Goucher College President Testifies on Deregulation

Goucher College President Sanford Ungar recently testified before the federal Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance on the need for the federal government to deregulate higher education.  Ungar was the lead witness for the morning hearing in Washington, D.C.

The September 30 Advisory Committee hearing coincided with the release of a report on regulatory burden for colleges. The study is mandated and funded under the 2008 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

In his testimony, Ungar pointed out the irony of some of the greatest regulatory burdens on colleges originating through the very same bill that commissioned the study. "In all, more than 200 pages of legislative language were added to the Higher Education Act," Ungar noted, "and more than 200 pages of more detailed regulatory guidance followed."

He commented that past deregulatory efforts have not succeeded, and that no effort is going to be successful without the active participation of the Department of Education.  Still, he praised the Advisory Committee for its efforts to grapple with the task through surveys of campus officials, and by identifying the most burdensome regulations.  NAICU has long championed deregulatory efforts, and was involved in helping to shape the committee's study.

Following its hearing on deregulation, the Advisory Committee held an afternoon session on underserved populations in higher education.  NAICU President David Warren submitted written testimony for that hearing.

For more information, please contact:
Jason Ramirez