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COLLEGE NOTES

Four new IT degrees from AMU

American Military University has launched four new online degree programs in information technology — two associate degrees and two bachelor’s degrees, according to a news release.

The associate degree programs are in database application development and Web publishing.

One new bachelor’s degree is in information systems security, preparing students for careers as security analysts, information security officers and security systems designers.

The second new bachelor’s — Bachelor of Science in Information Technology — focuses on problem-solving techniques in jobs such as Web developer and publisher, systems analyst, information systems analyst, database analyst and IT manager.

No-cost courses for spouses

Allied Schools is offering certain career-training courses at no cost to spouses of active-duty, active-drilling service members who also enroll with the Laguna Hills, Calif.-based system.

The company, established in 1992, offers training courses in real estate, health care and business online and in traditional home-study formats.

About 10,700 service members have taken courses through Allied Schools since 2004, company spokesman Robert Fay said.

The approved list of no-cost courses for spouses includes training for jobs such as medical transcriptionist and real estate broker.

Elite schools give more aid

Yale University announced in January that it would reduce college costs for students across a wide range of incomes, a move that mirrors competing initiatives among the nation’s wealthiest universities.

Yale President Richard Levin said “extraordinary” returns on Yale’s endowment, valued at $22.5 billion and second only to Harvard’s $35 billion, enable the school to boost its financial aid budget by $24 million to more than $80 million annually.

Although Yale’s initiative is part of a continuing trend among wealthy colleges to help cover student costs — Harvard announced an overhaul of its financial aid policy in December — it’s also a response to growing pressure from lawmakers on colleges of all stripes to ease the burden on families.

Calif. seeks vets for engineers

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released plans in January to boost enrollment in engineering programs at state universities.

Such a plan could increase opportunities for 3,000 service members discharged in California each year with engineering-related military training, Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

Schwarzenegger said California faces a shortfall of more than 20,000 engineers, and he said he wants lawmakers to establish programs at state colleges and universities to expedite degrees for military veterans with engineering backgrounds.