How the House Republicans’ most recent higher education plan might be a step in the right direction
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CounterCurrent:
Tuition and Transparency
How the House Republicans’ most recent higher education plan might be a step in the
right direction
CounterCurrent is the National Association of Scholars’ weekly newsletter, bringing you the biggest issues in academia and our responses to them.
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Category: Accountability, Tuition Costs, Legislation, Higher Ed;
Reading Time: ~3 minutes
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** Featured Article: Thoughts on House Republicans’ Plan for Higher Education ([link removed])
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Higher education is rife with problems. Thankfully solutions are abundant to right the wrongs and steer academia back to the pursuit of truth and excellence.
Many of the plans fall short—case in point, Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. But others are promising, such as the most recent solution proposed by the Republican led House Committee for Education and the Workforce. The College Cost Reduction Act or CCRA, intends to provide transparency and accountability in higher education. And so far, it seems to be a solid piece of legislation.
Andrew Gillen, writing ([link removed]) for Minding the Campus, breaks down the CCRA. Though Gillen has mixed feelings about the bill, he helpfully presents an overview of what it would change—specifically requiring more transparency, financial aid reform, deregulation, and accountability. The first aspect that catches the eye is that the bill would mandate the standardization of financial aid award letters. “Many colleges engage in borderline fraudulent practices ([link removed]) like not distinguishing between grants and loans or not telling students the total cost of attending. The bill would put an end to this,” Gillen explains.
In addition, the bill would revamp financial aid provided by colleges and universities by replacing Cost of Attendance (CoA) with the Median Cost of College. “Instead of letting each college set its own target, the median cost of college would establish a uniform target by academic field and credential based on the median CoA for that type of program—e.g., a bachelor’s in nursing.” According to Gillen, this would:
* “Improve the financial aid application process by better protecting student and parent privacy as well as providing students with information about their aid eligibility earlier than the current system does;
* Enhance the competitive landscape, which would improve accountability, encourage cost containment, and lower prices at some colleges;
* Neutralize the Bennett hypothesis—increases in aid leading to higher tuition—by severing the link between an increase in tuition and an increase in aid eligibility;
* Incentivize colleges to measure and improve quality.”
Ultimately, the CCRA is not perfect, but would be a “dramatic improvement for higher education” if passed, Gillen concludes. For the full analysis, be sure to read the article ([link removed]) .
The CCRA could be a step in the right direction to combat tuition price gouging. College tuition rates have skyrocketed ([link removed]) over the years, along with administrative bloat and student debt. Is it greedy bureaucrats, bad actors, and erosion of culture and truth contributing to this blight on higher education? Without a doubt. But higher education might need more than one piece of legislation to reform. From state legislatures, Congress, and the judiciary, it will require more than one part of our government to get and sustain the necessary reforms.
Until next week.
Kali Jerrard
Communications Associate
National Association of Scholars
Read the Article ([link removed])
For more on legislation, tuition costs, and higher ed:
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January 24, 2024
** The Decline in American Universities, 2011-2024 ([link removed])
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Richard Vedder
Like ancient Rome, American universities have not fallen or declined in a day—or even a year. But as good of a date as any to measure the beginning of the decline is 2011.
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January 16, 2024
** Biden and Universities Launch Sneak Attack on Free Speech ([link removed])
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Cherise Trump
The proposed new Title IX regulations by President Biden’s Department of Education have opened the door for universities to restrict and compel student speech even more than they already do.
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February 21, 2021
** Report: Priced Out ([link removed])
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Neetu Arnold
As more Americans attend college, costs rise, and more students fail to graduate, we ask, "why?" Priced Out details the spending habits of 50 universities across America and provides perspective from students, parents, and college administrators.
** About the NAS
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The National Association of Scholars, founded in 1987, emboldens reasoned scholarship and propels civil debate. We’re the leading organization of scholars and citizens committed to higher education as the catalyst of American freedom.
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