Tuition fees for Academics

[Just1More]

I think they should make it a hybrid system. Raise the standards but keep some slightly lower standards for a need based component.

Shouldn't a totally separate "grant system" be in place for financial hardship? There are more issues than strictly an "under-qualified" student getting TOPS and not being qualified to keep it. Some high schoolers can make decent grades in high school and simply not move on to the "collegiate lifestyle" without floundering. That percentage failure may be hard to eradicate.

One thing I'd like to see is... is there a direct coorelation to the ACT and other entrance criteria and at what level students do not maintain their TOPS? In other words, is a 30 composite ACT and above graduating at 96%, a 29 composite at 87%, down to a 24 composite at 33% (to evaluate a new cut-off?). And what is the correlation with ACT score and their selection of major? There may be too many guidance councelors allowing an average student selecting too hard of a major. Are their math and science ACT scores good enough for them to select a math/science major?

If you are asking for TOPS money, you shouldn't just get to go try out whatever major your heart desires if your mind can't keep up.

[Just1More]

Tops should be eliminated, period. There are other options that are out there for free tuition such as the National Guard or the Reserves. Plus they pay you to go to school and instill discipline and a sense of self worth by serving for something much larger than yourself.

I think certain individuals should be given no other option. You really dislike the entire TOPS program?

[Just1More]

Or better yet----Pay tuition REIMBURSEMENT after attainment of a satisfactory grade report at the end of each semester.

That is almost akin to having them have to pay it back. It's a pretty severe alternative and should only come into play if we cannot make the current system achieve higher results.

[SlappyCajun]

Shouldn't a totally separate "grant system" be in place for financial hardship? There are more issues than strictly an "under-qualified" student getting TOPS and not being qualified to keep it. Some high schoolers can make decent grades in high school and simply not move on to the "collegiate lifestyle" without floundering. That percentage failure may be hard to eradicate.

One thing I'd like to see is... is there a direct coorelation to the ACT and other entrance criteria and at what level students do not maintain their TOPS? In other words, is a 30 composite ACT and above graduating at 96%, a 29 composite at 87%, down to a 24 composite at 33% (to evaluate a new cut-off?). And what is the correlation with ACT score and their selection of major? There may be too many guidance councelors allowing an average student selecting too hard of a major. Are their math and science ACT scores good enough for them to select a math/science major?

If you are asking for TOPS money, you shouldn't just get to go try out whatever major your heart desires if your mind can't keep up.

Yeah. I can't disagree with this. It seems like we should have enough data in place by this point to make some determinations.

[CajunFan3406]

Tops should be eliminated, period. There are other options that are out there for free tuition such as the National Guard or the Reserves. Plus they pay you to go to school and instill discipline and a sense of self worth by serving for something much larger than yourself.

No thanks. TOPS paid for my schooling, and I think I turned out ok. I didn't need the National Guard or Reserves to do it.

[BeauCajun]

No thanks. TOPS paid for my schooling, and I think I turned out ok. I didn't need the National Guard or Reserves to do it.

And no money out of my pocket.

TOPS was a reward for 12 years of HARD WORK preparing yourself to be in the situation you are in today. Those who don't put in the hard work are those who don't believe in the benefits of TOPS.

[cajunhawk]

In reality TOPS isn't that hard to get...I never once studied for tests in High School...and was eligible for TOPS except for one extra foreign language course. Make the minimum GPA for TOPS 3.5 and the minimum ACT score 25. Hell, the lowest level of TOPS is given for people with a 2.5 GPA and a 17 on the ACT. That is for Technical schools but still...if this is your best...that's awful. This is basically a free ride from the government that you didn't have to join the military for. There should be stricter requirements. Same as with an academic scholarship. If Louisiana wants better grads...then asking them to do the minimum is not good enough. I'm all for TOPS, I just think it is way too easy to get and maintain it.

[raoul]

That is almost akin to having them have to pay it back. It's a pretty severe alternative and should only come into play if we cannot make the current system achieve higher results.

Huh? The student would get reimbursed after demonstrating that they are serious students, capable of completing a semester, at least. No one "pays it back"

[CajunFan3406]

In reality TOPS isn't that hard to get...I never once studied for tests in High School...and was eligible for TOPS except for one extra foreign language course. Make the minimum GPA for TOPS 3.5 and the minimum ACT score 25. Hell, the lowest level of TOPS is given for people with a 2.5 GPA and a 17 on the ACT. That is for Technical schools but still...if this is your best...that's awful. This is basically a free ride from the government that you didn't have to join the military for. There should be stricter requirements. Same as with an academic scholarship. If Louisiana wants better grads...then asking them to do the minimum is not good enough. I'm all for TOPS, I just think it is way too easy to get and maintain it.

I'm in total agreement. But don't you think it's a foolish thing to say that TOPS should be eliminated altogether, and that if you want that fat check for your college education you should join the military? Don't forget they instill discipline and self-worth there, because it's not like you can get those things anywhere else.

[Just1More]

Huh? The student would get reimbursed after demonstrating that they are serious students, capable of completing a semester, at least. No one "pays it back"

You misunderstood. I didn't say they were "the same". Paying back is obviously more severe than reimbursement after you make the grades. The current TOPS system is set up as a reward for making good grades in high school. The state puts it out there to all high school students in order to get maximum output in high school. Your idea may be a future method of administering these scholarships, but it was meant to push high school students more than to reward, after the fact, grades in college.

[VObserver]

You misunderstood. I didn't say they were "the same". Paying back is obviously more severe than reimbursement after you make the grades. The current TOPS system is set up as a reward for making good grades in high school. The state puts it out there to all high school students in order to get maximum output in high school. Your idea may be a future method of administering these scholarships, but it was meant to push high school students more than to reward, after the fact, grades in college.

Which would be fine, if you actually had to make good grades to get it. 3.5 and 28 is reasonable.

[Just1More]

Which would be fine, if you actually had to make good grades to get it. 3.5 and 28 is reasonable.

I understand your thinking... but TOPS isn't just geared toward the most exceptional students that are probably getting good scholarships outside of TOPS. I am in favor of the dangling carrot to high school students that are still college material but don't have your suggested results out of high school.

I'd like to see the results data, if they're keeping track of all of it, that drives down beyond just "x percent fail or leave and the money is wasted".

Albeit, I'm envious that I never got a nickel of state money for my tuition... and am only one of the taxpayers that is funding it... but I like the concept. It's time for a really good audit of TOPS. Like student loans, I'm afraid someone(s) in the money chain benefits that is also part of the administration of it. Even if it is simply the politicians. That is something that this state needs to eliminate. We've already seen what making people in any way dependent does to their voting habits.