DOE: UConn Stamford a bargain
The U.S. Department of Education ranked the University of Connecticut Stamford among the 50 most affordable public university campuses, after subtracting scholarships and grants from the tuition, board and fees families are charged.
A commuter, school, UConn Stamford carried a “net price” of just more than $6,000 for the 2009-2010 academic year, as calculated by DOE”™s National Center for Education Statistics. City University of New York”™s Lehman College led all Northeast schools with a net price of under $4,400.
No Connecticut school ranked among the most expensive in the nation on a net basis, though Connecticut College in New London carried the second highest tuition, board and fees in the nation at $51,000 behind, with those costs defrayed by grants.
Under the Higher Education Opportunity Act, institutions ranking among the 5 percent stiffest price hikes over three years must detail plans they intend to take to rein in costs.
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Help wanted: teachers
In a somber circular posted last month, the Connecticut Department of Education said the state enters the 2011-12 school year with a shortage of teachers for math, science, English and special education, among other areas.
George Coleman, the state”™s acting education commissioner, noted the shortage exists despite several programs in place to increase the numbers of teachers in Connecticut, including one encouraging retirees to teach one more year; and one to assist qualified teachers with their mortgages.
Apple for Fairfield?
Two online websites that track Apple Inc. speculated that Fairfield University may have an Apple Store at a former Borders Books location the university is taking over in downtown Fairfield.
The website IfoAppleStore.com was the first to air the speculation, noting a reference by Fairfield University President Jeffrey von Arx to “an industry-leading computer retailer” that would occupy a portion of the school”™s new bookstore at 1499 Post Road; and noting Apple”™s recent plans to situate a retail store adjacent to Yale University in New Haven.
“This is ”¦ (a) demonstration of the continued bond and long-term strengthening of the relationship between the university and the town of Fairfield,” said Michael Tetreau, first selectman of Fairfield. “In this economy, with all the news stories we are hearing on a nationwide basis, that ”¦ the quality of the partners that are coming in, the tenants that are coming in, are a statement to how well the local commercial community is doing in Fairfield.”
Weld North has first deal
The former CEO of Kaplan Inc. led an acquisition of e2020 Inc., an e-learning company based in Scottsdale, Ariz.
It was the first acquisition announced by Weld North L.L.C., a Greenwich-based partnership between private equity company KKR and former Kaplan CEO Jonathan Grayer.
Weld North did not state what it paid for e2020, which provides online, video-based instruction and other curricula to 4 million students. Sari Factor, managing director for education at Weld North and also a Kaplan veteran, is e2020”™s new CEO.
Building Blocks adds center
Building Blocks Early Learning Center L.L.C. took a lease for 18,000 square feet of space at 59 Danbury Road in Wilton, once the site of the John Frieda spa that has been empty for several years.
CB Richard Ellis represented Building Blocks in lease negotiations, with RHYS Commercial handling negotiations on behalf the landlord. Building Blocks takes occupancy in December for a 15-year lease.
Building Blocks also has a facility at 72 Camp Ave. in Stamford.
