coe-fac: FW: Lewis-Burke Associates LLC Higher Education Policy Newsletter - October 2, 2015

Fri Oct 2 14:53:20 PDT 2015

Dear Faculty,

Please see the entry below regarding the “Education Coalitions Submit Community Letter Opposing IES Funding Cuts.” Please note that the voice of our faculty has been amplified by joining the LEARN coalition, which we did with the generous support of the UO office of Government and Community Relations.

FYI.
Randy
C Betsy Boyd

For scheduling, please contact Amanda Eakins at aeakins at uoregon.edu<mailto:%20aeakins at uoregon.edu> or 541-346-6467.
For other matters, contact Shaun Haskins at haskins at uoregon.edu<mailto:%20haskins at uoregon.edu> or 541-346-1218.
________________________________
[COE logo]

R.W. Kamphaus | Dean
randyk at uoregon.edu<mailto:randyk at uoregon.edu> | 541-346-3405
HEDCO 130
1215 University of Oregon | Eugene, OR 97403

From: Lewis-Burke Associates LLC [mailto:education=lewis-burke.com at mail13.suw13.rsgsv.net] On Behalf Of Lewis-Burke Associates LLC
Sent: Friday, October 02, 2015 1:21 PM
To: Randy Kamphaus <randyk at uoregon.edu>
Subject: Lewis-Burke Associates LLC Higher Education Policy Newsletter - October 2, 2015

This message was prepared by Lewis-Burke Associates LLC.

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October 2, 2015 | Lewis-Burke Associates LLC

A VIEW FROM WASHINGTON

On September 30, the last day of the fiscal year (FY), Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through December 11, averting a government shutdown.  The Senate voted 78-20 on a “clean” CR, which did not include a provision to defund Planned Parenthood for which some Republican members had advocated, and the House voted 277-151, with 91 Republicans joining 186 Democrats to pass the final bill.  All federal agencies, programs, and projects will be funded at FY 2015 levels, except for a 0.2 percent across-the-board cut to adhere to statutory spending caps.  The CR also prohibits the start of any new projects or activities proposed in the FY 2016 budget.  An extension of the authorization of the Department of Education’s (ED) National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) was included in the temporary funding measure.

Washington’s attention has also been focused on Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) who announced his retirement on September 25. The House is expected to hold elections for a replacement on October 8.  The leading candidate for the position is Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

On October 2, the White House announced another leadership change with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan leaving the Department of Education at the end of December.  Secretary Duncan has served in this leadership role since President Obama took office in 2009.  John B. King, Jr., Senior Advisor Delegated Duties of Deputy Secretary of Education, is expected to serve as the interim secretary.

IN THIS ISSUE

CONGRESSIONAL UPDATES AND NEWS
Higher Education Act, Perkins Loan Program, and Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance Expire
House Education and the Workforce Committee Holds Hearing on Campus Sexual Assault
Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on the Department of Education
Joint Economic Committee Holds Hearing on Financing Higher Education
Education Coalitions Submit Community Letter Opposing IES Funding Cuts
Congress Pushes to Modify FERPA for Student Medical Records

FEDERAL AGENCY AND ADMINISTRATION UPDATES AND NEWS
Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance Holds Hearing
White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault Releases Resources
Administration Unveils New College Scorecard
Department of Education Announces Earlier FAFSA Application; Recommendations for FAFSA Simplification
Department of Education Releases New Report on Student Borrower Protections

________________________________
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATES AND NEWS
Higher Education Act, Perkins Loan Program, and Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance Expire
The end of the fiscal year marked the expiration of the Higher Education Act (HEA) authorization; though the vast majority of activities under HEA can operate without a current authorization.  The Federal Perkins Loan Program, however, as well as the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA), and NACIQI all required authorization extensions.

Despite a late push for revival, the Perkins Loan program expired at midnight on September 30.  The program, which provided low-interest loans to college students with high financial need, was nearly saved by a bipartisan reauthorization bill that sailed through the House earlier this week.  This effort was ultimately blocked in the Senate, due largely to opposition from Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN).  Although institutions have lost the authority to authorize new Perkins loans, grandfathering provisions will allow universities to continue making loans to current qualified borrowers.

While an extension of NACIQI was inserted in the CR, ACSFA, which helped to shape federal student aid policy, also expired on September 30.  This policy committee advised Congress and ED for nearly 30 years.  Its final hearing was held on September 11 (see below).

During the Senate debate on Perkins Loans legislation, Chairman Alexander reiterated his intent to have a HEA reauthorization bill through his Committee, now by the end of the 2015.  Though unlikely, both the Perkins Loans program and ACSFA could still be resurrected through the HEA reauthorization bill or the federal funding bill Congress must pass when the current CR expires in December.

In the House, the Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) announced in early September he will not seek reelection in 2016. His retirement likely complicates and may delay any final passage of a HEA reauthorization bill.  Nonetheless, in remarks following the announcement, Chairman Kline stated his hopes to complete the reauthorization of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and reform HEA programs. Contenders for the Committee Chair post include Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), and Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA).

Sources and Additional Information:

  *   More information on the Continuing Resolution is available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c114%3AH.R.719%3A<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=c3098ce7b9&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Holds Hearing on Campus Sexual Assault
On September 10, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training held a hearing titled "Preventing and Responding to Sexual Assault on College Campuses."  This was the first hearing the House has held on campus sexual assault in the 114th Congress and was well-attended by Subcommittee Members on both sides of the aisle. The hearing served as an opportunity for witnesses to describe current challenges campuses face in addressing sexual assault, as well as discuss promising steps institutions can take to begin improving campus climates.

The hearing joined together many similar perspectives, however, witnesses disagreed as to what role a university ought to play in investigating and adjudicating incidents of sexual assault.  While some felt that all instances of reported sexual assaults should be immediately turned over to local law enforcement, others expressed the importance of letting the victim decide whether or not to report an assault.

Subcommittee Members were interested in whether compliance requirements detracted universities from acting in the students’ best interests.  Witnesses generally agreed that compliance requirements were daunting, and also noted that many current policies, at both the state and federal levels, contradict each other and make it impossible for an institution of higher education to be fully in compliance with all laws at one time.  Members of the Subcommittee were also interested in learning about best practices and promising suggestions the higher education community had for preventing sexual assaults.  Witnesses explained that campus climate surveys, bystander intervention training, social norms training, and healthy relationship workshops have shown promising results on some campuses, but more research must be conducted in this field.

While pending sexual assault legislation, such as the Campus Safety and Accountability Act (CASA), the Hold Accountable and Lend Transparency Act (HALT), and the Safe Campus Act (SCA), were referenced throughout the hearing, Congress will likely address the issue of campus sexual assault through the upcoming reauthorization of HEA, rather than through a standalone bill.

Sources and Additional Information:

  *   More information on the hearing, including an archived webcast and links to witness testimony, is available at http://edworkforce.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=399274<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=cbe67c7e33&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on the Department of Education
On September 30, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) held a hearing titled “A Review of the Department of Education and Student Achievement.”   HSGAC Chairman, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) noted in his opening remarks that the Committee is in the process of reviewing all agencies of the government.  It is interested in reviewing the goals, metrics, and consequences of department actions; this particular hearing focused on ED.   The hearing featured three witnesses in two panels.  The first panel included Kevin Carey, Director, Education Policy Program, New America Foundation; and Richard Vedder, Ph.D., Director, Center for College Affordability and Productivity.  The second panel featured Ted Mitchell, Under Secretary, Department of Education.

Witnesses on the first panel spoke broadly about issues in higher education, including student loan debt, rising college costs, the complexity of the FAFSA, accreditation issues, online education, and Pell grants.  Under Secretary Mitchell’s testimony focused on ED priorities, including access and transparency, affordability and accountability, and innovation.  In general, Members were interested in understanding the rise in college costs and determining ways to measure student learning and career readiness.  Members of each panel discussed sexual assault, with questions by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who has led Congressional efforts to pass legislation addressing campus sexual assault.

Sources and Additional Information:

  *   More information on the hearing, including witness testimony and an archived webcast, is available at http://www.hsgac.senate.gov/hearings/a-review-of-the-department-of-education-and-student-achievement<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=ddeb1d9d56&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

Joint Economic Committee Holds Hearing on Financing Higher Education
On September 30, the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee held a hearing on “Financing Higher Education: Exploring Current Challenges and Potential Alternatives.” The hearing centered on the economic impacts of issues relating to the HEA reauthorization including the benefits of income-share agreements; the sunsetting of Perkins loans; state disinvestment in higher education; institutional risk-sharing; graduate student versus undergraduate student debt; and the benefits and disadvantages of public and private loans.

The hearing was well attended by Democratic and Republican House and Senate members-alike.  Members and witnesses addressed many issues that have been discussed frequently by the education committees this Congress, honing in on the economic impacts to both students and taxpayers.  Chairman Dan Coats (R-IN) calling for greater accountability and transparency, led the hearing.  Ranking Member Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) discussed the burden of student loan debt on young people and implications of the Great Recession on postsecondary attendance and college cost.  Witnesses included Mitch Daniels, President, Purdue University; Dr. Andrew Kelly, Resident Scholar and Director, American Enterprise Institute; and Rohit Chopra, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress.

Sources and Additional Information:

  *   More information on the hearing, including witness testimony and an archived webcast, is available at http://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings-calendar?ID=7C64D2C3-1A88-423F-86E0-D524721C4AE2<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=2eda748a36&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

Education Coalitions Submit Community Letter Opposing IES Funding Cuts
On September 10, the Learning and Education Academic Research Network (LEARN) Coalition, a group of colleges of education from leading research institutions, along with the American Educational Research Association (AERA) submitted a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee opposing cuts to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) that were proposed in the FY 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Committee-passed appropriations bill.  The letter details the impact the proposed cuts would have on conducting research, measuring academic outcomes, and improving student achievement.  The letter has garnered the supporting signatures of over 1,800 individuals.

Sources and Additional Information:

  *   More information, including a link to the letter, is available at http://www.aera.net/Newsroom/AERAHighlightsE-newsletter/AERAHighlightsAugust2015/FriendsofIESSign-onLetterCallsonCongresstoOpposeCuts/tabid/16044/Default.aspx<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=a47883ba43&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

Congress Pushes to Modify FERPA for Student Medical Records
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) released draft legislation, the Campus Litigation Privacy Act, on September 17.  This bill would modify portions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in order to address concerns over gaps in the privacy protections of student medical records.  The legislation aims to narrow the conditions under which an institution can access a student’s medical health records and align with the regulations defined under Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).  The legislation would also codify recent ED guidance on student medical record disclosure.

Sources and Additional Information:

  *   Further details on the draft Campus Litigation Privacy Act can be found at https://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/wyden-bonamici-release-draft-bill-protect-student-privacy<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=f38119df36&e=1b77b1c4fe>.
  *   Senator Wyden and Rep. Bonamici are soliciting feedback on their bill by October 17 at https://www.wyden.senate.gov/priorities/the-campus-litigation-privacy-act<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=377893fdd8&e=1b77b1c4fe>.
  *   The Department of Education guidance on FERPA and medical records can be found at http://familypolicy.ed.gov/sites/fpco.ed.gov/files/DCL%20Final%20Signed-508.pdf<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=3d8c546625&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

________________________________
FEDERAL AGENCY AND ADMINISTRATION UPDATES AND NEWS
Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance Holds Hearing
On September 11, the ACFSA held its final Summer Hearing.  The panelists, which included presenters from academia and think tanks, recommended policy changes for the HEA reauthorization, covering the topics of access and completion, simplification, accountability, and consumer information and data transparency.  The Committee, which is now expired, will submit its final report to Congress this fall.

Sources and Additional Information:

  *   Additional information on the Advisory Committee is available at http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/edlite-about.html<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=6839498dc9&e=1b77b1c4fe>.
  *   More information on the hearing and the panelists is available at http://ow.ly/SWRnK<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=3bbd025a48&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault Releases Resources
To assist institutions of higher education in their efforts to prevent campus sexual assaults, the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault released two resources this month.  The first is a “Resource Guide,” which includes materials and additional information on campus climate surveys, prevention tools, training and technical assistance, sexual misconduct policies and procedures, community partnerships and memoranda of understanding, public awareness and engagement initiatives, data and information-sharing, selected funding opportunities, and related law and policy sources.  The second resource is a toolkit developed by ED’s National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments Technical Assistance Center titled “Safe Place: Trauma-Sensitive Practice for Health Centers Serving Students.”

Sources and Additional Information:

  *   Information on the Task Force’s new resources is available at http://blog.ed.gov/2015/09/task-force-continues-its-work-to-improve-sexual-assault-prevention-and-response/<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=d17a37d32b&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

Administration Unveils New College Scorecard
On September 12, the Obama Administration released its long-awaited college information tool intended to increase transparency and consumer information about college costs and institutional quality.  This new College Scorecard is the Administration’s response to concerns from the higher education community and beyond over its earlier proposal to release a Postsecondary Institutional Ratings System (PIRS).  The College Scorecard is largely an update of the original College Scorecard previously introduced by the Administration, and looks at several expanded measures of student outcomes such as loan repayment rates, median earnings data, and graduation rates.  Some higher education associations have criticized the Scorecard for relying on incomplete datasets, but ED has indicated that it will continue to evolve this tool and identify priority metrics based on institutional concerns and consumer needs.

Sources and Additional Information:

  *   The new College Scorecard is available at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=d95e23d34e&e=1b77b1c4fe>.
  *   More information on the data used and intent of the new College Scorecard can be found at http://ow.ly/SWRMQ<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=4f3aef207a&e=1b77b1c4fe>.
  *   The White House Fact Sheet is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/12/fact-sheet-empowering-students-choose-college-right-them<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=dc5a960b3a&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

Department of Education Announces Earlier FAFSA Application; Recommendations for FAFSA Simplification
On September 13, the White House announced that beginning in fall of 2016, ED will permit students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) earlier than it is currently available.  As early as October 1, 2016, students may file their FAFSA for the following academic year using prior-year income tax information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  By allowing students and families to use the prior, prior-year’s tax data and moving the FAFSA application submission up by several months, this proposal would provide students and families with an earlier indication of college costs.  The change is expected to reduce the burden on campus financial aid offices and provide more opportunities to counsel students on their aid packages.

 Sources and Additional Information:

  *   The White House Fact Sheet on Early Financial Aid is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/14/fact-sheet-president%E2%80%99s-plan-early-financial-aid-improving-college-choice<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=b7d1267b8f&e=1b77b1c4fe>.
  *   Additional information on the FAFSA changes are available on the Financial Aid toolkit at www.FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/fafsa-changes<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=6efc919702&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

Department of Education Releases New Report on Student Borrower Protections
On October 1, ED released a new report highlighting the Administration’s recommendations for statutory and regulatory changes to protect student loan borrowers.  This report is a follow-up to President Obama’s March 2015 “Student Aid Bill of Rights” announcement. The report offers several recommendations, including those related to the tax liability for student loan discharges, streamlining repayment processes, and the allowance of bankruptcy discharge for certain private student loans.

Sources and Additional Information:

  *   The full report can be found at http://www2.ed.gov/documents/press-releases/strengthening-student-loan-system.pdf<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=5476ae1c32&e=1b77b1c4fe>.
  *   The related news release and report summary can be found at http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-report-strengthening-student-loan-system-better-protect-all-borrowers<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=3ccbe79df1&e=1b77b1c4fe>.
  *   President Obama's Student Aid Bill of Rights is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/10/fact-sheet-student-aid-bill-rights-taking-action-ensure-strong-consumer-<http://lewis-burke.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f246243be672c4f61c7cf29d2&id=fe9014e061&e=1b77b1c4fe>.

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