Education Politics and Policy
Lawmakers question DeVos, accreditor on fake University of Farmington sting – The Detroit News
The lawmakers sent letters Thursday to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges regarding their roles in the fake university set up by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
 
House votes to overturn Trump rule that makes loan forgiveness harder; Senate fight looms – The Washington Post
The House voted Thursday to overturn a Trump administration policy that makes it more difficult for students who say they were defrauded by colleges to have their federal education loans canceled, setting the stage for a fight in the Senate.
 
Democrats Pursue Radical Regulations at Expense of Students, Schools, and Taxpayers
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Republican Leader of the Education and Labor Committee, said on the House floor prior to the vote: “Students who have been harmed by fraudulent practices deserve relief. Period. Sadly, Obama’s over zealous and flawed borrower defense regulation abandoned due process and limited student choice.
 
Additional Coverage Regarding the House passing H.J. Res. 76
House Democrats Pass Measure to Block DeVos’ Borrower Defense Rule – NASFAA; Democrats vote to overturn Betsy DeVos rules on student debt – Yahoo Finance; House Rebukes DeVos on Borrower Defense – Inside Higher Ed
 
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Announces Proposed Rule Regarding Equal Treatment of Faith-Based Education Institutions, Provides Updated School Prayer Guidance
Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that the Department of Education is taking several concrete actions to protect religious liberty and ensure the Department is acting in accordance with the First Amendment. 

​Education News
Many Nonprofit College Programs Would Fail Gainful Test
Only about 60 percent of programs at private nonprofit institutions, and 70 percent of those at public colleges and universities, would pass the Obama administration’s gainful-employment test, if it were in place and applied to them, according to an online tool developed by a conservative Texas policy group.
 
The Gloves Are Off: What a Deal Between a Mega-University and a Community-College System Says About the Fight for Students – The Chronicle of Higher Education
Transfer agreements don’t usually signal a sea change. The one that Pennsylvania’s community-college system just announced with Southern New Hampshire University may be one that does.
 
Berkeley’s $5M Glitch – Inside Higher Ed
The University of California, Berkeley, must pay $5 million to teaching assistants it improperly denied tuition remission and other benefits, an arbitrator said this week after reviewing a union grievance. 

Education Politics and Policy
Warren promises to cancel student loan debt using executive powers – Politico
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Tuesday that she would take executive action to cancel most student loans, vowing to sidestep Congress to accomplish a progressive goal that faces stiff opposition from Republicans and even some moderate Democrats.
 
Additional Coverage on Warren’s Plan to Cancel Student Loan Debt
Senator Warren Has a Plan to Cancel Student-Loan Debt — Without Congressional Approval – The Chronicle of Higher Education; Warren pledges to cancel most student loan debt without Congress – The Hill
 
Rep. Susie Lee, Sen. Durbin to Hold Press Conference After House Votes to Overturn DeVos Borrower Defense Rule
On Thursday, Jan. 16 at 11:00 a.m. ET or immediately following House votes, U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) will host a press conference after the House of Representatives votes on her Congressional Review Act (CRA) Resolution, H.J.Res. 76.
 
Live Internet Webinars – New Accreditation Regulations – IFAP
This letter announces three upcoming webinars on the final rules published on November 1, 2019 regarding the Secretary’s recognition of accrediting agencies. 

In Case You Missed It
President Trump's Advisors Recommend Veto on Resolution Proposing to Overturn New Borrower Defense Rule
In a Statement of Administration Policy released yesterday, the White House strongly opposed a Democratic resolution (H.J. Res. 76) to overturn the Trump Administration's Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability rule. In the statement, Trump Administration officials said the resolution would "restore the partisan regulatory regime of the previous administration, which sacrificed the interests of taxpayers, students, and schools in pursuit of narrow, ideological objectives." The statement also said that if the resolution were presented to the President, "his advisors would recommend that he veto it."

News in Health Care
Kaiser, service employees union collaborate on $130 million training program
With a potential worker shortage looming, Kaiser Permanente and the Service Employees International Union are taking steps to grow their own.

In Case You Missed It
Career Schools on Path To Create 5 Million Career Professionals
The nation’s postsecondary career education colleges and universities prepared 556,635 career professionals in 2018 according to research published today. This brings the total number to 1,783,764 career professionals produced during the first three years of the sector’s “Campaign to Create 5 Million Career Professionals” within 10 years.
 
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In Case You Missed It
Career Schools on Path To Create 5 Million Career Professionals
The nation’s postsecondary career education colleges and universities prepared 556,635 career professionals in 2018 according to research published today. This brings the total number to 1,783,764 career professionals produced during the first three years of the sector’s “Campaign to Create 5 Million Career Professionals” within 10 years.
 
Click here to continue reading.
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