NAICU Submits HEA Recommendations to House Committee

In response to an April 25 request from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, NAICU submitted  its recommendations on the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.  The July 24 recommendations address the six areas designated for input in the committee’s request, plus a seventh topic, teacher preparation programs. 

Here are links to NAICU’s recommendations, all of which include a background section to provide context:

• Empower students as consumers in higher education
• Simplify and improve student aid and loan programs
• Increase college accessibility, affordability, and completion
• Encourage institutions to reduce costs
• Promote innovation to improve access to and delivery of higher education
• Balance the need for accountability with the burden of  federal requirements 
• Improve Teacher Preparation Programs (added by NAICU)

Highlights of NAICU's recommendations include proposals to assist students and families by updating and restoring student aid, create incentives for on-time graduation, promote affordability, and consolidate and improve information provided to students and families.  The recommendations also address the need to combat fraud and abuse, as well as institutional concerns such as how to reduce regulatory burdens, improve federal financial responsibility procedures, and preserve academic decision making.

As the reauthorization process continues, NAICU staff will work with the committee to expand or refine any of the proposals in which the committee expresses an interest.

The committee has requested that all recommendations be submitted by August 2.  Member institutions are welcome to directly submit any of the recommendations that are of particular concern by e-mailing them to the committee at HEA.Reauth@mail.house.gov. 

For further information, contact: 

Sarah Flanagan, sarah@naicu.edu
Maureen Budetti, maureen@naicu.edu
Stephanie Giesecke, stephanie@naicu.edu
Susan Hattan, susan@naicu.edu