- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: TOPS Update?
Posted on 10/27/16 at 10:22 am to lsupride87
Posted on 10/27/16 at 10:22 am to lsupride87
You identified the problem with government assistance. Why anyone would be shocked that people don't want them to take money away from them (or not give them money) is what's most surprising. That's why it is hard to get rid of welfare programs. Equating welfare programs to disaster relief is stupid, though.
2
Posted on 10/27/16 at 10:22 am to nicholastiger
quote:
TOPS days are numbered
As it should be.
I'm all for TOPS but I'd rather it go away than become another hijacked benifit for those who put forth the effort only to have it railroaded and turned into a social hand out to those who didn't earn it for political payback to voters.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 10:24 am to Snipe
quote:
I'm all for TOPS but I'd rather it go away than become another hijacked benifit for those who put forth the effort only to have it railroaded and turned into a social hand out to those who didn't earn it for political payback to voters.
If TOPS isn't going to be about retaining your top achievers and is going to be a participation ribbon for every high school student, I agree. Just kill it.
That being said, the numbers show the program has been pretty damn successful.
This post was edited on 10/27/16 at 11:13 am
Posted on 10/27/16 at 10:25 am to therick711
quote:Not really. People had an easy cheap option to protect themselves, chose not to, then want the govt to save them.
That's why it is hard to get rid of welfare programs. Equating welfare programs to disaster relief is stupid, though.
People have easy opportunity to get job, chose not to, and want the govt to save them.
One just makes people around here feel differently because it personally effected their lives.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 10:27 am to Amblin
No one really knows how Spring will work until the State addresses the potential shortfall from last fiscal year during mid year budget cuts. Last I heard the shortfall was projected to be around 150-300 Million.
The scary part is I've heard rumbling that next year's projected budget may be around 2 Billion dollar short of current expenses. If so this next regular session should be crazy as legislators balance outside pressure to make massive cuts vs raising taxes further. Its always easy to say cut until the program you support is on the block (see battle of TOPS vs community hospitals last year).
The scary part is I've heard rumbling that next year's projected budget may be around 2 Billion dollar short of current expenses. If so this next regular session should be crazy as legislators balance outside pressure to make massive cuts vs raising taxes further. Its always easy to say cut until the program you support is on the block (see battle of TOPS vs community hospitals last year).
Posted on 10/27/16 at 10:37 am to whodatdude
quote:
Contact your local representative and let them know you expect them to fund it 100% during the spring/summer sessions.
How about contacting them and letting them know you expect them to fix it so it isn't such a fricking waste of money?
TOPS needs to be means-tested and have the bottom tier removed (requirements are GPA of 2.5 and ACT of 20). This would cut the funding required by at least half.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 10:44 am to Bard
quote:
TOPS needs to be means-tested
Just get rid of it, then. If it isn't about keeping smart kids in our colleges to try and make them better, then frick it, don't have it. Sending poor people to college is literally what every other program is for.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 10:54 am to Jake88
quote:
Well, please elaborate? Where do the feds get that money they send the state? Isn't the federal sum tapered down over 5-10 years? Who fills that gap?
State has to start covering more next year.
The federal government covers all Medicaid expansion costs until 2017. Then the state begins paying 5 percent of the costs, gradually increasing the matching funds to a cap of 10 percent in 2020...meaning the state will start paying much more in just a couple of years.
That will be a catastrophic blow to Louisiana's budget even if oil prices climb. They've already underestimated how many people qualify for it in Louisiana, which already has a very high indigent population. Taxes will have to go up and they'll never come down. Medicaid will ultimately come at the cost of infrastructure investment, higher education, and economic development.
This post was edited on 10/27/16 at 11:03 am
Posted on 10/27/16 at 11:08 am to baseballmind1212
quote:
Imagine my dismay when realizing that the demographic that on average pays a higher percentage of their earnings to the government than ANY other demographic gets pissed when their few chances of government assistance are taken away.
Even the ones that don't pay federal income tax complain.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 2:38 pm to Bard
quote:
have the bottom tier removed
Sure. Let me know how many officials that vote for that get re-elected or even stay in this state.
Most people in higher education understand that TOPS standards (qualifying and retention) need to be revised in some manner. But, the minute you cut out the bottom tier (52% of all TOPS recipients) by raising the barrier for receiving the award, you won't have a job much longer.
Look at the massive backlash when TOPS initially said only students with a 26 ACT or higher would qualify for TOPS.
Like it or not, making changes to the bottom tier wipes out nearly half of the people on TOPS. Meaning 26K students and their parents will be looking to string you up and drag you down the street.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 3:04 pm to whodatdude
Glad I used mine
Posted on 10/27/16 at 3:08 pm to Amblin
TOPS needs to be reserved for in-demand and STEM degrees. That should fix the problem and actually turn out a positive result.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 3:19 pm to whodatdude
quote:This is the correct answer. It will interesting to see how students and families deal with the reality TOPS will not be the full amount for spring 2017.
TOPS was initially projected to be funded at 47-ish percent of a normal payment for the spring. It's likely that the estimate was on the high side. LOSFA currently shows a Spring semester percentage of 41.80%. The final numbers won't be officially released until after Nov 1.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 3:27 pm to therick711
quote:
Why anyone would be shocked that people don't want them to take money away from them (or not give them money) is what's most surprising.
I don't mind the discussion of cutting TOPS if it is necessary. I do mind that the JBE administration continues to threaten things like education and healthcare to extort more taxes from the workers when they could be cutting MANY OTHER programs.
You never hear them discussing cutting subsidies to crawfish farmers or any of the other hundreds of pork barrel state handouts. Sorry but those folks need to take cuts before some kid trying to be the first one in his family to get a college degree. As far as that goes, even if the kid only makes it two or three semesters, I think they are better off for the experience. I see that as a better use of my tax dollars than the other BS it goes toward.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 4:14 pm to Amblin
As long as Clarke Perkins keeps getting TOPS to pay for her #blacklivesmatter class.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 5:06 pm to whodatdude
Posted on 10/27/16 at 5:24 pm to cwarr14
quote:
What the frick ever happened to just working a trade?? Electrician, Carpenter, Welder etc. Thats some damn good money workin on them pipelines welding. Best part.... no college required.
Which trade do you currently work in?
Posted on 10/27/16 at 5:37 pm to VermilionTiger
quote:
TOPS should only be allowed for students to take part in majors that will put money back into the state or will have a significant impact on the state.
Education Majors
Engineering Majors
Science Majors
I think the best solution on the STEM front is already beginning to be pursued (the effort is only in its infancy and won't bear fruit for some time). Let the businesses that need the talent fund the education of their talent. For instance, Exxon is pitching in huge sums of money for STEM programs. No government intervention needed. If they need it, they will be willing to invest to get it. Governments should create environments that are conducive to the stakeholders taking a leading role in this area.
A great example of this is the nursing and OT markets. Louisiana had a burning need in this area almost two decades ago. The need drove educational decisions. Now the market is much closer to equilibrium.
This post was edited on 10/27/16 at 5:39 pm
Posted on 10/27/16 at 9:23 pm to volod
That is correct based on info from early March.During the initial discussion and based on the preliminary budget figures, only students with a 28 on the ACT or higher would get their TOPS, but they would be fully funded at 100%. Sometime in April, legislators were able to get it down to a 26. That was the official contingency plan in place in LOSFA's regulations in the event of a funding shortfall. That didn't sit well with the politicians so sometime in April or May, they spread the hit across the board so everyone would get something and it wouldn't alienate their lower achieving constituents.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 10:06 pm to whodatdude
quote:
That didn't sit well with the politicians so sometime in April or May, they spread the hit across the board so everyone would get something and it wouldn't alienate their lower achieving constituents.
I get it. Ill try to look for a more up to date article. From what I have read, it seems that they would prefer to just cut money from all tiers instead of just focusing the funding on one tier of students.
Page 3 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News