GREGG PRAISES PASSAGE OF HIGHER EDUCATION BILL REAUTHORIZATION
Important bill includes Gregg-authored provisions that protect intellectual diversity and free speech on college campuses; holds foreign language programs more accountable for results; evaluates effectiveness of loan-pilot program
Senior member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) announced that the Senate has passed reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) that includes important Gregg-authored provisions bolstering free speech on campus, establishing a grant process to set up American history programs in universities, strengthening oversight of foreign language program results, and monitoring the effectiveness of a free-market based school loan program. The bill now heads to the President's Desk for his signature into law.
GREGG PROVISIONS INCLUDED IN HEA:
"Protection of Student Speech and Association Rights"
Gregg's language states:
o Diversity of institutions and educational missions is a key strength of the American higher education system, and that each institution should be able to design its own academic program in accordance with its mission;
o Institutions of higher education should facilitate the free and open exchange of ideas;
o Students should not be intimidated, harassed, discriminated against or discouraged from speaking out.
Sen. Gregg stated: "Education has no room for the political agendas of university faculty or administrations. It is the duty of America's higher education institutions to promote and facilitate the free and open exchange of ideas among students, and not prohibit students from speaking out with ideas that are politically or culturally different."
"American History for Freedom"
Three-year, competitive grant program to help institutions establish or strengthen post-secondary programs in traditional American history, history of free institutions, or history and achievements of Western civilization;
Assist faculty in designing and implementing courses, lecture series and symposia;
Help institutions coordinate with local education agencies (LEAs) to develop k-12 teacher preparation and professional development initiatives.
Sen. Gregg stated: "It is important that students understand America's founding principles and freedoms, and this language helps colleges and universities start or strengthen programs that teach American and Western Civilization histories."
Steve Balch, President, National Association of Scholars, stated: "The National Association of Scholars hails the American History for Freedom Act, which will strengthen college-level teaching about American history and free institutions. We are grateful for Senator Gregg's leadership in the Senate in crafting this legislation and pursuing it over many years. Its inclusion in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act bears witness to Senator Gregg's deep commitment to improving the substance of American higher education. Since the days of Thomas Jefferson, our wisest political leaders have recognized that our free institutions depend on our having an educated citizenry, and no topics of study are more important for maintaining our freedom than our nation's own history and the free institutions that America exemplifies. The Act may is one of the most important steps towards genuine educational reform in many years."
PLUS Auction Pilot Evaluation
Introduced in the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the PLUS Auction Pilot helps both the federal government and students save money on student loans;
Rather than set the interest rate subsidy lenders receive from the Federal government to insure, or back, the Federal parent PLUS loans, the Auction Pilot requires lenders to bid on how much the Federal government must pay to secure student loansdriving down the price that the federal government must pay them to lend;
Evaluation in HEA reports on the effectiveness of the competitive loan pilot and requires the Secretaries of Education and Treasury to conduct a joint evaluation to examine the extent of the savings, the numbers of lenders participating in the pilot, and the effectiveness of the program.
Sent Gregg stated: "A free-market solution for the federal government's backing of higher education loans makes sense. Offering loan subsidies at a competitive rate chosen by the lenders themselves, rather than having a pre-set level determined by the government, is a fiscally responsible measure that can help curb and control the rising costs of education."
The "College Cost List"
Requires that the Secretary of Education annually publish a cost-watch list, beginning in 2011, that ranks the 5 percent most costly and 10 percent least expensive schools in the country, as determined by tuition and fees, as well as net price;
The institutions that rank in the top 5 percent in both the tuition and fees and the net price most expensive institutions are required to submit a report to the Secretary describing where the institution has experienced the greatest increases and steps the institution will take toward the goal of reducing those costs.
Sen. Gregg stated: "It is important that parents and students are able to see where their tuition money is spent, and this list holds colleges and universities publically accountable for keeping their costs within check and reasonable bounds of the necessary expenses. It is important that we continue to address the rapidly rising costs of colleges."
International Education Program Accountability
Ensures that applications for grants include activities that reflect diverse perspectives, a wide range of views and generate debate on international affairs;
Requires that programs receiving grants under Title VI complete a survey of participants to ensure students are being placed in areas that serve national security needs, while the Secretary of Education regularly identifies and updates those areas of national need in foreign language and in area and international studies as those topics relate to government, education, business, and non-profit needs.
Sen. Gregg stated: "This bill recognizes the importance of funding programs that help bolster national and international security, and to also ensure that programs like these that receive federal funding achieve the results intended by placing students in positions served by their areas of international and language studies."