Day at the Races Fundraiser for Steve Lockyear

  • Details TBD
Tuesday,
July 19th
Fundraiser 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Zachary Heronemus for County Clerk Fundraiser

  • Location: Home of Dr. Matt & Annie Hanka – 1350 E. Chandler Ave – Evansville, IN
  • Suggested Contribution: $30
  • Please RSVP to Ryan Beal @ (812) 760-1578 or rtbeal@gmail.com or zhforcountyclerk@gmail.com
Tuesday,
July 26th
Fundraiser 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Steve Melcher for County Commissioner Fundraiser

  • Location: Franklin Street Tavern – 2126 W Franklin St – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
July 27th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: West River Health Campus – 714 S Eickhoff Rd  – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
August 3rd
Fundraiser 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Missy Mosby’s Annual 39th Birthday Party

  • Location: Fraternal Order of Police – 801 Court St – Evansville, IN
  • Cost: $9 per person
  • Sponsorships Available
Thursday,
August 4th
JJ Dinner 5:00 PM Vanderburgh County Jefferson-Jackson Dinner

  • Location: Tropicana Evansville – 421 NW Riverside Dr  – Evansville, IN
  • Precinct Leaders: $25 per person or $40 per couple.
  • General Admission: $75 – VIP Admission: $125
  • Table Sponsorship: $1,500
  • Special Guests: US Senator Joe Donnelly, US Senate Candidate Baron Hill, Indiana Party Chairman John Zody. with the Keynote Address by Lt. Governor Candidate Christina Hale
  • To purchase tickets, visit www.vanderburghdems.com or call (812) 464-9100
Wednesday,
August 31st
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court St  – Evansville, IN
Friday,
September 9th
Golf Scramble 1:00 PM
Shotgun Start
2016 Labor Temple Golf Scramble

  • Location: Boonville Country Club – 5244 IN-61  – Boonville, IN
  • $75 per individual – $300 per foursome – $425 for Foursome and Hole Sponsor
  • For more information, contact Madi Goebel @ (812) 422-2552
Saturday,
September 10th
Fundraiser TBA Rick Riney for Perry Township Trustee Annual Fish Fry

  • Details TBA
Wednesday,
September 28th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court St  – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
October 26th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court St  – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
November 30th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court St  – Evansville, IN

USI Women’s Soccer Reveals 2016 Schedule

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Screaming Eagles host invitational to kick-off season
The University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer team kicks-off the 2016 campaign hosting the Dunn Hospitality Invitational over the September 2 and September over the Labor Day weekend. The invitational begins an 18-game schedule that includes 10 home games.

The invitational, which includes USI, Kentucky Wesleyan College, University of Illinois Springfield, and the University of Findlay, starts a five-game homestand to start the fall for the Screaming Eagles. Following the invitational games against Findlay September 2 and Kentucky Wesleyan September 4, USI hosts Oakland City University September 7 before opening Great Lakes Valley Conference action against the University of Missouri-St. Louis September 9.

On the road, the Eagles will face defending GLVC champion and NCAA II Tournament qualifier Truman State University September 18, in addition to NCAA II Tournament qualifiers Quincy University September 16 and the University Indianapolis October 2.

USI enters 2016 under the direction of Eric Schoenstein, who took over as head coach in February. The Eagles return their top scorer from last year in sophomore forward Ryley Hancock (Evansville, Indiana), who had nine points on two goals and a team-high five assists.

 

Adopt A Pet

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 Chikita is a 9-month-old female Chihuahua. She is pretty terrified of just about everything at the shelter. She will need a child-free home with someone who’s able to spend lots of cuddle time with her. Take Chikita home spayed, microchipped, and vaccinated for only $120! Call (812) 426-2563 or visit www.vhslifesaver.org for adoption details!

Daviess County Prosecutor Daniel S. Murrie Takes on IPAC Leadership Role 

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INDIANAPOLIS (July 6, 2016) – Daviess County Prosecutor Daniel S. Murrie is the new chairman of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council (IPAC) Board of Directors. He was elected to the post during the recent IPAC 2016 Summer Conference in Lawrenceburg.

In assuming the IPAC leadership role, Murrie said, “IPAC assists prosecuting attorneys by preparing manuals, providing legal research, and conducting training seminars. Everything we work on helps to make our judicial system more efficient for everyone. I’m really looking forward to working with the 90 other prosecutors in this state, along with our Legislature, to make Indiana a leader in its common sense approach to public safety.”

Murrie is serving his second term as Daviess County Prosecutor. He served two terms as chief deputy prosecutor and has been the office’s lead trial counsel since 2002.

Vice chairman of the board is now Washington County Prosecutor Dustin Houchin. Secretary/Treasurer of the IPAC Board is St. Joseph County Prosecutor Kenneth Cotter. At-Large Executive Committee member is Todd Meyer, Boone County Prosecutor. William C. Hartley Jr., Wabash County Prosecutor, is the outgoing IPAC Board Chairman.

The 3-day summer conference for elected prosecuting attorneys and their deputies featured specialized training in corrupt business influence cases, trial discovery, Indiana criminal code reform, the impact of legalizing marijuana in Colorado, reducing recidivism, e-filing implementation, arson investigations and the Indiana Recovery Works program.

The prosecutors also heard from the office of the Indiana Attorney General. About 150 Indiana prosecuting attorneys and their deputies attended the event.

Elected to one-year terms to the IPAC board of directors were Vermillion County Prosecutor Bruce Aukerman, Marion County Prosecutor Terry R. Curry and Cass County Prosecutor Lisa Swaim. Two-year board members elected were Delaware County Prosecutor Jeffrey Arnold, Monroe County Prosecutor Christopher G. Gaal, Wabash County Prosecutor William C. Hartley Jr. and Dubois County Prosecutor Anthony Quinn.

Unlicensed social worker must answer accused molester’s questions

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The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that an unlicensed social worker who provided services to the victim of a man accused of molestation is not protected under the counselor/client privilege in I.C. 25-23.6-6.1. As a result, the woman must answer four questions her attorney previously advised her not to answer.

James Rogers faces several charges of felony child molesting, intimidation, child solicitation and battery resulting in bodily injury after his then 8-year-old niece accused him of molesting her while she was at a sleepover at his home. Rogers deposed Amy Wallace, who provided social services support to victim B.L. and her family. Wallace worked for Shepherd Community Center, which partnered with Horizon Christian School, where B.L. was a student at some point prior to the allegations. Rogers’ attorney learned there had been Department of Child Services reports filed against B.L. or her family and there were concerns B.L.’s mother had been prostituting her in return for drugs.

While deposing Wallace, Rogers’ counsel asked her four questions that her attorney told her not to answer: Did your counseling relationship with B.L. and her family involve anything other than [Mother’s] injury? What did [Shepherd pastor and CEO Rev.] Jay Height tell you that he heard about any sexual or otherwise inappropriate behavior between B.L. and other children? What conversations did you have with other staff members at Horizon Christian School regarding their or your concerns about B.L.’s behavior prior to your employment at Shepherd that were related to previous [DCS] reports? Provide the names of parents who filed [DCS] reports on B.L. and/or her parents or siblings.

The attorney invoked counselor/client privilege, as found in I.C. 25-23.6-6-1. Rogers filed a motion to compel, which was denied, leading to this interlocutory appeal.

Rogers argued that because Wallace is not a licensed social worker, the statute that lists the applicable professions does not apply to her. Wallace does have a degree in social work. Rogers maintained that the phrase at the end of the statute, “who is licensed under this article,” requires her to be licensed. The state argued that the ending phrase only modifies clinical addiction counselor, since there is no comma before the word “who.”

“Although it was permissible for Wallace, in her role as Family Ministries Team Leader at Shepherd, to provide social services work to individuals and their families, this ability to provide services does not mandate a finding that her communications are privileged under the counselor/client privilege found in Indiana Code section 25-23.6-6-1,” Judge James Kirsch wrote. “Rather, we find that the legislative history of the term ‘counselor’ reveals that, for purposes of the counselor-client privilege, the Legislature intended only licensed social workers to be covered by that privilege. Related statutes support this determination, as well as the principles that evidentiary privileges such as the counselor/client privilege must be strictly construed and that, in criminal cases, ambiguous statutes should be construed in favor of a defendant. We thus conclude that a social worker must be licensed in order to fall within the scope of the counselor/client privilege found in Indiana Code section 25-23.6-6-1.”

The case, James E. Rogers v. State of Indiana, 49A02-1508-CR-1033, is remanded for further proceedings.

Technology Firms Adding More High-Wage Jobs in Indianapolis

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Indianapolis – Two technology companies, Brite Systems and Site Strategics, announced plans today to expand their operations here, together creating up to 77 new high-wage jobs over the next few years and continuing a trend of tech growth in Indiana.
“Indiana has built one of the strongest environments in the nation for job creation, which is supporting today’s exciting growth in the tech industry,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Compared to other tech hubs around the country, Indiana provides an affordable, fiscally-predictable and limited-regulation business climate. Innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators like Brite Systems and Site Strategics continue to choose Indiana for growth, helping our state create more than 147,000 new Hoosier jobs in just the last three and half years.”

Brite Systems, an information technology (IT) services company specializing in consulting and software development, will invest $128,000 to grow its employee base and its office at 101 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis. Founded in 2006, the minority-owned business works to resolve client issues, which range from small business IT needs to large institutions that operate many software applications. Brite Systems’ expansion plans will allow the company to meet the demands of its growing number of clients throughout the nation.

“We are thrilled to be part of this thriving and vibrant community of Indianapolis and proud to call ourselves a homegrown Hoosier company,” said Jay Fernando, chief executive officer of Brite Systems. “The state of Indiana’s world-class universities and knowledge base fulfills our ever-growing need to hire and retain top-notch technology professionals. Our future expansion plans will always be centered right here in central Indiana.”

Brite Systems currently employs 34 Hoosiers. As part of its rapid growth, the company plans to create up to 52 new jobs by 2021, with positions expected to pay more than 50 percent higher than the state average wage. The company plans to begin hiring this month, adding positions in sales, marketing, project management, software architecture, software development and business analytics. Interested applications may apply by emailing resumes to jobs@britesys.com.

Site Strategics, a digital marketing services company, will invest $544,000 to lease a new 5,400-square-foot headquarters facility at 1317 N. Pennsylvania St. in Indianapolis. With construction scheduled to be complete later this month, Site Strategics has outgrown its current 1,900-square-foot facility in Southport, which opened in 2009 following five years at an office in Zionsville. The new space will be optimized for team collaboration and creativity, as well as facilities to host clients and business partners. Additionally, the company’s office will feature a state-of-the-art podcasting facility for its Edge of the Web podcast, a four-year-old program discussing digital marketing tactics and interviews with national marketing leaders. Site Strategics currently serves more than 35 clients across the country, adding 10 within the last six months, and is generating 45 percent growth on average each quarter.

“This is an exciting time. We’ve honed a good engine here, and we know what works,” said Erin Sparks, owner of Site Strategics. “I’m delighted that we can grow this business here in Indiana where cooperation between the business sector, our government and the nonprofit community is so healthy.”

Site Strategics currently employs 10 Hoosiers. As part of its projected growth, the company plans to create up to 25 new jobs by 2020 with average wages expected to be nearly 40 percent higher than the state average wage. Site Strategics is currently hiring for web and business development positions. Interested applicants may apply online at www.sitestrategics.com/jobs.

According to real estate firm CBRE Research, the Indianapolis area added more than 3,000 high-tech jobs from 2012 to 2014, growing at a rate of 18 percent and exceeding the national average of 5.7 percent. That job creation continues with growth at Brite Systems and Site Strategics, as well as news in May that Salesforce, one of the world’s fastest growing software companies, is adding an additional 800 new Hoosier jobs in the coming years. Just last month technology companies Torchlite, Determine and Sigstr each announced that they’re growing in central Indiana, together adding an additional 275 new jobs for Hoosiers.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Brite Systems Inc. up to $565,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s creation plans. In addition, Site Strategics was offered up to $230,000 in conditional tax credits based on its creation plans. These incentives are performance based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Indianapolis supports expansion plans for Brite Systems and Site Strategics in partnership with Develop Indy, a business unit of the Indy Chamber.