CECU Letter regarding the National Student Clearinghouse Report on College Completions
Yesterday, Steve Gunderson, President and CEO of CECU, submitted a letter to Doug Shapiro, their Executive Director regarding the report addressing two major concerns: 1) they only count first-time college students (full or part-time) and 2) they only provide data on 4-year for-profit schools.
 
Click here to read the full letter.
​

Education Politics and Policy
Foxx Opening Statement at Hearing on Borrower Defense
Today, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Republican Leader of the Committee on Education and Labor, delivered the following opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at a full committee hearing to address how the Department of Education is working to address borrowers’ defense claims that have been filed with the Department.
 
FULL COMMITTEE HEARING: “Examining the Education Department’s Implementation of Borrower Defense.”
Date: Thursday, December 12, 2019; Witnesses: The Honorable Betsy DeVos
Watch Hearing Here
 
FUTURE Act heads to president – Community College Daily
With a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, legislation that would, in part, simplify the federal student aid application process for students and families is on its way to the president for him to sign into law.
 
Senate Passes Bill with Alexander-Murray Amendment to Permanently Fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Simplify Federal Student Aid Application Form
“Second, after five years of bipartisan effort, this simplification of the FAFSA removes a huge roadblock for the millions of Americans who apply for federal grants and loans to attend college.”
 
Scott Statement on Department of Education’s New Formula for Denying Defrauded Borrowers Full Debt Relief
Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education released a revised formula for providing partial loan relief to defrauded borrowers under the Borrower Defense rule.
 
Trump Signs Order on Campus Anti-Semitism – Inside Higher Ed
White House order directs federal agencies to “consider” a controversial definition of anti-Semitism in investigating civil rights complaints at college campuses. ​

Education Politics and Policy
Feds' New Methodology for Borrower Defense – Inside Higher Ed
Betsy DeVos, the U.S. secretary of education, on Tuesday announced a new methodology for the Education Department to cancel loan debt balances held by defrauded students.
 
Betsy DeVos Overruled Education Dept. Findings On Defrauded Student Borrowers – NPR
Documents obtained by NPR shed new light on a bitter fight between defrauded student borrowers and U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
 
Secretary DeVos Proposes Expanded Access to TEACH Grants, Religious Liberty Protections for Faith-Based Institutions
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos proposed a new rule, open for public comment today, that would expand access to Teacher Education Assistance for College Higher Education (TEACH) Grants and ensure religious liberty is protected for faith-based higher education institutions and their student.
 
FULL COMMITTEE HEARING: “Examining the Education Department’s Implementation of Borrower Defense.”
Date: Thursday, December 12, 2019; Witnesses: The Honorable Betsy DeVos 

Education Politics and Policy
Education Department finds new ‘compliance concerns’ with accreditor ACICS – Politico
The Education Department has identified new potential violations of federal standards by the controversial college accreditor reinstated last year by Secretary Betsy DeVos, according to newly released documents.
 
Community colleges may not be ready for role 2020 candidates want them to play – Politico
Too many new students will overwhelm the system, even if they are accompanied by additional funding, community college leaders and experts say.
 
Betsy DeVos Accused Of Student Loans ‘Scheme’ – Forbes
In a series of tweets, The Intercept’s Washington bureau chief Ryan Grim suggested DeVos may have ulterior motives regarding her new student loan plan. Last week, DeVos unveiled a “proposal” that eventually could get the Education Department out of the student lending business.
 
Accessible Instructional Materials Bill Reintroduced, Again – Inside Higher Ed
Legislation promoting equal access to instructional materials for students with disabilities was reintroduced to the U.S. House of Representatives last week by Congressmen Phil Roe, a Tennessee Republican, and Joe Courtney, a Connecticut Democrat.
 
FULL COMMITTEE HEARING: “Examining the Education Department’s Implementation of Borrower Defense.”
Date: Thursday, December 12, 2019; Witnesses: The Honorable Betsy DeVos 

Education Politics and Policy
2020 Democrats want to make community college free. That's not so easy - POLITICO
Democratic presidential candidates are pitching tuition-free community college as a way to prevent students from piling up student debt. But the two-year schools that serve millions of low-income and minority Americans might not be ready for that bigger footprint in higher education.
 
FULL COMMITTEE HEARING: “Examining the Education Department’s Implementation of Borrower Defense.”
Date: Thursday, December 12, 2019; Witnesses: The Honorable Betsy DeVos 

Education Politics and Policy
Eyeing populist challenge from the left, Trump seeks plan to tackle student debt – The Washington Post
President Trump is demanding aides present a plan to tackle student debt and the rising cost of a college education, worried that he has no response to expansive plans from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats he may face on the ballot next year, several administration officials said.
 
Senate Passes Bipartisan Solution to Permanently Fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions and Simplify the FAFSA for 20 Million Families
The United States Senate today passed a bipartisan amendment to the House-passed FUTURE Act to make permanent $255 million in annual funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions, simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 20 million American families, and streamline income-driven repayment for nearly 8 million borrowers.
 
Senate Passes HBCU Funding, FAFSA Changes – Inside Higher Ed
The bipartisan deal announced Tuesday to amend legislation tied to funding historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions is moving quickly. It’s already been passed in the U.S. Senate.
 
Lawmakers Call For Investigation After NPR Report On Troubled Student Loan Program – NPR
Lawmakers are calling for an investigation into a troubled student loan discharge program one day after an NPR report revealed that the program wasn’t helping the vast majority of those who are eligible.
 
FULL COMMITTEE HEARING: “Examining the Education Department’s Implementation of Borrower Defense.”
Date: Thursday, December 12, 2019; Witnesses: The Honorable Betsy DeVos. 

Member Spotlight
Out of Poverty, Into Health-Care Jobs – Inside Higher Ed
The College of Health Care Professions, a for-profit in Texas, has solid outcomes for low-income students in health-care fields. How does the model work?
 
Herzing University Awards 19 Scholarships on #GivingTuesday
For the second consecutive year, Herzing University is proud to announce the winners of its #GivingTuesday scholarship campaign.