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NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY HARY KANSAN
THURSDAY. JANUARY 22:2009
when he brought home a .75 GPA last semester. Kuntz's dad wasn't happy either.
GPA (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
"My dad was like, 'Bring the computer over here, you're going to show me your grades.' Kuntz said. "There was definitely a sinking feeling when he said that. I had a mental countdown in my head for when him starting to yell at me was going to start. It was dead on. It was like bam! It was zero hour, and he was not happy."
This was the same son whose lowest grade in high school was a C on a midterm.
a five-credit-hour class, Kuntz — and more specifically his father, who is footing his tuition bill — lost more than $1,000 from the failed class, Kuntz. an in-state undergrade, pays $260.56 per credit hour.
"That's why a shift down to a 1.5 was a little shocking for my dad," Kuntz said. "He was like, 'What the hell happened to you?' My dad was pissed."
Because of his F in German 104.
"He said, 'You're just throwing my money away, what's wrong with you?' Kuntz said.
average GPAs at the university
Out of state undergraduates lose even more money when they fail classes, as every credit hour costs $542.40. In-state graduate students lose $255.10 per credit hour, and out-of-state graduate students lose the most money when they perform poorly, at $609.55 per credit hour, according to the University of Kansas Comprehensive Fee Schedule. The loss of money was upsetting to Kun'ts' dad, he said.
Vincent, who had no scholarships coming into the University, said his parents also felt the financial strain of his low GPA.
Freshmen Male Average — 2.52
Male Average — 2.82
Freshmen Female Average — 2.76
Female Average — 3.05
Undergraduate Average — 2.94
*Source:The Office of Institutional Research and Planning
"It sucks. It's a little stressful — I have to do that much better this semester."
KYLE VINCENT
Olathe freshman
Kuntz also did not have any scholarships coming in as a freshman, but has friends who are on probation and lost scholarships as a result.
"I feel guilty that they wasted their money on me," Vincent said.
"I could be my friend in Engineering who says, 'Crap, how"
am I going to figure out how to pay tuition without three grand in scholarships?" he said.
Vincent, Kuntz and his friend are not the only students at the University who underperformed academically. In the most recently reported
data from Fall 2007, a report published by the Office of Institutional Research and Planning said the cumulative GPA for all freshmen males at the University was a 2.52, below the all-male average of 2.82. Freshmen women fared better with a 2.76 cumulative GPA, below the all-female average of a 3.05. The all-undergraduate GPA was a 2.94, and the college's cumulative GPA was the lowest of all the schools at the University, with an overall 2.82. Students' GPAs rank as low as 0.0, Roney said, reflecting all Fs.
There is hope for students on probation that they can stay at the University. Kuntz said he knew
what he needed to do. He said he knew he was better than his 1.5 GPA, and said he knew he was able to earn better grades than his GPA reflected. As the spring semester begins, Kuntz and Vincent said they knew the pressure was on.
"It sucks. It's a little stressful — I have to do that much better this semester," Vincent said. "It feels like I have a monkey on my back."
Edited by Grant Treaster
the cost of failing
In-State Undergraduates — $260.50 per credit hour
Out of State Undergraduates — $542.40 per credit hour
In-State Graduate Students — $255.10 per credit hour
Out of State Graduate Students — $609.55 per credit hour
*Source: University of Kansas Comprehensive Fee Schedule
where to turn if you're struggling
University Advising Center, 126 Strong Hall, 864-2834
Academic Achievement and Access Center, 22 Strong Hall, 804-4064 Counseling and Psychological Services, 2nd Floor of Watkins Health Center, 864-CAPS (2277)
Supportive Educational Services, 7 Strong Hall, 864-3971 KU Writing Center, 4017 Weseoc Hall, 864-2399
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Secretary of State-designate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, looks on during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 13. The Senate has confirmed Hillary Rodham Clinton to become secretary of state.
Senate confirms Clinton
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state Wednesday as President Barack Obama moved to make his imprint on U.S. foreign policy, mobilizing a fresh team of veteran advisers and reaching out to world leaders.
The Senate voted 94-2, with Republican Sens. David Vitter of Louisiana and Jim DeMint of South Carolina opposing.
Republicans and Democrats alike said her swift confirmation was necessary so that Obama could begin tackling the major foreign policy issues at hand, including two wars, increased violence in the Middle East and the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.
"It is essential that we provide the president with the tools and resources lie needs to effect change, and that starts with putting a national security team in place as soon as possible," said
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.
"This nation has come together in a way that it has not for some time," said the Arizona Republican, on the Senate floor for the first time since the inauguration.
Obamas presidential rival, Sen. John McCain, was among those who spoke in Clinton's favor.
As the Senate debated Clinton's appointment, Obama wasted no time in his first day at the White House. According to a White House spokesman, Obama placed telephone calls to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Voters "want us to work together and get to work," McCain said.
The administration also planned to name former Senate Democratic leader George J. Mitchell as Clinton's special envoy for the Middle East.
Dennis Ross, a longtime U.S. negotiator, was also expected to advise Clinton on Mideast policy, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the move.
She was sworn in as the nation's 67th secretary of state in her office in the Russell Senate Office Building. Attending the private ceremony was her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and her Senate staff. According to her office, she used the Bible that belonged to her late father. To assume the position, she submitted her resignation as senator in twin letters to Vice President Joe Biden, as president of the Senate, and New York Gov. David Paterson.
The former first lady planned to report to the State Department on Thursday, where she was expected to address employees in the main lobby that morning — a tradition of sorts for secretaries of state on their first day on the job.
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