This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Megan, Stephen, and Allie analyze the discussion from a recent policy event in Washington during which a senior Department of Education official weighed in on school closures and how the triad can work to improve the process. The group discusses new developments in the 2020 presidential election, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-MA) student debt and free college proposal that had the higher education community buzzing. Megan also fills us in on new research that challenges the strength of the Bennett Hypothesis with regard to Grad PLUS loans. Plus, tune in to hear which sudden DC restaurant closure has some in the NASFAA office panicking. Skip to 7:45 to get straight to the policy discussion.
This week on "Off The Cuff," Megan, Stephen, and Allie dig into the Department of Education's recent and unexpected guidance on financial aid award notifications. The group also discusses two new reports out this week focusing on the two PLUS Loan programs for graduate/professional students and parents. While one argues there's a way to help current struggling borrowers and tighten up standards for future borrowers, the other claims proposals to cap or eliminate the program aren't necessary. Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, a group of Democratic senators introduced a bill last week to overhaul the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, while others wrote to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asking for tweaks to the Temporary Expanded PSLF program. Plus, be sure to tune into the beginning of the episode to hear which political celebrity Megan ran into recently in her travels across the country.
This week on "Off The Cuff," Allie, Megan, and Stephen share the highlights from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's latest appearance on Capitol Hill with the House Committee on Education and Labor, where lawmakers questioned her on a plethora of topics related to higher education policy. Stephen updates the group on issues with a provision from the budget package that was intended to grant loan deferment to borrowers undergoing cancer treatment, and how implementation has stalled due to a lack of guidance. Stephen also dives into the latest with current budget negotiations, sharing that the spending bill focused on education may be first up for consideration. Plus, Megan walks us through a piece of legislation that was reintroduced recently that would require a standard financial aid award letter.
This week on "Off The Cuff," Allie, Stephen, and Megan Walter analyze the surprising turn of events that led to the negotiated rulemaking committee on accreditation and innovation reaching consensus this week. The committee decided on a slew of regulatory changes, including significant changes to the TEACH Grant program and how the Department of Education will handle requests for reconsideration of grants erroneously converted into loans. Megan catches the team up on a recent hearing in a House education subcommittee on higher education accountability, during which lawmakers made commentary on the ongoing neg reg process. Plus, the group gives a preview of more hearings to come next week, including an accountability hearing in the Senate education committee, and an appearance from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in the House education committee.