Straight Talk: July 20, 2011

Straight Talk:  The StraighterLine e-Newsletter Issue #15, July 20, 2011
Edited by Jeffrey Lee Simons

In this issue…

StraighterLine Reports on Grade Inflation

How is it possible that even though recent studies like Academically Adrift show that only 35% of college students improve their skills after 4 years of college, grades are on the rise? Or that while students study nearly 50% less than they did in 2003, the most common grade given in a university is now an A?

If you want to find out the disgusting truth behind grade inflation, and how it’s being fought by schools like Princeton University and Reed College and online college course providers like StraighterLine, we suggest you read our latest report, Grade Inflation, by our newest reporter, Binyamin Weinreich. Read Full Report

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Get a Perfect Fit with Our No-Risk Free Trial

Would you ever buy a new pair of jeans or sneakers without trying them on first? At StraighterLine, we want you to be sure we’re a perfect fit, too. That’s why we offer a risk-free trial of 6 StraighterLine courses. Try us on… you’ve got nothing to lose, and thousands of dollars to save.

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Intro to Sociology and 14 Other New Courses

Our curriculum keeps on growing! For the 2011 Back-To-School season, we’ll be going live with 15 new online college courses and a new department, Humanities. These new courses will bring our total to 40, with even more planned for the future. Click here to be notified the instant they’re available:

  • Introduction to Business
  • Personal Finance
  • Introduction to Nutrition
  • Physical Education, Health & Wellness
  • United States History I
  • Western Civilization I
  • Pharmacology I
  • Pharmacology II
  • Physics I
  • General Physics I with Lab
  • Physics II
  • General Physics II with Lab
  • Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Student Success

Best of The StraighterLine Blog

Student Loan Programs under Fire in Washington Budget Talks
If you’ve been taking part in the federally funded Stafford loan program, you may want to sit down. It seems one of the items under discussion in Congress’s budget negotiations is starting to charge interest on student loans before students have even graduated, and Barry Lenson takes a closer look at what it could mean for you and other loan recipients. Read Full Post

California Imposes “Seven Years of College Down the Drain” Rule (Sort Of, Anyhow)
Would you believe that in California, there are students that have taken the same English or Math courses at least 4 times – over 225,000 of them since 1992? Worse, half of students repeating courses got less than a C. Find out what California is doing to ensure first time students can get in and to keep out “repeat offenders.” Read Full Post

Busted Myth of the Week: Smart People Don’t Go to Summer School
Sure, some summer school students are retaking courses they’ve failed. But Barry Lenson points out half a dozen compelling reasons to take courses this summer that have more to do with success than failure. Read Full Post

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You Can Still Win an iPad2 in Our Summer Slam Contest

On average, StraighterLine students complete one or more courses in 40 days. That means there’s still plenty of time for you to take courses at StraighterLine this summer… and to win an iPad2. iPads will be awarded for Best GPA and most courses started and completed during the contest. So while you may not have time to complete the most courses this summer, you can still shoot for the Best GPA. Get the Special Summer Slam code and contest details here.

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Online Education in The News

Capella Buys U.K. Online Education Co. for $14.9M
Twin Cities Business Magazine, Christa Meland, 7/15/11

The parent company of StraighterLine partner school Capella University has just bought a provider of online U.K degrees for nearly $15 million dollars. According to a recent article in the Minnesota magazine Twin Cities Business, where Capella Education is based, Resource Development International, Ltd. partners with universities in the UK to deliver predominantly online higher education programs. As of this March, Capella University has nearly 40,000 online learners enrolled…some of them your fellow StraighterLine students. Read Full Article

Top Online Colleges - Get Educated Ranks Online Degrees for Affordability in Psychology, Human Services and Social Services 
The Sacramento Bee, 7/11/11

The Sacramento Bee reports that Colorado State University ranked #1 on the Get Educated best online college rankings, with their online bachelors in social science and sociology coming in at under $18,000. (We partner with CSU via their CSU-Global Campus!) Other StraighterLine partner schools did well, too: Fort Hays State University was #3, Charter Oak State College was #5, Thomas Edison State College was #6, and Granite State College was #15.

According to article, the most expensive degree for human services came from Drexel University at over $104,000. The University of Phoenix earned a “D” in affordability for their online bachelors at a cost of $66,000. Read Full Article

Changes in Florida law make it easier to take classes online
Jacksonville.com (The Florida Times-Union), Mary Kelli Palka, 7/14/11

While some states like Idaho are fighting initiatives that increase online education for K-12 students, others like Florida are preparing their students for the future with new laws that encourage and support online education. According to the Florida Times Union, the new Florida state law has removed the requirement to have a year of public school education before enrolling full-time in virtual classes, allowing students to attend virtual classes sooner. The law also requires entering ninth-graders to have at least one virtual class before they graduate. Read Full Article

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Refer Your Friends and Earn Gift Cards

Why not let your friends in on the StraighterLine secret and make some extra money for yourself at the same time? Get a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card when your friends sign up for a StraighterLine online college course. There’s no limit to how many rewards you can earn. Get started now.

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 StraighterLine Welcomes New Partner Schools