Daily Higher Education News: 12 February 2013

The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 12 February 2013.

Student sues university for US$1.3 million over grade…

A student at Lehigh University in the US is suing the institution because she was unhappy with a mark she received, which she says prevented her from pursuing a career as a counselor. Megan Thode argues that this was part of efforts on the part of the university to force her out of her graduate degree program, and accuses the university of sexual discrimination. The university’s lawyer says the claims are “nonsense”.  Thorde is seeking US$1.3 million in damages, reports The Morning Call.

…and US universities sue students over defaulted loans

Several US universities, including Yale, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pennsylvania and George Washington University are suing students for failing to repay Perkins Loans, reports RT.com. These loans are given to students who demonstrate that they cannot cover the cost of study. Universities rely on the repayment (in installments) of these loans after a 9 month grace period after graduation in order to provide new loans to incoming students. Reportedly, graduates are defaulting on almost US$1 billion worth of loans.

Hungarian students protest government policy

In Hungary, students are protesting a government policy which will see them obliged to work in the country after graduating or else cover the cost of their education – otherwise paid for by the state. Courts have said that the measure was unconstitutional, so the government has been working to change the law. Negotiations between the government and students bodies are ongoing, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Quebecers want higher tuition fees

A survey conducted by Leger Marketing has found that 50% of Quebecers would like tuition fees at the Canadian province’s universities to rise with inflation, while a further 17% would like them to go even higher than that. A tuition freeze is favored by 11%, while 18% think fees should be abolished altogether. The most popular option with 18-24 year olds, with 39% of the vote, was free tuition, reports CJAD. 

University accidentally tells students they have won scholarships

Hundreds of students have been left disappointed, after it turned out offers of full scholarships to Utah Valley University were down to a technical glitch, reports The Huffington Post. The university contacted 300 high school students in the state to inform them that they were eligible for four year scholarships, when in fact the vast majority did not qualify. To make amends, the university is offering the students chances to win other scholarships, and extending the usual application deadline.