Monday, August 26, 2013
BANK SUED BY LABOR DEPARTMENT OVER ILLEGAL DIVERSION OF EMPLOYEE ASSETS
FROM: U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT
US Department of Labor sues San Francisco's California Pacific Bank
Nearly $1.4 million in employee stock ownership assets allegedly mismanaged
SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against San Francisco's California Pacific Bank and four of its directors. The complaint alleges that the bank, its CEO and three additional fiduciaries of the bank's Employee Stock Ownership Plan mismanaged plan assets resulting in potential plan losses totaling approximately $1.4 million. The suit asks the court to require the fiduciaries to restore all losses they caused to the plan.
The department alleges that after terminating the ESOP in 2010, the fiduciaries violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by failing to liquidate and distribute plan assets in cash to plan participants as required. Because the bank is not a publicly traded company, participants were left with shares of the company's stock they could not easily liquidate for cash, if at all.
Agency investigators determined that the participants would have received approximately $1.24 million if the plan's 97,237 shares had been liquidated and distributed in cash at their assessed December 2009 value. The lawsuit also alleges that in 2011, $81,407 was improperly diverted to the bank, and in 2012, the fiduciaries improperly transferred nearly $70,000 in plan assets to the bank. Finally it is alleged that the bank also held plan assets in non-interest bearing accounts, making assets available for bank use without charge and without accruing interest on the funds for the benefit of the plan.
The complaint names California Pacific Bank CEO and board member Richard Chi, who served as the plan administrator and a plan trustee. Also named are board members and trustees Akila Chen, Kent Chen, and William Mo. The suit asks the court to permanently remove all four as plan fiduciaries and to appoint an independent fiduciary with control over the plan and its assets. The independent fiduciary would administer the liquidation and termination of the plan. The complaint also seeks to permanently enjoin the defendants from ever serving, directly or indirectly, as a fiduciary or service provider with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to ERISA, and to require them to disgorge to the plan any financial benefits they realized as a result of their violations.
US Department of Labor sues San Francisco's California Pacific Bank
Nearly $1.4 million in employee stock ownership assets allegedly mismanaged
SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against San Francisco's California Pacific Bank and four of its directors. The complaint alleges that the bank, its CEO and three additional fiduciaries of the bank's Employee Stock Ownership Plan mismanaged plan assets resulting in potential plan losses totaling approximately $1.4 million. The suit asks the court to require the fiduciaries to restore all losses they caused to the plan.
The department alleges that after terminating the ESOP in 2010, the fiduciaries violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by failing to liquidate and distribute plan assets in cash to plan participants as required. Because the bank is not a publicly traded company, participants were left with shares of the company's stock they could not easily liquidate for cash, if at all.
Agency investigators determined that the participants would have received approximately $1.24 million if the plan's 97,237 shares had been liquidated and distributed in cash at their assessed December 2009 value. The lawsuit also alleges that in 2011, $81,407 was improperly diverted to the bank, and in 2012, the fiduciaries improperly transferred nearly $70,000 in plan assets to the bank. Finally it is alleged that the bank also held plan assets in non-interest bearing accounts, making assets available for bank use without charge and without accruing interest on the funds for the benefit of the plan.
The complaint names California Pacific Bank CEO and board member Richard Chi, who served as the plan administrator and a plan trustee. Also named are board members and trustees Akila Chen, Kent Chen, and William Mo. The suit asks the court to permanently remove all four as plan fiduciaries and to appoint an independent fiduciary with control over the plan and its assets. The independent fiduciary would administer the liquidation and termination of the plan. The complaint also seeks to permanently enjoin the defendants from ever serving, directly or indirectly, as a fiduciary or service provider with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to ERISA, and to require them to disgorge to the plan any financial benefits they realized as a result of their violations.
DEPARTMENTS OF JUSTICE AND EDUCATION ANNOUNCE RESEARCH FINDINGS ON EDUCATION AND RECIDIVISM
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Justice and Education Departments Announce New Research Showing Prison Education Reduces Recidivism, Saves Money, Improves Employment
Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced research findings showing that, on average, inmates who participated in correctional education programs had 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than inmates who did not. Each year approximately 700,000 individuals leave federal and state prisons; about half of them will be reincarcerated within three years. The research, funded by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, was released today by the RAND Corporation.
“These findings reinforce the need to become smarter on crime by expanding proven strategies for keeping our communities safe, and ensuring that those who have paid their debts to society have the chance to become productive citizens,” said Attorney General Holder. “We have an opportunity and an obligation to use smart methods – and advance innovative new programs – that can improve public safety while reducing costs. As it stands, too many individuals and communities are harmed, rather than helped, by a criminal justice system that does not serve the American people as well as it should. This important research is part of our broader effort to change that.”
The findings, from the largest-ever analysis of correctional educational studies, indicate that prison education programs are cost effective. According to the research, a one dollar investment in prison education translates into reducing incarceration costs by four to five dollars during the first three years after release, when those leaving prison are most likely to return.
“Correctional education programs provide incarcerated individuals with the skills and knowledge essential to their futures,” said Secretary of Education Duncan. “Investing in these education programs helps released prisoners get back on their feet—and stay on their feet—when they return to communities across the country.”
With funding from The Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) of 2007, the RAND Corporation’s analysis of correctional education research found that employment after release was 13 percent higher among prisoners who participated in either academic or vocational education programs than among those who did not. Those who participated in vocational training were 28 percent more likely to be employed after release from prison than those who did not receive such training.
The report is a collaborative effort of the Departments of Justice and Education, two of 20 federal agencies that make up the federal interagency Reentry Council. The Reentry Council’s members are working to make communities safer by reducing recidivism and victimization; assisting those who return from prison and jail in becoming contributing members of their communities; and saving taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and collateral costs of incarceration. Attorney General Holder chairs the Reentry Council which he established in January 2011.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Justice and Education Departments Announce New Research Showing Prison Education Reduces Recidivism, Saves Money, Improves Employment
Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced research findings showing that, on average, inmates who participated in correctional education programs had 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than inmates who did not. Each year approximately 700,000 individuals leave federal and state prisons; about half of them will be reincarcerated within three years. The research, funded by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, was released today by the RAND Corporation.
“These findings reinforce the need to become smarter on crime by expanding proven strategies for keeping our communities safe, and ensuring that those who have paid their debts to society have the chance to become productive citizens,” said Attorney General Holder. “We have an opportunity and an obligation to use smart methods – and advance innovative new programs – that can improve public safety while reducing costs. As it stands, too many individuals and communities are harmed, rather than helped, by a criminal justice system that does not serve the American people as well as it should. This important research is part of our broader effort to change that.”
The findings, from the largest-ever analysis of correctional educational studies, indicate that prison education programs are cost effective. According to the research, a one dollar investment in prison education translates into reducing incarceration costs by four to five dollars during the first three years after release, when those leaving prison are most likely to return.
“Correctional education programs provide incarcerated individuals with the skills and knowledge essential to their futures,” said Secretary of Education Duncan. “Investing in these education programs helps released prisoners get back on their feet—and stay on their feet—when they return to communities across the country.”
With funding from The Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) of 2007, the RAND Corporation’s analysis of correctional education research found that employment after release was 13 percent higher among prisoners who participated in either academic or vocational education programs than among those who did not. Those who participated in vocational training were 28 percent more likely to be employed after release from prison than those who did not receive such training.
The report is a collaborative effort of the Departments of Justice and Education, two of 20 federal agencies that make up the federal interagency Reentry Council. The Reentry Council’s members are working to make communities safer by reducing recidivism and victimization; assisting those who return from prison and jail in becoming contributing members of their communities; and saving taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and collateral costs of incarceration. Attorney General Holder chairs the Reentry Council which he established in January 2011.
COURT ENFORCES NLRB ORDERS AGAINST RELCO LOCOMOTIVES, INC., REGARDING TERMINATED EMPLOYEES
FROM: U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Enforces NLRB Orders Against RELCO Locomotives, Inc.
In a decision issued on August 20, 2013, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals enforced two decisions and orders issued by the National Labor Relations Board against Relco, Locomotives, Inc. In enforcing the Board’s Orders, the Court agreed that Relco illegally terminated a total of eight employees in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.
Relco repairs and rebuilds locomotives at its facility in Albia, Iowa. In 2009, employees in the Albia facility sought union representation. Relco suddenly discharged the leading employee Union adherents. In addition, in 2010, Relco terminated two other employees who were involved in protests that Relco was overcharging employees to clean their uniforms. After an investigation, Region 18 of the Board, located in Minneapolis, issued a complaint alleging the four terminations violated the National Labor Relations Act. The legality of the terminations was litigated before an administrative law judge on September 14 through 16, 2010.
In 2011, employees again sought union representation. In March 2011, Relco terminated two additional employees who not only were involved in the renewed union organizing, but who also testified in support of the discharged employees in the September 2010 NLRB proceeding. Around the same time, Relco terminated another two employees who expressed concerns about job security when there were rumors in the plant that the company had terminated another employee. Following a second investigation, Region 18 issued a second complaint against Relco alleging that the four additional terminations also violated the Act. The legality of these four terminations was litigated before a different administrative law judge than the first complaint, on August 9 and 10, 2011.
In enforcing the Board Orders, the Eighth Circuit stated that there was substantial evidence that Relco terminated two employees in 2009 because of their union support; that Relco terminated two other employees in 2010 because of their protests involving overcharging for cleaning work uniforms; that Relco terminated two employees in 2011 because of their testimony before the NLRB in the case involving the 2009 terminations; and that two additional employees were illegally terminated because of their discussions and concerns about the rumored termination of another employee. In doing so, the Court noted that the National Labor Relations Act “provides protections to workers who seek to form a union or otherwise engage in concerted labor activities.”
Finally, the Court (Circuit Judge Smith dissenting) found that Relco waived its right to challenge the Board’s decision on the basis that the Board panel deciding the cases was not constitutionally appointed.
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Enforces NLRB Orders Against RELCO Locomotives, Inc.
In a decision issued on August 20, 2013, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals enforced two decisions and orders issued by the National Labor Relations Board against Relco, Locomotives, Inc. In enforcing the Board’s Orders, the Court agreed that Relco illegally terminated a total of eight employees in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.
Relco repairs and rebuilds locomotives at its facility in Albia, Iowa. In 2009, employees in the Albia facility sought union representation. Relco suddenly discharged the leading employee Union adherents. In addition, in 2010, Relco terminated two other employees who were involved in protests that Relco was overcharging employees to clean their uniforms. After an investigation, Region 18 of the Board, located in Minneapolis, issued a complaint alleging the four terminations violated the National Labor Relations Act. The legality of the terminations was litigated before an administrative law judge on September 14 through 16, 2010.
In 2011, employees again sought union representation. In March 2011, Relco terminated two additional employees who not only were involved in the renewed union organizing, but who also testified in support of the discharged employees in the September 2010 NLRB proceeding. Around the same time, Relco terminated another two employees who expressed concerns about job security when there were rumors in the plant that the company had terminated another employee. Following a second investigation, Region 18 issued a second complaint against Relco alleging that the four additional terminations also violated the Act. The legality of these four terminations was litigated before a different administrative law judge than the first complaint, on August 9 and 10, 2011.
In enforcing the Board Orders, the Eighth Circuit stated that there was substantial evidence that Relco terminated two employees in 2009 because of their union support; that Relco terminated two other employees in 2010 because of their protests involving overcharging for cleaning work uniforms; that Relco terminated two employees in 2011 because of their testimony before the NLRB in the case involving the 2009 terminations; and that two additional employees were illegally terminated because of their discussions and concerns about the rumored termination of another employee. In doing so, the Court noted that the National Labor Relations Act “provides protections to workers who seek to form a union or otherwise engage in concerted labor activities.”
Finally, the Court (Circuit Judge Smith dissenting) found that Relco waived its right to challenge the Board’s decision on the basis that the Board panel deciding the cases was not constitutionally appointed.
'L.A. GANGSTER HUNTED DOWN BY U.S. MARSHALS'
FROM: U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE
L.A. Gangster Wanted for Murder Hunted Down by U.S. Marshals and Arrested in Mexico
Tucson, AZ – Today, Thomas Ruben Velarde, age 26, of California, was returned back to the United States and into the hands of awaiting Deputy U.S. Marshals and detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Velarde was deported by Mexican law enforcement officials through the Nogales Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. Velarde, aka “Poison” and “Serio,” is a known street gang member and has been wanted for homicide with a bond of nine million dollars, since January 2009, for his alleged participation in a homicide that killed one man and wounded two others.
On January 11, 2009, Velarde and Patricio Michel, age 26, confronted three male subjects in a parking lot outside a Mexican food restaurant in Compton, California. An altercation between the subjects ensued and Velarde allegedly shot at the three males, killing a 28 year old male and wounding the other two.
Within close proximity of the incident two armed security guards hired to work at a nearby party heard the gun shots and responded. While approaching the scene, the security guards observed a vehicle accelerating in their direction and in self-defense fired upon the vehicle. The vehicle fled the area and a search for Velarde and Michel began. Law enforcement officers located and arrested Michel later that morning at his residence in Downey, California. Detectives conducting the homicide investigation learned that Velarde had fled to the Republic of Mexico, where his whereabouts remained unknown.
On January 26, 2009, Velarde and Michel were both charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Velarde maintained his fugitive status for over four years and was featured on the television show America’s Most Wanted, meanwhile, Michel continued his journey through the justice system. On July 14, 2010, Michel pled guilty to manslaughter with the use of a firearm, and was
sentenced to 15 years in a California state prison. Velarde continued to elude U.S. law enforcement officials until recent information on his location was obtained. Deputies with the U.S. Marshals led Violent Offender Taskforce - Mexican Investigative Liaison unit were contacted and were requested to assist with newly discovered information. Deputies immediately began to assist the Mexican authorities with their investigation of U.S. fugitive, Velarde. Authorities in Mexico located Velarde and arrested him without incident in Huatabampo, Sonora Mexico. Velarde was taken into custody by Deputy U.S. Marshals and was transported to the Pima County Detention Center where he will await his extradition back to Los Angeles, California.
United States Marshal David Gonzales stated, “Tracking down and arresting individuals that commit these violent acts in our communities is a priority of the United States Marshals Service. It is my hope this arrest can bring some sense of closure to the victim’s family.” He added, “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in Mexico and throughout the United States to track down dangerous individuals.”
The federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that comprise the Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Taskforce (Tucson Metro Division) include: U.S. Marshals Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Arizona Department of Public Safety; Pima County Adult Probation Office; Arizona Department of Corrections; Tucson Police Department; U.S. Border Patrol; Pima County Sheriff’s Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
L.A. Gangster Wanted for Murder Hunted Down by U.S. Marshals and Arrested in Mexico
Tucson, AZ – Today, Thomas Ruben Velarde, age 26, of California, was returned back to the United States and into the hands of awaiting Deputy U.S. Marshals and detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Velarde was deported by Mexican law enforcement officials through the Nogales Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. Velarde, aka “Poison” and “Serio,” is a known street gang member and has been wanted for homicide with a bond of nine million dollars, since January 2009, for his alleged participation in a homicide that killed one man and wounded two others.
On January 11, 2009, Velarde and Patricio Michel, age 26, confronted three male subjects in a parking lot outside a Mexican food restaurant in Compton, California. An altercation between the subjects ensued and Velarde allegedly shot at the three males, killing a 28 year old male and wounding the other two.
Within close proximity of the incident two armed security guards hired to work at a nearby party heard the gun shots and responded. While approaching the scene, the security guards observed a vehicle accelerating in their direction and in self-defense fired upon the vehicle. The vehicle fled the area and a search for Velarde and Michel began. Law enforcement officers located and arrested Michel later that morning at his residence in Downey, California. Detectives conducting the homicide investigation learned that Velarde had fled to the Republic of Mexico, where his whereabouts remained unknown.
On January 26, 2009, Velarde and Michel were both charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Velarde maintained his fugitive status for over four years and was featured on the television show America’s Most Wanted, meanwhile, Michel continued his journey through the justice system. On July 14, 2010, Michel pled guilty to manslaughter with the use of a firearm, and was
sentenced to 15 years in a California state prison. Velarde continued to elude U.S. law enforcement officials until recent information on his location was obtained. Deputies with the U.S. Marshals led Violent Offender Taskforce - Mexican Investigative Liaison unit were contacted and were requested to assist with newly discovered information. Deputies immediately began to assist the Mexican authorities with their investigation of U.S. fugitive, Velarde. Authorities in Mexico located Velarde and arrested him without incident in Huatabampo, Sonora Mexico. Velarde was taken into custody by Deputy U.S. Marshals and was transported to the Pima County Detention Center where he will await his extradition back to Los Angeles, California.
United States Marshal David Gonzales stated, “Tracking down and arresting individuals that commit these violent acts in our communities is a priority of the United States Marshals Service. It is my hope this arrest can bring some sense of closure to the victim’s family.” He added, “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in Mexico and throughout the United States to track down dangerous individuals.”
The federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that comprise the Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Taskforce (Tucson Metro Division) include: U.S. Marshals Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Arizona Department of Public Safety; Pima County Adult Probation Office; Arizona Department of Corrections; Tucson Police Department; U.S. Border Patrol; Pima County Sheriff’s Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
NEW GAMMA-RAY OBSERVATORY HAS BEGUN THE STUDY OF THE ENERGETIC UNIVERSE
FROM: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
New Gamma-Ray Observatory Begins Operations at Sierra Negra Volcano In The State Of Puebla, Mexico
New Site to Observe Supernovas and Supermassive Black Holes
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., August 21, 2013—The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma Ray Observatory has begun formal operations at its site in Mexico. HAWC is designed to study the origin of very high-energy cosmic rays and observe the most energetic objects in the known universe. This extraordinary observatory, using a unique detection technique that differs from the classical astronomical design of mirrors, lenses, and antennae, is a significant boost to international scientific and technical knowledge.
“The HAWC observatory will search for signals from dark matter and to study some of the most extreme objects in the universe, such as supermassive black holes and exploding stars,” said Brenda Dingus, principal investigator and a research fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dingus is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and in 2000 was a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
HAWC is located at an altitude of 4100 meters on the slope of the volcanoes Sierra Negra and Pico de Orizaba at the border between the states of Puebla and Veracruz. The observatory, which is still under construction, uses an array of Cherenkov detectors to observe high-energy cosmic rays and gamma rays. Currently 100 out of 300 Cherenkov detectors are deployed and taking data. Each Cherenkov detector consists of 180,000 liters of extra-pure water stored inside an enormous tank (5 meters high and 7.3 meters in diameter) with four highly sensitive light sensors fixed to the bottom of the tank.
“Los Alamos has a long history of working in this field and built the predecessor to the HAWC observatory, called Milagro, located at the Los Alamos site in New Mexico,” Dingus said.
HAWC 15 Times More Sensitive Than Predecessor
“HAWC will be more than 15 times more sensitive than Milagro was, and it will detect many new sources of high-energy photons. Los Alamos also studies these high-energy phenomena through complex computer simulations to understand the physical mechanisms that accelerate particles to energies millions of times greater than man-made accelerators,” Dingus said.
The construction and operation of HAWC has been made possible by the financial support of several Mexican institutions such as the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and the Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica (INAOE). Funding has also been provided by the United States through the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and the University of Maryland. The University of Maryland is the managing institute of the project overall.
The HAWC array, operating with 100 Cherenkov detectors since August 1 and growing each week, will be sensitive to high-energy particles and radiation between 100 GeV and 100 TeV, energy equivalent to a billion times the energy of visible light. For more information online see http://www.hawc-observatory.org/.
In 2009, HAWC was identified as the Mexican astronomical project with the highest expected impact on high-energy astrophysics. Shortly thereafter a test array with three Cherenkov detectors was installed at the volcano Sierra Negra and successfully observed cosmic rays and gamma rays. Following these early tests, a prototype array of seven Cherenkov detectors was built in 2009 to test the tank design, simulate real data-taking, and study the logistics of deploying a large-scale observatory in this remote location. In 2012, the first 30 of 300 HAWC detectors were deployed, and since that time have been operated nearly continuously. The 30-detector stage of HAWC permitted calibration of the observatory via the observation of the shadow of the moon as it blocked cosmic rays. (http://1.usa.gov/14jjT8w)
Today, the scientific team of HAWC will formally begin observations of the most violent phenomena in the known universe, such as supernovae explosions and the evolution of supermassive black holes.
Image captions:
Figure 1: Artist’s conception of a black hole in the center of a distant galaxy emitting gamma rays, one of which reaches the Earth. Upon entering the terrestrial atmosphere, the gamma ray will produce a cascade of energetic particles that travels to detectors on the ground. Credit: Aurore Simonnet, Sonoma State University.
Figure 2. Diagram of a HAWC Cherenkov detector, with a person shown for scale. Inside the Cherenkov detector, a high-energy charged particle (red line) produces Cherenkov light (green lines) as it moves from top to bottom through the tank. The Cherenkov light is recorded by four highly sensitive photo-sensors placed at the bottom of the Cherenkov detector. By combining measurements from many tanks the properties of the original gamma ray or cosmic ray can be inferred.
Figure 3. Image of an event produced by particle cascade in the HAWC observatory. The larger circles represent each Cherenkov detector in HAWC, each contains 4 photo-sensors represented in the figure as smaller circles. The color of each small circle or photo-sensor represents the arrival time of the particle cascade to each sensor. This is one of the first images recorded by HAWC since the beginning of operations. In particular, this cascade arrived from the upper left to the bottom right and its center hit HAWC at the “X” mark. The time scale is given in the lower scale in nanometers.
Figure 4. The HAWC Observatory taken in August 2013 from the summit of Sierra Negra. The image has been digitally altered to show HAWC as it will appear when construction is complete in 2014. The 111 Cherenkov detectors currently installed (100 Cherenkov detectors in operation) are colored white and located in the upper right quadrant of the array.
Background: The Most Energetic Particles in the Known Universe
Gamma rays (electromagnetic radiation of very high frequency) and cosmic rays (subatomic particles of very high energy) are products of the most energetic and cataclysmic events in the known universe. These phenomena include the collisions of two neutron stars, the explosions of supernovae, binary systems of stars with stellar accretion, and active gal actic nuclei which host black holes millions of times more massive than the sun.
When high-energy cosmic rays and gamma rays reach the Earth, they interact with air molecules in the upper atmosphere. Gamma rays, for example, are converted into pairs of charged matter and anti-matter particles (mainly electrons and positrons). These particles rapidly interact with other air molecules, producing additional gamma rays of reduced energy, which then create further charged particle pairs. This chain reaction proceeds until a large cascade of particles and radiation reaches ground level, where it can be recorded in the HAWC detectors.
When the charged particle cascade from an extra-terrestrial gamma ray passes through a Cherenkov detector, its particles are traveling faster than the speed of light in water. The resulting effect is similar to the shock wave produced in the atmosphere by a supersonic airplane (a "sonic boom"), but instead of producing sound the particles produce a visible cone of light. The flash of light, called Cherenkov radiation, is measured by the light sensor fixed to the bottom of each detector in HAWC. By combining the light signal observed in many tanks with fast electronics and high precision computing equipment, it is possible for scientists to determine the time of arrival, energy, and direction of the original extraterrestrial gamma ray or cosmic ray.
New Gamma-Ray Observatory Begins Operations at Sierra Negra Volcano In The State Of Puebla, Mexico
New Site to Observe Supernovas and Supermassive Black Holes
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., August 21, 2013—The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma Ray Observatory has begun formal operations at its site in Mexico. HAWC is designed to study the origin of very high-energy cosmic rays and observe the most energetic objects in the known universe. This extraordinary observatory, using a unique detection technique that differs from the classical astronomical design of mirrors, lenses, and antennae, is a significant boost to international scientific and technical knowledge.
“The HAWC observatory will search for signals from dark matter and to study some of the most extreme objects in the universe, such as supermassive black holes and exploding stars,” said Brenda Dingus, principal investigator and a research fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dingus is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and in 2000 was a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
HAWC is located at an altitude of 4100 meters on the slope of the volcanoes Sierra Negra and Pico de Orizaba at the border between the states of Puebla and Veracruz. The observatory, which is still under construction, uses an array of Cherenkov detectors to observe high-energy cosmic rays and gamma rays. Currently 100 out of 300 Cherenkov detectors are deployed and taking data. Each Cherenkov detector consists of 180,000 liters of extra-pure water stored inside an enormous tank (5 meters high and 7.3 meters in diameter) with four highly sensitive light sensors fixed to the bottom of the tank.
“Los Alamos has a long history of working in this field and built the predecessor to the HAWC observatory, called Milagro, located at the Los Alamos site in New Mexico,” Dingus said.
HAWC 15 Times More Sensitive Than Predecessor
“HAWC will be more than 15 times more sensitive than Milagro was, and it will detect many new sources of high-energy photons. Los Alamos also studies these high-energy phenomena through complex computer simulations to understand the physical mechanisms that accelerate particles to energies millions of times greater than man-made accelerators,” Dingus said.
The construction and operation of HAWC has been made possible by the financial support of several Mexican institutions such as the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and the Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica (INAOE). Funding has also been provided by the United States through the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and the University of Maryland. The University of Maryland is the managing institute of the project overall.
The HAWC array, operating with 100 Cherenkov detectors since August 1 and growing each week, will be sensitive to high-energy particles and radiation between 100 GeV and 100 TeV, energy equivalent to a billion times the energy of visible light. For more information online see http://www.hawc-observatory.org/.
In 2009, HAWC was identified as the Mexican astronomical project with the highest expected impact on high-energy astrophysics. Shortly thereafter a test array with three Cherenkov detectors was installed at the volcano Sierra Negra and successfully observed cosmic rays and gamma rays. Following these early tests, a prototype array of seven Cherenkov detectors was built in 2009 to test the tank design, simulate real data-taking, and study the logistics of deploying a large-scale observatory in this remote location. In 2012, the first 30 of 300 HAWC detectors were deployed, and since that time have been operated nearly continuously. The 30-detector stage of HAWC permitted calibration of the observatory via the observation of the shadow of the moon as it blocked cosmic rays. (http://1.usa.gov/14jjT8w)
Today, the scientific team of HAWC will formally begin observations of the most violent phenomena in the known universe, such as supernovae explosions and the evolution of supermassive black holes.
Image captions:
Figure 1: Artist’s conception of a black hole in the center of a distant galaxy emitting gamma rays, one of which reaches the Earth. Upon entering the terrestrial atmosphere, the gamma ray will produce a cascade of energetic particles that travels to detectors on the ground. Credit: Aurore Simonnet, Sonoma State University.
Figure 2. Diagram of a HAWC Cherenkov detector, with a person shown for scale. Inside the Cherenkov detector, a high-energy charged particle (red line) produces Cherenkov light (green lines) as it moves from top to bottom through the tank. The Cherenkov light is recorded by four highly sensitive photo-sensors placed at the bottom of the Cherenkov detector. By combining measurements from many tanks the properties of the original gamma ray or cosmic ray can be inferred.
Figure 3. Image of an event produced by particle cascade in the HAWC observatory. The larger circles represent each Cherenkov detector in HAWC, each contains 4 photo-sensors represented in the figure as smaller circles. The color of each small circle or photo-sensor represents the arrival time of the particle cascade to each sensor. This is one of the first images recorded by HAWC since the beginning of operations. In particular, this cascade arrived from the upper left to the bottom right and its center hit HAWC at the “X” mark. The time scale is given in the lower scale in nanometers.
Figure 4. The HAWC Observatory taken in August 2013 from the summit of Sierra Negra. The image has been digitally altered to show HAWC as it will appear when construction is complete in 2014. The 111 Cherenkov detectors currently installed (100 Cherenkov detectors in operation) are colored white and located in the upper right quadrant of the array.
Background: The Most Energetic Particles in the Known Universe
Gamma rays (electromagnetic radiation of very high frequency) and cosmic rays (subatomic particles of very high energy) are products of the most energetic and cataclysmic events in the known universe. These phenomena include the collisions of two neutron stars, the explosions of supernovae, binary systems of stars with stellar accretion, and active gal actic nuclei which host black holes millions of times more massive than the sun.
When high-energy cosmic rays and gamma rays reach the Earth, they interact with air molecules in the upper atmosphere. Gamma rays, for example, are converted into pairs of charged matter and anti-matter particles (mainly electrons and positrons). These particles rapidly interact with other air molecules, producing additional gamma rays of reduced energy, which then create further charged particle pairs. This chain reaction proceeds until a large cascade of particles and radiation reaches ground level, where it can be recorded in the HAWC detectors.
When the charged particle cascade from an extra-terrestrial gamma ray passes through a Cherenkov detector, its particles are traveling faster than the speed of light in water. The resulting effect is similar to the shock wave produced in the atmosphere by a supersonic airplane (a "sonic boom"), but instead of producing sound the particles produce a visible cone of light. The flash of light, called Cherenkov radiation, is measured by the light sensor fixed to the bottom of each detector in HAWC. By combining the light signal observed in many tanks with fast electronics and high precision computing equipment, it is possible for scientists to determine the time of arrival, energy, and direction of the original extraterrestrial gamma ray or cosmic ray.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
STATEMENT BY LABOR SECRETARY PEREZ ON FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES RESULTS FOR 2012
FROM: U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT
Statement by Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on fatal occupational injuries in 2012
WASHINGTON — Preliminary results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries released today show a reduction in the number of fatal work injuries in 2012 compared with 2011. Last year, 4,383 workers died from work-related injuries, down from a final count of 4,693 fatal work injuries in 2011. Based on preliminary counts, the rate of fatal workplace injuries in 2012 was 3.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, down from a rate of 3.5 per 100,000 in 2011. In response, Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement:
"Workers in this country have the right to return home safe and healthy at the end of a work day. Despite that right, poor safety conditions cause thousands of people each year to lose their lives at work.
"I am greatly encouraged by the reduction in workplace fatalities, even in a growing economy. It is a testament to the hard work of employers, unions, health and safety professionals and the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration. Through collaborative education and outreach efforts, and effective law enforcement, these numbers indicate that we are absolutely moving in the right direction.
"But to me these aren't just numbers and data — they are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, who will never come home again.
"We can and must do better. Job gains in oil and gas and construction have come with more fatalities, and that is unacceptable. That's why OSHA has undertaken a number of outreach and educational initiatives, including a campaign to prevent falls in construction and the National Voluntary Stand Down of U.S. Onshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, co-sponsored by oil and gas industry employers and planned for Nov. 14. Employers must take job hazards seriously and live up to their legal and moral obligation to send their workers home safe every single day. The Labor Department is committed to preventing these needless deaths, and we will continue to engage with employers to make sure that these fatality numbers go down further.
"No worker should lose their life for a paycheck."
Statement by Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on fatal occupational injuries in 2012
WASHINGTON — Preliminary results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries released today show a reduction in the number of fatal work injuries in 2012 compared with 2011. Last year, 4,383 workers died from work-related injuries, down from a final count of 4,693 fatal work injuries in 2011. Based on preliminary counts, the rate of fatal workplace injuries in 2012 was 3.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, down from a rate of 3.5 per 100,000 in 2011. In response, Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement:
"Workers in this country have the right to return home safe and healthy at the end of a work day. Despite that right, poor safety conditions cause thousands of people each year to lose their lives at work.
"I am greatly encouraged by the reduction in workplace fatalities, even in a growing economy. It is a testament to the hard work of employers, unions, health and safety professionals and the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration. Through collaborative education and outreach efforts, and effective law enforcement, these numbers indicate that we are absolutely moving in the right direction.
"But to me these aren't just numbers and data — they are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, who will never come home again.
"We can and must do better. Job gains in oil and gas and construction have come with more fatalities, and that is unacceptable. That's why OSHA has undertaken a number of outreach and educational initiatives, including a campaign to prevent falls in construction and the National Voluntary Stand Down of U.S. Onshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, co-sponsored by oil and gas industry employers and planned for Nov. 14. Employers must take job hazards seriously and live up to their legal and moral obligation to send their workers home safe every single day. The Labor Department is committed to preventing these needless deaths, and we will continue to engage with employers to make sure that these fatality numbers go down further.
"No worker should lose their life for a paycheck."
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FINDS PARTNER IN EDUCATING AMERICANS ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE
FROM: U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Pennsylvania Champions for Coverage partner with Obama administration to help Americans understand the Health Insurance Marketplace
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recognized more than 25 Pennsylvania organizations and businesses that have volunteered to help uninsured Americans get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Secretary Sebelius made today’s announcement at an event hosted by Congreso, a Champion for Coverage dedicated to strengthening Latino communities.
“A network of volunteers on the ground in every state – health care providers, business leaders, faith leaders, community groups, advocates, and local elected officials – can help spread the word and encourage their neighbors to get enrolled,” said Secretary Sebelius.
Champions for Coverage are local businesses and organizations – bloggers, community health centers, hospitals, communities of faith, and civic organizations. They will use publicly available materials – both digital and in print – from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to help members of their communities understand their new options through the Marketplace. There are many ways these organizations can help, including hanging a poster in their office, hosting an enrollment fair or educational event, or posting links on their website.
“We are both excited and thankful to have such a wide variety of businesses and organizations that want to get involved and help us spread the message about these new opportunities for people to access quality, affordable health insurance when open enrollment begins on October 1,” said CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.
“Congreso is proud to partner with HHS on this historic effort to expand access to health care coverage for all Americans,” said Cynthia Figueroa, Congreso president and chief executive officer. “As a Champion for Coverage, we aim to be a trusted community resource for Latino individuals and families who want to learn more about their options for quality, affordable coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act.”
Today’s announcement follows the significant progress made this summer on outreach and education around the Marketplace. Consumers can learn about and enroll in coverage later this fall through HealthCare.gov. They can participate in an online web chat, or call 1-800-318-2596 toll free to speak with a trained customer service representative.
The growing list of Pennsylvania organizations includes:
ACLAMO Family Centers
Berks Community Health Center
Better Health Network
Black Women's Health Alliance
Central Montgomery Mental Health
Columbia County Volunteers in Medicine Clinic Inc.
Community Health Clinic of Butler County
Congreso de Latinos Unidos
Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting
Diagnostic Imaging Specialists LLC
Family Planning Council
Jewish Healthcare Foundation
Keystone Rural Health Center
La Comunidad Hispana
Maternity Care Coalition
Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Mt. Tabor AME Church
Office of HIV Planning Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health
Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative
Planned Parenthood Keystone
Susquehanna Community Health and Dental Clinic Inc
Webkite
Welsh Mountain Health Centers
West Philadelphia Salvation Army
Women's Law Project
There will also be people in local communities who can provide in-person help with coverage choices. Last week, HHS awarded $67 million to 105 Navigator grant applicants. More than 1,200 community health centers across the country have received more than $150 million to help enroll uninsured Americans in coverage. And a partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services will help trusted local libraries be a resource for consumers who want information on their options.<</p>
Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace begins October 1 for coverage starting as early as Jan. 1, 2014. Visit HealthCare.gov to learn more and to sign up for account.
To see the list of 100 national organizations announced last week visit: http://marketplace.cms.gov/help-us/champions-for-coverage-list.pdf.
Pennsylvania Champions for Coverage partner with Obama administration to help Americans understand the Health Insurance Marketplace
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recognized more than 25 Pennsylvania organizations and businesses that have volunteered to help uninsured Americans get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Secretary Sebelius made today’s announcement at an event hosted by Congreso, a Champion for Coverage dedicated to strengthening Latino communities.
“A network of volunteers on the ground in every state – health care providers, business leaders, faith leaders, community groups, advocates, and local elected officials – can help spread the word and encourage their neighbors to get enrolled,” said Secretary Sebelius.
Champions for Coverage are local businesses and organizations – bloggers, community health centers, hospitals, communities of faith, and civic organizations. They will use publicly available materials – both digital and in print – from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to help members of their communities understand their new options through the Marketplace. There are many ways these organizations can help, including hanging a poster in their office, hosting an enrollment fair or educational event, or posting links on their website.
“We are both excited and thankful to have such a wide variety of businesses and organizations that want to get involved and help us spread the message about these new opportunities for people to access quality, affordable health insurance when open enrollment begins on October 1,” said CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.
“Congreso is proud to partner with HHS on this historic effort to expand access to health care coverage for all Americans,” said Cynthia Figueroa, Congreso president and chief executive officer. “As a Champion for Coverage, we aim to be a trusted community resource for Latino individuals and families who want to learn more about their options for quality, affordable coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act.”
Today’s announcement follows the significant progress made this summer on outreach and education around the Marketplace. Consumers can learn about and enroll in coverage later this fall through HealthCare.gov. They can participate in an online web chat, or call 1-800-318-2596 toll free to speak with a trained customer service representative.
The growing list of Pennsylvania organizations includes:
ACLAMO Family Centers
Berks Community Health Center
Better Health Network
Black Women's Health Alliance
Central Montgomery Mental Health
Columbia County Volunteers in Medicine Clinic Inc.
Community Health Clinic of Butler County
Congreso de Latinos Unidos
Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting
Diagnostic Imaging Specialists LLC
Family Planning Council
Jewish Healthcare Foundation
Keystone Rural Health Center
La Comunidad Hispana
Maternity Care Coalition
Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Mt. Tabor AME Church
Office of HIV Planning Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health
Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative
Planned Parenthood Keystone
Susquehanna Community Health and Dental Clinic Inc
Webkite
Welsh Mountain Health Centers
West Philadelphia Salvation Army
Women's Law Project
There will also be people in local communities who can provide in-person help with coverage choices. Last week, HHS awarded $67 million to 105 Navigator grant applicants. More than 1,200 community health centers across the country have received more than $150 million to help enroll uninsured Americans in coverage. And a partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services will help trusted local libraries be a resource for consumers who want information on their options.<</p>
Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace begins October 1 for coverage starting as early as Jan. 1, 2014. Visit HealthCare.gov to learn more and to sign up for account.
To see the list of 100 national organizations announced last week visit: http://marketplace.cms.gov/help-us/champions-for-coverage-list.pdf.
FACT SHEET: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PLAN FOR MAKING COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE
FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE
FACT SHEET on the President’s Plan to Make College More Affordable: A Better Bargain for the Middle Class
A higher education is the single most important investment students can make in their own futures. At the same time, it has never been more expensive. That’s why since taking office, President Obama has made historic investments in college affordability, increasing the maximum Pell Grant award for working and middle class families by more than $900, creating the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and enacting effective student loan reforms eliminating bank subsidies and making college more affordable.
However, despite these measures, college tuition keeps rising. The average tuition at a public four-year college has increased by more than 250 percent over the past three decades, while incomes for typical families grew by only 16 percent, according to College Board and Census data. Declining state funding has forced students to shoulder a bigger proportion of college costs; tuition has almost doubled as a share of public college revenues over the past 25 years from 25 percent to 47 percent. While a college education remains a worthwhile investment overall, the average borrower now graduates with over $26,000 in debt. Only 58 percent of full-time students who began college in 2004 earned a four-year degree within six years. Loan default rates are rising, and too many young adults are burdened with debt as they seek to start a family, buy a home, launch a business, or save for retirement.
Today, President Obama outlined an ambitious new agenda to combat rising college costs and make college affordable for American families. His plan will measure college performance through a new ratings system so students and families have the information to select schools that provide the best value. And after this ratings system is well established, Congress can tie federal student aid to college performance so that students maximize their federal aid at institutions providing the best value. The President’s plan will also take down barriers that stand in the way of competition and innovation, particularly in the use of new technology, and shine a light on the most cutting-edge college practices for providing high value at low costs. And to help student borrowers struggling with their existing debt, the President is committed to ensuring that all borrowers who need it can have access to the Pay As You Earn plan that caps loan payments at 10 percent of income and is directing the Department of Education to ramp up its efforts to reach out to students struggling with their loans to make sure they know and understand all their repayment options.
A Better Bargain for the Middle Class: Making College More Affordable
Paying for Performance
Tie financial aid to college performance, starting with publishing new college ratings before the 2015 school year.
Challenge states to fund public colleges based on performance.
Hold students and colleges receiving student aid responsible for making progress toward a degree.
Promoting Innovation and Competition
Challenge colleges to offer students a greater range of affordable, high-quality options than they do today.
Give consumers clear, transparent information on college performance to help them make the decisions that work best for them.
Encourage innovation by stripping away unnecessary regulations.
Ensuring that Student Debt Remains Affordable
Help ensure borrowers can afford their federal student loan debt by allowing all borrowers to cap their payments at 10 percent of their monthly income.
Reach out to struggling borrowers to ensure that they are aware of the flexible options available to help them to repay their debt.
PAY COLLEGES AND STUDENTS FOR PERFORMANCE
The federal government provides over $150 billion each year in student financial aid, while states collectively invest over $70 billion in public colleges and universities. Almost all of these resources are allocated among colleges based on the number of students who enroll, not the number who earn degrees or what they learn. President Obama’s plan will connect student aid to outcomes, which will in turn drive a better, more affordable education for all students:
Tie Financial Aid to College Value: To identify colleges for providing the best value and encourage all colleges to improve, President Obama is directing the Department of Education to develop and publish a new college ratings system that would be available for students and families before the 2015 college year. In the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the President will seek legislation allocating financial aid based upon these college ratings by 2018, once the ratings system is well established. Students can continue to choose whichever college they want, but taxpayer dollars will be steered toward high-performing colleges that provide the best value.
New College Ratings before 2015. Before the 2015 school year, the Department of Education will develop a new ratings system to help students compare the value offered by colleges and encourage colleges to improve. These ratings will compare colleges with similar missions and identify colleges that do the most to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as colleges that are improving their performance. The results will be published on the College Scorecard. The Department will develop these ratings through public hearings around the country to gather the input of students and parents, state leaders, college presidents, and others with ideas on how to publish excellent ratings that put a fundamental premium on measuring value and ensure that access for those with economic or other disadvantages are encouraged, not discouraged. The ratings will be based upon such measures as:
Access, such as percentage of students receiving Pell grants;
Affordability, such as average tuition, scholarships, and loan debt; and
Outcomes, such as graduation and transfer rates, graduate earnings, and advanced degrees of college graduates.
Base Student Aid on College Value by 2018. Over the next four years, the Department of Education will refine these measurements, while colleges have an opportunity to improve their performance and ratings. The Administration will seek legislation using this new rating system to transform the way federal aid is awarded to colleges once the ratings are well developed. Students attending high-performing colleges could receive larger Pell Grants and more affordable student loans.
Engage States with a Race to the Top for Higher Education that Has Higher Value and Lower Costs: The President requested $1 billion in Race to the Top funding to spur state higher education reforms and reshape the federal-state partnership by ensuring that states maintain funding for public higher education. About three-quarters of college students attend a community college or public university, and declining state funding has been the biggest reason for rising tuition at public institutions. The Race to the Top competition will have a special focus on promoting paying for value as opposed to enrollment or just seat time. States typically fund colleges based on enrollment rather than on their success at graduating students or other measures of the value they offer. There are notable exceptions, like Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio, which fund colleges based on performance. To build on their examples, the President’s plan would also encourage states to provide accelerated learning opportunities, smooth the transition from high school to college and between two- and four-year colleges, and strengthen collaboration between high schools and colleges.
Reward Colleges for Results with a Pell Bonus and Higher Accountability: To encourage colleges to enroll and graduate low- and moderate-income students, the President will propose legislation to give colleges a bonus based upon the number of Pell students they graduate. And the Administration will prevent the waste of Pell dollars by requiring colleges with high dropout rates to disburse student aid over the course of the semester as students face expenses, rather than in a lump sum at the beginning of the semester, so students who drop out do not receive Pell Grants for time they are not in school.
Demand Student Responsibility for Academic Performance: To ensure students are making progress toward their degrees, the President will also propose legislation strengthening academic progress requirements of student aid programs, such as requiring students to complete a certain percentage of their classes before receiving continued funding. These changes would encourage students to complete their studies on time, thereby reducing their debt, and will be designed to ensure that disadvantaged students have every opportunity to succeed.
PROMOTE INNOVATION AND COMPETITION
A rising tide of innovation has the potential to shake up the higher education landscape. Promising approaches include three-year accelerated degrees, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and “flipped” or “hybrid” classrooms where students watch lectures at home and online and faculty challenge them to solve problems and deepen their knowledge in class. Some of these approaches are still being developed, and too few students are seeing their benefits. The federal government can act as a catalyst for innovation, spurring innovation in a way that drives down costs while preserving quality.
To promote innovation and competition in the higher education marketplace, the President’s plan will publish better information on how colleges are performing, help demonstrate that new approaches can improve learning and reduce costs, and offer colleges regulatory flexibility to innovate. And the President is challenging colleges and other higher education leaders to adopt one or more of these promising practices that we know offer breakthroughs on cost, quality, or both – or create something better themselves:
Award Credits Based on Learning, not Seat Time. Western Governors University is a competency-based online university serving more than 40,000 students with relatively low costs— about $6,000 per year for most degrees with an average time to a bachelor’s degree of only 30 months. A number of other institutions have also established competency-based programs, including Southern New Hampshire University and the University of Wisconsin system.
Use Technology to Redesign Courses. Redesigned courses that integrate online platforms (like MOOCs) or blend in-person and online experiences can accelerate the pace of student learning. The National Center for Academic Transformation has shown the effectiveness of the thoughtful use of technology across a wide range of academic disciplines, improving learning outcomes for students while reducing costs by nearly 40 percent on average. Carnegie Mellon University’s Open Learning Initiative has developed a hybrid statistics course used at six public universities, and its students performed as well as their peers in a traditional course in only 75 percent of the time. Arizona State University’s interactive algebra lessons helped students perform 10 percent better, despite meeting half as often, and at a lower cost. The University of Maryland redesigned an introductory psychology course, reducing costs by 70 percent while raising pass rates. New York’s Open SUNY initiative brings together every online program offered system-wide, helping students complete more quickly.
Use Technology for Student Services. Online learning communities and e-advising tools encourage persistence and alert instructors when additional help is needed. Technology is enabling students from across campuses and across the world to collaborate through online study groups and in-person meet-ups. MOOC-provider Coursera has online forums in which the median response time for questions posed by students is 22 minutes. To help students choose the courses that will allow them to earn a degree as quickly as possible, Austin Peay State University has developed the “Degree Compass” system that draws on the past performance of students in thousands of classes to guide a student through a course, in a similar manner to the way Netflix or Pandora draw on users’ past experience to guide movie or music choices.
Recognize Prior Learning and Promote Dual Enrollment. Colleges can also award credit for prior learning experiences, similar to current Administration efforts to recognize the skills of returning veterans. Dual-enrollment opportunities let high school students earn credits before arriving at college, which can save them money by accelerating their time to degree.
To help colleges innovate and improve quality and outcomes, the Administration will:
Empower Students with Information: New college ratings will help students compare the value offered by different colleges. The Department of Education will enlist entrepreneurs and technology leaders with a “Datapalooza” to catalyze new private-sector tools, services, and apps to help students evaluate and select colleges. The effort will be complemented by earnings information by college that will be released for the first time on Administration’s College Scorecard this fall.
Seed Innovation and Measure What Works: To demonstrate what works, President Obama has proposed a new $260 million First in the World fund to test and evaluate innovative approaches to higher education that yield dramatically better outcomes, and to develop new ways for colleges to demonstrate that they are helping their students learn. In addition, the Department of Labor is planning to grant an additional $500 million to community colleges and eligible four-year colleges and universities next year. A portion of these resources will be used to promote accelerated degree paths and credentials that would drive more high-quality and affordable options for adult workers and students. Through these efforts, the Administration will work with business and philanthropy to support industry partnerships to enrich student learning with valuable job exploration and experience.
Reduce Regulatory Barriers: The Department will use its authority to issue regulatory waivers for “experimental sites” that promote high-quality, low-cost innovations in higher education, such as making it possible for students to get financial aid based on how much they learn, rather than the amount of time they spend in class. Pilot opportunities could include enabling colleges to offer Pell grants to high school students taking college courses, allowing federal financial aid to be used to pay test fees when students seek academic credit for prior learning, and combining traditional and competency-based courses into a single program of study. The Department will also support efforts to remove state regulatory barriers to distance education.
Finally, the President will challenge leaders in states, philanthropy, and the private sector to make their own commitments to improve college value while reducing costs. For example, states can redesign the transition to postsecondary education and commit to strategies to improve student learning and enhance student advising, such as hybrid learning pilots, adaptive learning platforms, and digital tutors. Philanthropists can create initiatives, pilots and prizes for colleges that advance competency-based education, accelerated degrees, and the integration of new technologies into on-campus teaching and learning. Investors and entrepreneurs can directly support and develop new technologies and innovations that accelerate student learning while evaluating the effectiveness of different approaches. And employers and industry groups can collaborate with postsecondary institutions and new providers to develop high-quality, low-cost degrees in growing sectors of the economy, offer work-based learning experiences to students, and hire graduates who demonstrate the knowledge and skills employers need.
ENSURE STUDENT DEBT IS AFFORDABLE
While bringing down costs for current and future college students, President Obama will also help students with existing debt to manage their obligations. Income-driven repayment plans allow borrowers to take responsibility for their federal student loan debt with more flexible repayment terms, while helping professionals like teachers and nurses who take on critical jobs in our society that require significant education but may result in modest salaries. These plans allow students to fully repay their student debt on a sliding scale that adjusts monthly payments based on changing income and growing families. Nearly two-thirds of people that currently participate in the income-driven repayment plans make less than $60,000 a year. Currently, over 2.5 million of 37 million federal student loan borrowers are benefitting from income-driven plans.
Make All Borrowers Eligible for Pay As You Earn: To make sure that students and families have an easy-to-understand insurance policy against unmanageable debt now and in the future, the President has proposed allowing all student borrowers to cap their federal student loan payments at 10 percent of their monthly income. Currently, students who first borrowed before 2008 or have not borrowed since 2011 are not eligible for the President’s Pay As You Earn plan. In addition, the Administration will work with Congress to ensure that the benefits are targeted to the neediest borrowers.
Launching an Enrollment Campaign for Pay As You Earn: Beginning this fall, the Department of Education will contact borrowers who have fallen behind on their student loan payments, undergraduate borrowers with higher-than-average debts, and borrowers in deferment or forbearance because of financial hardship or unemployment to ensure they have the information they need to choose the right repayment option for them. Starting in 2014, the Department of Education and the Department of Treasury will work to help borrowers learn about and enroll in Pay As You Earn and Income-Based Repayment plans when they file their taxes. And to assist guidance counselors and other advisers who guide students through the process of selecting and financing their higher education, the Administration will launch a “one-stop shop” that will include important resources for choosing among various income-driven repayment options.
FACT SHEET on the President’s Plan to Make College More Affordable: A Better Bargain for the Middle Class
A higher education is the single most important investment students can make in their own futures. At the same time, it has never been more expensive. That’s why since taking office, President Obama has made historic investments in college affordability, increasing the maximum Pell Grant award for working and middle class families by more than $900, creating the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and enacting effective student loan reforms eliminating bank subsidies and making college more affordable.
However, despite these measures, college tuition keeps rising. The average tuition at a public four-year college has increased by more than 250 percent over the past three decades, while incomes for typical families grew by only 16 percent, according to College Board and Census data. Declining state funding has forced students to shoulder a bigger proportion of college costs; tuition has almost doubled as a share of public college revenues over the past 25 years from 25 percent to 47 percent. While a college education remains a worthwhile investment overall, the average borrower now graduates with over $26,000 in debt. Only 58 percent of full-time students who began college in 2004 earned a four-year degree within six years. Loan default rates are rising, and too many young adults are burdened with debt as they seek to start a family, buy a home, launch a business, or save for retirement.
Today, President Obama outlined an ambitious new agenda to combat rising college costs and make college affordable for American families. His plan will measure college performance through a new ratings system so students and families have the information to select schools that provide the best value. And after this ratings system is well established, Congress can tie federal student aid to college performance so that students maximize their federal aid at institutions providing the best value. The President’s plan will also take down barriers that stand in the way of competition and innovation, particularly in the use of new technology, and shine a light on the most cutting-edge college practices for providing high value at low costs. And to help student borrowers struggling with their existing debt, the President is committed to ensuring that all borrowers who need it can have access to the Pay As You Earn plan that caps loan payments at 10 percent of income and is directing the Department of Education to ramp up its efforts to reach out to students struggling with their loans to make sure they know and understand all their repayment options.
A Better Bargain for the Middle Class: Making College More Affordable
Paying for Performance
Tie financial aid to college performance, starting with publishing new college ratings before the 2015 school year.
Challenge states to fund public colleges based on performance.
Hold students and colleges receiving student aid responsible for making progress toward a degree.
Promoting Innovation and Competition
Challenge colleges to offer students a greater range of affordable, high-quality options than they do today.
Give consumers clear, transparent information on college performance to help them make the decisions that work best for them.
Encourage innovation by stripping away unnecessary regulations.
Ensuring that Student Debt Remains Affordable
Help ensure borrowers can afford their federal student loan debt by allowing all borrowers to cap their payments at 10 percent of their monthly income.
Reach out to struggling borrowers to ensure that they are aware of the flexible options available to help them to repay their debt.
PAY COLLEGES AND STUDENTS FOR PERFORMANCE
The federal government provides over $150 billion each year in student financial aid, while states collectively invest over $70 billion in public colleges and universities. Almost all of these resources are allocated among colleges based on the number of students who enroll, not the number who earn degrees or what they learn. President Obama’s plan will connect student aid to outcomes, which will in turn drive a better, more affordable education for all students:
Tie Financial Aid to College Value: To identify colleges for providing the best value and encourage all colleges to improve, President Obama is directing the Department of Education to develop and publish a new college ratings system that would be available for students and families before the 2015 college year. In the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the President will seek legislation allocating financial aid based upon these college ratings by 2018, once the ratings system is well established. Students can continue to choose whichever college they want, but taxpayer dollars will be steered toward high-performing colleges that provide the best value.
New College Ratings before 2015. Before the 2015 school year, the Department of Education will develop a new ratings system to help students compare the value offered by colleges and encourage colleges to improve. These ratings will compare colleges with similar missions and identify colleges that do the most to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as colleges that are improving their performance. The results will be published on the College Scorecard. The Department will develop these ratings through public hearings around the country to gather the input of students and parents, state leaders, college presidents, and others with ideas on how to publish excellent ratings that put a fundamental premium on measuring value and ensure that access for those with economic or other disadvantages are encouraged, not discouraged. The ratings will be based upon such measures as:
Access, such as percentage of students receiving Pell grants;
Affordability, such as average tuition, scholarships, and loan debt; and
Outcomes, such as graduation and transfer rates, graduate earnings, and advanced degrees of college graduates.
Base Student Aid on College Value by 2018. Over the next four years, the Department of Education will refine these measurements, while colleges have an opportunity to improve their performance and ratings. The Administration will seek legislation using this new rating system to transform the way federal aid is awarded to colleges once the ratings are well developed. Students attending high-performing colleges could receive larger Pell Grants and more affordable student loans.
Engage States with a Race to the Top for Higher Education that Has Higher Value and Lower Costs: The President requested $1 billion in Race to the Top funding to spur state higher education reforms and reshape the federal-state partnership by ensuring that states maintain funding for public higher education. About three-quarters of college students attend a community college or public university, and declining state funding has been the biggest reason for rising tuition at public institutions. The Race to the Top competition will have a special focus on promoting paying for value as opposed to enrollment or just seat time. States typically fund colleges based on enrollment rather than on their success at graduating students or other measures of the value they offer. There are notable exceptions, like Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio, which fund colleges based on performance. To build on their examples, the President’s plan would also encourage states to provide accelerated learning opportunities, smooth the transition from high school to college and between two- and four-year colleges, and strengthen collaboration between high schools and colleges.
Reward Colleges for Results with a Pell Bonus and Higher Accountability: To encourage colleges to enroll and graduate low- and moderate-income students, the President will propose legislation to give colleges a bonus based upon the number of Pell students they graduate. And the Administration will prevent the waste of Pell dollars by requiring colleges with high dropout rates to disburse student aid over the course of the semester as students face expenses, rather than in a lump sum at the beginning of the semester, so students who drop out do not receive Pell Grants for time they are not in school.
Demand Student Responsibility for Academic Performance: To ensure students are making progress toward their degrees, the President will also propose legislation strengthening academic progress requirements of student aid programs, such as requiring students to complete a certain percentage of their classes before receiving continued funding. These changes would encourage students to complete their studies on time, thereby reducing their debt, and will be designed to ensure that disadvantaged students have every opportunity to succeed.
PROMOTE INNOVATION AND COMPETITION
A rising tide of innovation has the potential to shake up the higher education landscape. Promising approaches include three-year accelerated degrees, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and “flipped” or “hybrid” classrooms where students watch lectures at home and online and faculty challenge them to solve problems and deepen their knowledge in class. Some of these approaches are still being developed, and too few students are seeing their benefits. The federal government can act as a catalyst for innovation, spurring innovation in a way that drives down costs while preserving quality.
To promote innovation and competition in the higher education marketplace, the President’s plan will publish better information on how colleges are performing, help demonstrate that new approaches can improve learning and reduce costs, and offer colleges regulatory flexibility to innovate. And the President is challenging colleges and other higher education leaders to adopt one or more of these promising practices that we know offer breakthroughs on cost, quality, or both – or create something better themselves:
Award Credits Based on Learning, not Seat Time. Western Governors University is a competency-based online university serving more than 40,000 students with relatively low costs— about $6,000 per year for most degrees with an average time to a bachelor’s degree of only 30 months. A number of other institutions have also established competency-based programs, including Southern New Hampshire University and the University of Wisconsin system.
Use Technology to Redesign Courses. Redesigned courses that integrate online platforms (like MOOCs) or blend in-person and online experiences can accelerate the pace of student learning. The National Center for Academic Transformation has shown the effectiveness of the thoughtful use of technology across a wide range of academic disciplines, improving learning outcomes for students while reducing costs by nearly 40 percent on average. Carnegie Mellon University’s Open Learning Initiative has developed a hybrid statistics course used at six public universities, and its students performed as well as their peers in a traditional course in only 75 percent of the time. Arizona State University’s interactive algebra lessons helped students perform 10 percent better, despite meeting half as often, and at a lower cost. The University of Maryland redesigned an introductory psychology course, reducing costs by 70 percent while raising pass rates. New York’s Open SUNY initiative brings together every online program offered system-wide, helping students complete more quickly.
Use Technology for Student Services. Online learning communities and e-advising tools encourage persistence and alert instructors when additional help is needed. Technology is enabling students from across campuses and across the world to collaborate through online study groups and in-person meet-ups. MOOC-provider Coursera has online forums in which the median response time for questions posed by students is 22 minutes. To help students choose the courses that will allow them to earn a degree as quickly as possible, Austin Peay State University has developed the “Degree Compass” system that draws on the past performance of students in thousands of classes to guide a student through a course, in a similar manner to the way Netflix or Pandora draw on users’ past experience to guide movie or music choices.
Recognize Prior Learning and Promote Dual Enrollment. Colleges can also award credit for prior learning experiences, similar to current Administration efforts to recognize the skills of returning veterans. Dual-enrollment opportunities let high school students earn credits before arriving at college, which can save them money by accelerating their time to degree.
To help colleges innovate and improve quality and outcomes, the Administration will:
Empower Students with Information: New college ratings will help students compare the value offered by different colleges. The Department of Education will enlist entrepreneurs and technology leaders with a “Datapalooza” to catalyze new private-sector tools, services, and apps to help students evaluate and select colleges. The effort will be complemented by earnings information by college that will be released for the first time on Administration’s College Scorecard this fall.
Seed Innovation and Measure What Works: To demonstrate what works, President Obama has proposed a new $260 million First in the World fund to test and evaluate innovative approaches to higher education that yield dramatically better outcomes, and to develop new ways for colleges to demonstrate that they are helping their students learn. In addition, the Department of Labor is planning to grant an additional $500 million to community colleges and eligible four-year colleges and universities next year. A portion of these resources will be used to promote accelerated degree paths and credentials that would drive more high-quality and affordable options for adult workers and students. Through these efforts, the Administration will work with business and philanthropy to support industry partnerships to enrich student learning with valuable job exploration and experience.
Reduce Regulatory Barriers: The Department will use its authority to issue regulatory waivers for “experimental sites” that promote high-quality, low-cost innovations in higher education, such as making it possible for students to get financial aid based on how much they learn, rather than the amount of time they spend in class. Pilot opportunities could include enabling colleges to offer Pell grants to high school students taking college courses, allowing federal financial aid to be used to pay test fees when students seek academic credit for prior learning, and combining traditional and competency-based courses into a single program of study. The Department will also support efforts to remove state regulatory barriers to distance education.
Finally, the President will challenge leaders in states, philanthropy, and the private sector to make their own commitments to improve college value while reducing costs. For example, states can redesign the transition to postsecondary education and commit to strategies to improve student learning and enhance student advising, such as hybrid learning pilots, adaptive learning platforms, and digital tutors. Philanthropists can create initiatives, pilots and prizes for colleges that advance competency-based education, accelerated degrees, and the integration of new technologies into on-campus teaching and learning. Investors and entrepreneurs can directly support and develop new technologies and innovations that accelerate student learning while evaluating the effectiveness of different approaches. And employers and industry groups can collaborate with postsecondary institutions and new providers to develop high-quality, low-cost degrees in growing sectors of the economy, offer work-based learning experiences to students, and hire graduates who demonstrate the knowledge and skills employers need.
ENSURE STUDENT DEBT IS AFFORDABLE
While bringing down costs for current and future college students, President Obama will also help students with existing debt to manage their obligations. Income-driven repayment plans allow borrowers to take responsibility for their federal student loan debt with more flexible repayment terms, while helping professionals like teachers and nurses who take on critical jobs in our society that require significant education but may result in modest salaries. These plans allow students to fully repay their student debt on a sliding scale that adjusts monthly payments based on changing income and growing families. Nearly two-thirds of people that currently participate in the income-driven repayment plans make less than $60,000 a year. Currently, over 2.5 million of 37 million federal student loan borrowers are benefitting from income-driven plans.
Make All Borrowers Eligible for Pay As You Earn: To make sure that students and families have an easy-to-understand insurance policy against unmanageable debt now and in the future, the President has proposed allowing all student borrowers to cap their federal student loan payments at 10 percent of their monthly income. Currently, students who first borrowed before 2008 or have not borrowed since 2011 are not eligible for the President’s Pay As You Earn plan. In addition, the Administration will work with Congress to ensure that the benefits are targeted to the neediest borrowers.
Launching an Enrollment Campaign for Pay As You Earn: Beginning this fall, the Department of Education will contact borrowers who have fallen behind on their student loan payments, undergraduate borrowers with higher-than-average debts, and borrowers in deferment or forbearance because of financial hardship or unemployment to ensure they have the information they need to choose the right repayment option for them. Starting in 2014, the Department of Education and the Department of Treasury will work to help borrowers learn about and enroll in Pay As You Earn and Income-Based Repayment plans when they file their taxes. And to assist guidance counselors and other advisers who guide students through the process of selecting and financing their higher education, the Administration will launch a “one-stop shop” that will include important resources for choosing among various income-driven repayment options.
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