Broad Coalition’s Goals for the Higher Education Act

A coalition of 12 organizations, including New America, the Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Center for Law and Social Policy, on Wednesday released a set of shared principles for policy makers to consider in the run-up to the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the law that governs federal aid programs. While the groups have different takes on many issues in higher education, they said the current formulation of the law does not meet the needs of students for high-quality, affordable and relevant educational opportunities.

The groups described seven principles: outcomes are what matter, federal financial aid policies need to be more flexible, higher education needs to do more to connect learning and work, accreditation processes need to be more transparent and rigorous, quality assurance processes should focus more on programs and credentials, policy should encourage innovation and experimentation, and that the Higher Education Act should be better coordinated with other federally funded education and training programs.

“Reauthorization offers the chance to renew our country’s commitment to higher education for all who seek it,” they wrote, “while also helping institutions adapt to the fast-paced, technology-driven global economy that their students will face at graduation.”

Source URL: https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/11/04/broad-coalitions-goals-higher-education-act