Recently, Sen. Tom Harkin proposed a reauthorization to the Higher Education Act that would focus on making college more accessible and affordable for students and families.
Harkin, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a draft proposal aptly named the Higher Education Affordability act. The proposal focuses on four main goals—increasing college affordability, helping struggling borrowers, strengthening accountability and improving transparency.
“For generations, a college education has been the pathway to the middle class, but new challenges are threatening that promise for many families in Iowa and across the country. The upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which the HELP Committee has been focused on for nearly a year, presents an historic opportunity for Congress to focus attention on college affordability and accountability, help borrowers with existing student debt, and increase transparency so students and families can make informed decisions,†said Harkin.
Among the proposed improvements for increasing affordability and reducing college costs would include reinstating year-round Pell Grants, supporting community college and industry partnerships and creating a state-federal college affordability partnership to increase state investment in public higher education and lower the costs of tuition for students.
“I’m especially pleased this discussion draft outlines ideas for bringing down the skyrocketing costs of college so more students, from all kinds of backgrounds, have
the opportunity to get their degree,†said Sen. Patty Murray, former educator and senior member on the HELP Committee.
Harkin has also outlined efforts to help borrowers manage growing student loans at a time when student loan debt has ballooned to over $1.1 trillion. It includes several commonsense consumer protections, reforms abuses in the collections process, reduces unfair fees, and the act will allow private student loans to be discharged in bankruptcy.
The proposal also includes provisions to hold schools accountable and help students and families make informed choices with increased transparency, as well as authorizing several programs to reform and improve teacher and school leader preparation.
“On behalf of the three million members of the National Education Association we especially appreciate the focus on making higher education more affordable, reducing student debt, and increasing accountability and transparency in every area. We also appreciate [Sen. Harkin’s] thoughtful revision of Title II to reflect current ‘best practices’ and address the pressing challenges our nation faces with regard to teacher preparation, and for recognizing faculty and staff as stakeholders in the higher education enterprise†said Dennis Van Roekel, NEA president.
As the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act moves through congress, the APA will keep informed of any developments. Actions such as increasing Pell Grants could lead to greater funding for MSU and translate to further addressing the needs of students and members.