CECU Comments on Access Threat Posed by the College Affordability Act

Steve Gunderson, president and CEO of Career Education Colleges and Universities, released the following statement regarding the markup of The College Affordability Act in the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee:
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“The College Affordability Act, approved by the House Education and Labor Committee today, is a far cry from the comprehensive and bipartisan reauthorization of the Higher Education Act that the Committee leaders promised.”

“This partisan bill is the most comprehensive legislative attack on career education ever. The cumulative effect of these ideological and draconian proposals will result in Congress ending the career education sector as it is known. The legislation will deny 158,000 military veterans access to the career education program of their choice. We will soon see Congress forced to fund over two million new loan forgiveness requests as a direct result of shutting down career education colleges and universities.”

“To advance legislation that eliminates the one sector of higher education exclusively focuses on postsecondary career education at a time when American employers are desperate for skilled workers, speaks to how out of touch Democrats on the House Education and Labor Committee are to the real world.”

“It is well documented that different students learn differently and have a variety of professional goals. To cut off access for millions of minority students, low-income students, veterans, and their families who have sought an alternative to four-year traditional liberal arts colleges is especially cruel and self-defeating. Congress should be creating an environment and support system where all students can exercise their own choice in higher education. We can do so and still protect both students and taxpayers by implementing minimum performance metrics for all programs at all schools.”

“Despite this partisan broadside, our student-focused sector of higher education will continue to seek partners willing to work together to create a Higher Education Act reauthorization that serves all students and all schools, and can stand the test of time.”