North Carolina State Report
Bruce Blackmon, NCASFAA President

Our Fall conference will be held in November. The Board and countless others have worked hard to put on a quality event. NCASFAA will offer NASFAA decentralized training as part of our fall conference. This training will include a lineup of sessions on student eligibility issues. The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority provided funding for the training manuals for these sessions.

Dr. Charles Gause has agreed to be the keynote speaker. Dr. Gause had a dynamic breakout session at the spring conference. His topic will be “CAP-TURE the Vision: Shaping the Future.” He will also do a break-out session entitled, “Dancing on the Ceiling: Cultural Initiatives for the 21st Century.” He has an entertaining and direct style.

Another highlight of the conference is sure to be the Silent Auction. We are auctioning off some fantastic prizes! We have a few weekend get-a-ways to auction off as well as furniture and gifts from major department stores. Casey Waller of National Education has even volunteered himself as an auction item. Proceeds from the auction will go to the Victory Junction Gang, which is our fall charity. This will take place on Monday night after the President’s dessert reception.

Look for more information on NCASFAA’s Web site about the fall support staff workshops. Barbara Goodman has put together an outstanding program for support staff and has sprinkled sessions through the state.

Press Release
From: Congressman Buck McKeon
Friday, October 17, 2003

The following are excerpts from the Press Release of Congressman McKeon.

Washington, Oct. 16, 2006 – Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) today unveiled the Affordability in Higher Education Act, legislation crafted to address the college costs crisis by empowering the consumers of higher education and holding colleges and universities accountable for unreasonable costs increases. McKeon, who chairs the 21st Century Competitiveness Subcommittee with primary jurisdiction over postsecondary education, was joined at a press conference by students, parents, and members of the higher education community who share this concerns about the rapidly rising costs of college in American and believe institutions themselves can do more to reduce their costs.

“For too long, parents and students have been forced to endure skyrocketing tuition increases that make it harder each year to achieve the dream of a college education,” said McKeon. “Our nation is grappling with a college cost crisis that is threatening to push higher education out of reach for low and middle income students. This is unacceptable, and today I’m pleased to be offering legislation that will turn this trend around. Today, we begin to find solutions.”

The Affordability in Higher Education Act seeks to address the college cost crisis by working to increase the affordability of higher education through consumer empowerment and accountability for cost increases. The bill would not give the federal government any role in setting college costs. Under the bill, colleges could continue to set tuition at rates of their choosing; but beginning in the year 2011, the federal government would have the option of removing direct subsidies to institutions that repeatedly engage in exorbitant tuition hikes that hurt students and parents, reflecting McKeon’s belief that the federal government should not be required to endlessly subsidize hyperinflation in college costs. The McKeon legislation is one of several bills being offered as part of comprehensive efforts to strengthen and improve education through reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

Read the entire press release by clicking here.