StraighterLine Podcast Responds to MeasuringUp 2008 Report
Washington, DC, January 18, 2009 --(PR.com)-- StraighterLine (www.straighterline.com) has announced the release of a new podcast responding directly to a recent report prepared by The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. The report measured several key performance elements of higher education. Most notably, it failed 49 of 50 states in the “affordability” category. California was the only state not to receive a failing grade, receiving a C minus. The Center published its findings in the “Measuring Up 2008: The National Report Card on Higher Education” study, which graded states in six categories. The Report is available online at http://measuringup2008.highereducation.org/index.php.
The rising cost for students to pursue a college degree has unreasonably outpaced a student’s ability to pay for higher education. The average cost of a college degree has doubled between 1997 and 2007, according to the College Board. And the Project on Student Debt reported that the average level of debt from a college education is now around $21,000.
The newly released podcast features commentary from StraighterLine Director, Ryan Busch. Busch discusses StraighterLine as an affordable alternative to students faced with rising college costs. Launched in September of 2008, StraighterLine was founded as a tool to help balance the fulcrum of college affordability by shifting the power balance back toward students. It is the “competing markets” response to ballooning higher education costs. Through StraighterLine, students can complete a six-month general education course for just $399. They may also elect to pay for college courses using the “StraighterLine for $99” program, which offers the same online courses for only $99 a month.
The new StraighterLine podcast is available for download at: http://www.mmimarketing.com/files/measuringup2008final.mp3
Students who complete a StraighterLine course can choose to receive credit from one of StraighterLine’s five regionally accredited partner colleges. Student-earned credits may also be transferable to non-partner colleges that recognize StraighterLine’s partner’s courses as equivalent programs. The combined costs of either approach will save students thousands of dollars as compared the current estimates the College Board provided for both public and private colleges and universities.
Currently StraighterLine offers six entry-level college courses, including College Algebra, English Composition I, Accounting I, Accounting II, Economics I: Macroeconomics and Economics II: Microeconomics, and two developmental courses, with more planned. StraighterLine’s list of affiliated partner schools includes the following regionally accredited institutions:
Quotes:
“In the coming years, the issue of college affordability will continue to grow as a key consideration impacting students, families and the higher education sector as a whole,” said Busch. “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation agrees and is taking steps to begin addressing this concern as well. As greater interest is placed on affordability from large organizations like that and from increased consumer pressure, StraighterLine will begin to standout as a thought-leader on the issue.”
About StraighterLine:
StraighterLine provides students with a new online option for obtaining required college credits from accredited colleges and universities. StraighterLine’s affordable courses are the first to include up to 24/7 live, on-demand instruction. StraighterLine offers six entry-level college courses, including College Algebra, English Composition I, Accounting I, Accounting II, Economics I: Macroeconomics and Economics II: Microeconomics, and two developmental courses, with many more planned. StraighterLine students may choose to receive credit from StraighterLine’s regionally accredited partner colleges. Student-earned credits may also be transferable to non-partner colleges that recognize StraighterLine’s partner’s courses as equivalent programs. There are no set due dates for StraighterLine courses. Students may start and stop at any point with up to six months of access. StraighterLine offers two remarkable pricing programs; individual courses cost only $399, include 10 hours of one-on-one instructional support, and allow up to six months of access; and the StraighterLine for $99 program: a $99 per month subscription with no additional start-up costs which includes unlimited access to any and all courses one at a time, plus 10 total hours of one-on-one instructional support, with no minimum or maximum time limit for course completion. For more information, visit www.straighterline.com or call 202-507-7020 or 1-877-str8erline (1-877-787-8375).
Patty Briguglio
MMI Associates, Inc.
(919) 233-6600
patty@mmimarketing.com
PR Firms Raleigh, NC
###
Fort Hays State University (www.fhsu.edu)
Potomac College (www.potomac.edu)
Grand Canyon University (www.gcu.edu)
Ellis University (http://ellisuonline.com)
Charter Oak State College (www.charteroak.edu)
StraighterLine is a division of SMARTHINKING (www.smarthinking.com). The company was recently listed in BusinessWeek Magazine as a “disruptive education technology” and has received media coverage from The Chronicle for Higher Education, eSchoolNews and the Washington Business Journal, among others. Additional information on the StraighterLine program can be found at www.straighterline.com.
The rising cost for students to pursue a college degree has unreasonably outpaced a student’s ability to pay for higher education. The average cost of a college degree has doubled between 1997 and 2007, according to the College Board. And the Project on Student Debt reported that the average level of debt from a college education is now around $21,000.
The newly released podcast features commentary from StraighterLine Director, Ryan Busch. Busch discusses StraighterLine as an affordable alternative to students faced with rising college costs. Launched in September of 2008, StraighterLine was founded as a tool to help balance the fulcrum of college affordability by shifting the power balance back toward students. It is the “competing markets” response to ballooning higher education costs. Through StraighterLine, students can complete a six-month general education course for just $399. They may also elect to pay for college courses using the “StraighterLine for $99” program, which offers the same online courses for only $99 a month.
The new StraighterLine podcast is available for download at: http://www.mmimarketing.com/files/measuringup2008final.mp3
Students who complete a StraighterLine course can choose to receive credit from one of StraighterLine’s five regionally accredited partner colleges. Student-earned credits may also be transferable to non-partner colleges that recognize StraighterLine’s partner’s courses as equivalent programs. The combined costs of either approach will save students thousands of dollars as compared the current estimates the College Board provided for both public and private colleges and universities.
Currently StraighterLine offers six entry-level college courses, including College Algebra, English Composition I, Accounting I, Accounting II, Economics I: Macroeconomics and Economics II: Microeconomics, and two developmental courses, with more planned. StraighterLine’s list of affiliated partner schools includes the following regionally accredited institutions:
Quotes:
“In the coming years, the issue of college affordability will continue to grow as a key consideration impacting students, families and the higher education sector as a whole,” said Busch. “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation agrees and is taking steps to begin addressing this concern as well. As greater interest is placed on affordability from large organizations like that and from increased consumer pressure, StraighterLine will begin to standout as a thought-leader on the issue.”
About StraighterLine:
StraighterLine provides students with a new online option for obtaining required college credits from accredited colleges and universities. StraighterLine’s affordable courses are the first to include up to 24/7 live, on-demand instruction. StraighterLine offers six entry-level college courses, including College Algebra, English Composition I, Accounting I, Accounting II, Economics I: Macroeconomics and Economics II: Microeconomics, and two developmental courses, with many more planned. StraighterLine students may choose to receive credit from StraighterLine’s regionally accredited partner colleges. Student-earned credits may also be transferable to non-partner colleges that recognize StraighterLine’s partner’s courses as equivalent programs. There are no set due dates for StraighterLine courses. Students may start and stop at any point with up to six months of access. StraighterLine offers two remarkable pricing programs; individual courses cost only $399, include 10 hours of one-on-one instructional support, and allow up to six months of access; and the StraighterLine for $99 program: a $99 per month subscription with no additional start-up costs which includes unlimited access to any and all courses one at a time, plus 10 total hours of one-on-one instructional support, with no minimum or maximum time limit for course completion. For more information, visit www.straighterline.com or call 202-507-7020 or 1-877-str8erline (1-877-787-8375).
Patty Briguglio
MMI Associates, Inc.
(919) 233-6600
patty@mmimarketing.com
PR Firms Raleigh, NC
###
Fort Hays State University (www.fhsu.edu)
Potomac College (www.potomac.edu)
Grand Canyon University (www.gcu.edu)
Ellis University (http://ellisuonline.com)
Charter Oak State College (www.charteroak.edu)
StraighterLine is a division of SMARTHINKING (www.smarthinking.com). The company was recently listed in BusinessWeek Magazine as a “disruptive education technology” and has received media coverage from The Chronicle for Higher Education, eSchoolNews and the Washington Business Journal, among others. Additional information on the StraighterLine program can be found at www.straighterline.com.
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StraighterLine
Patty Briguglio
919-233-6600
www.mmimarketing.com
Patty Briguglio
919-233-6600
www.mmimarketing.com
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