HEA Extended Through March

As the President signed another extension for the Higher Education Act (HEA), the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on the rising cost of college. The hearing, which examined factors contributing to tuition increases as well as possible solutions to help make college more affordable, came on the heels of a report on rising college prices released last week. According to the report, tuition and fees at four-year public colleges have increased by 31 percent in the last five years, after adjustment for inflation. The report, released by the College Board, also found that tuition prices were up at public and private colleges and at two-year and four-year colleges. Through H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act, Congress has already taken steps towards making college more affordable, most notably by increasing the maximum Pell grant award. However, as Committee member Ric Keller (R-FL) pointed out, “what good is it for Congress to raise financial aid by $2,000 if colleges increase tuition by $3,000?”

Witnesses at the hearing included:
• King Alexander, President of California State University at Long Beach;
• Dr. John E. Bassett, President of Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts; and
• Jane V. Wellman, Executive Director of the Delta Cost Project in Washington, D.C.

Panelists testified that drastic fluctuations of state appropriations contribute to the increase in costs. Mr. Alexander, in reply, noted that a stricter federal/state partnership would make it more difficult for states to shift the costs of higher education to students, and ultimately, federal tuition-based programs. Witnesses also testified about the non-educational expenses incurred by colleges, such as housing, food, and health services for students. To address price increases, witnesses recommended increasing transparency and making a wide range of data available to families, including student debt information, tuition and fee increases, and information about how colleges and universities spend money.

Prior to this week, George Miller, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, stated that HEA reauthorization would wait until Congress addressed the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). That, however, has proven difficult and now the Committee may address HEA before NCLB. Chair Miller may, in fact, introduce an HEA bill as early as next week and attempt to move it through Committee and bring it to the floor prior to the Thanksgiving break, beginning on November 16th. We will monitor the action closely.

Resources:
Charles Dervarics, “Rising Tuition Raises Ire of Congress, Which Is Constantly Being Asked to Raise Student Aid,” DIVERSE: Issues in Higher Education, November 2, 2007.
House Education and Labor Committee Press Release:
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/edlabor_dem/rel110107.html
Author: SAS