CECU Daily Update Email

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. 

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​Financial Aid/Student Loan Issues
Former Students of Defunct ITT Tech Receive $95.1 Million Loan Relief – The Wall Street Journal
The Education Department is providing loan relief to some 7,800 former students of the ITT Technical Institute, with debts totaling $95.1 million being forgiven by the government years after the giant for-profit school chain closed. 

​Education News
Crunch Time for Calbright – Inside Higher Ed
California’s new online-only community college grabbed headlines again with its CEO’s departure. While some see the college as a doomed venture, others say it’s too soon to pass judgment.
 
Google Expands IT Training Offerings – Campus Technology
Google has introduced a new Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate, a program designed to provide job-ready skills in Python, Git and IT automation in under six months.
 
Is Sci-Hub Safe? – Inside Higher Ed
Alexandra Elbakyan, founder of the scholarly piracy website Sci-Hub, is suspected of working with Russian intelligence officials to steal confidential research and military secrets from American universities.