2008 Woodie Awards
Luebbert resigns as MOHELA chairwoman
By: James Chilton
Issue date: 11/2/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
What is MOHELA?
The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority makes loans and buys others from lenders, like banks, then provides them with reduced interest payment rates and other incentives that can save students thousands of dollars. MOHELA's benefits have received positive recognition from NBC News, the Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report and Business Week.
According to the MOHELA Web site, the organization has approximately $3.8 billion in assets, and purchases more than $900 million in loans each year. However, fewer than 5 percent of Webster students go through MOHELA, according to Jon Gruett, Webster's director of financial aid.
The chairwoman of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority has resigned the position following her earlier vote against approving the sale of $350 million of the loan authority's assets for construction projects at public universities.
Karen Luebbert, vice president and executive assistant to the president at Webster University, sent an official statement announcing her resignation from MOHELA to Gov. Matt Blunt's office Oct. 23.
"MOHELA needs a united board as it moves forward in implementing the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative," Luebbert's statement read. "I cannot support the selling of assets and therefore, believe it is in the best interest of MOHELA that I resign effective immediately."
The Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, announced by Gov. Blunt Jan. 26, proposes the use of MOHELA's money to fund capital improvement projects, including the construction and renovation of buildings at public universities in Missouri. Luebbert was one of two dissenting votes in the Sept. 27 decision that authorized the sale.
Luebbert was off campus the following days, directing any further questions to Polly Burtch, Webster's director of news and public information. University President Richard Meyers offered no comment on Luebbert's resignation, but he had praised her initial vote Sept. 29, saying she was "taking a hard stand for students" and that he would've voted the same way.
The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority makes loans and buys others from lenders, like banks, then provides them with reduced interest payment rates and other incentives that can save students thousands of dollars. MOHELA's benefits have received positive recognition from NBC News, the Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report and Business Week.
According to the MOHELA Web site, the organization has approximately $3.8 billion in assets, and purchases more than $900 million in loans each year. However, fewer than 5 percent of Webster students go through MOHELA, according to Jon Gruett, Webster's director of financial aid.
The chairwoman of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority has resigned the position following her earlier vote against approving the sale of $350 million of the loan authority's assets for construction projects at public universities.
Karen Luebbert, vice president and executive assistant to the president at Webster University, sent an official statement announcing her resignation from MOHELA to Gov. Matt Blunt's office Oct. 23.
"MOHELA needs a united board as it moves forward in implementing the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative," Luebbert's statement read. "I cannot support the selling of assets and therefore, believe it is in the best interest of MOHELA that I resign effective immediately."
The Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, announced by Gov. Blunt Jan. 26, proposes the use of MOHELA's money to fund capital improvement projects, including the construction and renovation of buildings at public universities in Missouri. Luebbert was one of two dissenting votes in the Sept. 27 decision that authorized the sale.
Luebbert was off campus the following days, directing any further questions to Polly Burtch, Webster's director of news and public information. University President Richard Meyers offered no comment on Luebbert's resignation, but he had praised her initial vote Sept. 29, saying she was "taking a hard stand for students" and that he would've voted the same way.
Be the first to comment on this story