CECU Praises House HEA Reauthorization for Fairness and Balance in Higher Education Policy

​December 1, 2017 – Arlington, Va. – Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) praised Chairwoman Virginia Foxx on the introduction of a proposal to reauthorize the Higher Education Act as a victory for students of all backgrounds by directly connecting the Act with jobs and career training.  

“This proposal offers important reforms that emphasize good jobs and quality careers for our nation’s students,” said Steve Gunderson, president and CEO of CECU. “The Higher Education Act has become our nation’s workforce investment strategy. It is imperative to update in ways that produce future skilled workers enhancing U.S. competitiveness, and ultimately, our nation’s economy.”  

By 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the United States will need 46.5 million new workers to fill new jobs and replace scores of retirees. In this same time period, 65 percent of all replacement jobs and 85 percent of all new jobs will require some level of postsecondary education. Education that results in skilled workers leads to job growth. The debate between liberal and vocational education is a false choice. We need both, and this proposal seeks to achieve that goal.

CECU convened a taskforce of over 70 education leaders throughout postsecondary education, and earlier this year unveiled a set of over 40 recommendations to improve and modernize the HEA in the 115th Congress. Read more here. 

To speak with Mr. Gunderson, please contact Clay Sutton at clay.sutton@career.org , or call (540) 236-8227. 

About Career Education Colleges & Universities
The Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is a voluntary membership organization of accredited, postsecondary schools, institutes, colleges and universities that provide career-specific educational programs. CECU has about 500 member campuses that educate and support millions of students for employment in over 200 occupational fields. CECU member institutions provide the full range of higher education programs, including masters and doctorate degrees, two- and four-year associate and baccalaureate degree programs, and short-term certificate and diploma programs.