New law designed to help rural higher education

The new federal higher-education law, which President Bush signed Thursday, includes "provisions supported by a rural coalition of college presidents," reports the Madison Daily Leader of South Dakota, citing a letter from the state Board of Regents.

The new measures "are intended to support rural education by increasing enrollment and graduation rates at rural-serving institutions," the Leader reports in a non-bylined story. "Rural colleges and universities may use the funds to provide counseling and outreach to students in rural high schools, increase enrollment of non-traditional students from rural areas, and strengthen their academic programs."

"For the first time, the federal government has specifically recognized the unique challenges faced by rural-serving institutions of higher education," South Dakota State University President Douglas Knowlton said. He said nearly 30 percent of all public, four-year colleges are in rural or geographically remote communities, and enrollment rates there are generally lower than in cities and suburbs. (Read more)