from resuming their educations, even as many need to change careers in the pandemic recession and as policymakers and universities themselves attempt to lure them back.
Unlocking these holds can be time-consuming and confusing, especially for students without experience in financial matters or who don’t know whom to call, said Szeltner. “It’s such a hassle,” she said. “Think about getting on the phone with your insurance company and multiply that times 1,000.” In Massachusetts, several public university and college officials put the onus for the practice of withholding transcripts on declining state funding that forces them to increase costs and makes it hard to forgive debt.
“We really need to review whether this is actually even an effective policy to encourage students to pay their money back,” said Pam Eddinger, president of Bunker Hill Community College, which reports 5,331 students, graduates and former students with unpaid balances of $100 or more whose transcripts are being held back. As this story was about to appear, Bunker Hill said it would drop the policy and no longer withhold transcripts and degrees from students who owe any amount of money.
Maurer said she wished Eddinger and Mabry had been sitting in her office at legal aid “when the fifth client in a row came in and said, ‘I have this transcript that was held so I can’t get a job or reenroll anywhere.’”“So much of where this comes from is [the belief] that debt is a moral failing of these students,” she said, “whereas these are people working incredibly hard for a piece of what we’ve always told them is the American dream, only to get trapped by some tiny little thing.
After reviewing its policy, Bunker Hill said it would no longer withhold transcripts and degrees from students who owe any amount of money.Several states have passed or are considering lawsuits to curb the practice of blocking students who owe money from obtaining their transcripts. California last year became the first state in which public and private higher educational institutions wereof students who have unpaid debts.
stateofohioshow WGBHNews Medical records used to be w/held pending pymt in full. This ended because it hurt people & rendered them unable to gain proper care. Medical records belong to the patient. No difference here. The degree/credits have been earned. The transcript belongs to the student.
WGBHNews They entered into an agreement with the schools. The schools should be paid in full before releasing the students transcripts. This says more about the students that the colleges.
WGBHNews Liberals got to have their money first. The students should understand how liberals operate after being indoctrinated while attending college.
WGBHNews So...pay your bill? This is pretty easy, seems like something college students could figure out.
WGBHNews That’s been standard policy at colleges for decades. Students and parents know that.
WGBHNews Now there's a lesson! Never take on debt you can't handle
WGBHNews It's more than just transcripts. I had a summer term with two of the absolute worst professors in my academic history, so I wound up dropping both my courses, which meant having to repay financial aid. For two years I couldn't even get travel reimbursement from work because of it
WGBHNews Wow! Just awful! To think that people who don’t pay their bills should face (shudder).......consequences! 🙄
WGBHNews You mean you have to pay your bills? Who knew?
WGBHNews I wanted to become a teacher, but I am unable to send my transcript to get certified. This is incredibly unfare. My degree is useless because I have no access to it. They should take my debt away if I have zero access to my degree.
WGBHNews You could 🤔 pay your bills and pay attention to your terms and conditions
WGBHNews I see both sides. Perhaps colleges can come up with a creative solution, such as the last semester of college is free. This would give students time to figure out how to pay off a remaining balance, and boost the school's reputation and graduation rate.
WGBHNews Pay the bill then!
WGBHNews This is standard practice for universities.
WGBHNews Petition the government to pay your debts.
WGBHNews There was a time when you were awarded a degree for what you knew and the sweat it took, not an accountant's ok.
WGBHNews This happens everywhere. There's always some unexpected fee towards the end, and they hold the diploma hostage until you pay up.
aleximenez WGBHNews This is so painful true!
WGBHNews It’s called responsibility!
WGBHNews This is great. It’s called accountability. This is what happens when every kid gets a trophy and mom and dad beat the teacher up to change a grade. The kid thinks everyone will kiss their ass in life. Nope not at alll. Earn your grades, pay your bills, do your job.
WGBHNews The government needs to stand up for the students , covid made so much loops including financial loops.
WGBHNews WTF
WGBHNews I'm going through this now. My university sent me a bill after I had graduated and received my diploma. Fees from overpaying me on a loan, but loaning bank says everything matches. No explanation as to why, or how this happened. Just sent a bill and then to collections.
WGBHNews This isn’t a story. This is how it’s done at every school. Pay your shit and stfu.
WGBHNews Governor Kristi Noem Announces National Coalition to Protect Fairness in Women’s Sports. Democrats want to take away WOMEN'S (girls) RIGHTS to play on teams with other girls. Take away SCHOLARSHIPS from women & give to MEN!
WGBHNews See, we don't have debtors prisons, we just treat people like they are in prison for having debts.
WGBHNews Sad... Bidens America
WGBHNews Maybe just maybe a different college should have been chosen
WGBHNews This isn’t just Massachusetts. This is literally every college
WGBHNews Just pay them.... I had the same thing happen when I needed a copy of my transcripts in 2005 and had to pay two 10-year-old parking tickets. It's really not that hard.
WGBHNews aren't the students responsible for paying off these unpaid bills?
WGBHNews So pay them!!!!!!!! That’s a novel idea!
WGBHNews Try paying your bills then! School is meant to teach you more than just physics and history. If you don’t pay your bills as an adult the repercussions are sure as hell more severe than not being able to transfer a credit.
WGBHNews Inexcusable.
WGBHNews This is not right.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: politico - 🏆 381. / 59 Read more »
Source: YahooNews - 🏆 380. / 59 Read more »
Source: DEADLINE - 🏆 109. / 63 Read more »
Source: WebMD - 🏆 709. / 51 Read more »
Source: trtworld - 🏆 101. / 63 Read more »