Posted on 06/24/2018 8:26:53 AM PDT by Kaslin
When 39 university associations send an open letter to Congress expressing “grave reservations” about proposed legislation, you can be sure that money is involved. No matter how they describe their concern about students, our colleges and universities have spent money at a pace well above inflation for decades, and they have raised tuition and fees in tandem. The federal student loan program has been their “enabler,” so they want to keep the money flowing.
New buildings, new stadiums, fitness centers, luxury apartments, a “lazy river” at Louisiana State University, climbing walls at Notre Dame and Rutgers, and a $120 million refurbishing of a student center at North Carolina State—these are increasingly typical at schools that older alumni remember as spare, even spartan.
The universities’ letter, sent in February, was sponsored by the American Council on Education. It attempted to derail the PROSPER Act (Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform Act). Lobbying continues as the House of Representatives comes closer to bringing the bill to a vote.
When 39 university associations send an open letter to Congress expressing “grave reservations” about proposed legislation, you can be sure that money is involved. No matter how they describe their concern about students, our colleges and universities have spent money at a pace well above inflation for decades, and they have raised tuition and fees in tandem. The federal student loan program has been their “enabler,” so they want to keep the money flowing.
New buildings, new stadiums, fitness centers, luxury apartments, a “lazy river” at Louisiana State University, climbing walls at Notre Dame and Rutgers, and a $120 million refurbishing of a student center at North Carolina State—these are increasingly typical at schools that older alumni remember as spare, even spartan.
The universities’ letter, sent in February, was sponsored by the American Council on Education. It attempted to derail the PROSPER Act (Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform Act). Lobbying continues as the House of Representatives comes closer to bringing the bill to a vote.
Making students aware of the costs of a four-year degree and of alternative educational opportunities is one goal of the legislation. “Businesses and industries are desperate for skilled employees,” said U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), who sponsored the bill, in a recent interview. Foxx wants public policy to use the term “postsecondary education,” not “higher education,” because a bachelor’s degree is not the only route to success. “We want to see more Americans get the education they need to enter the workforce,” Foxx added.
The bill aims at helping people, not universities. That means overturning many of the assumptions that have operated for years. One is that college is the only way to success. Another is that loans are the best way to college.
PROSPER would remove many of the hoary accretions that have developed since the Higher Education Act was first authorized in 1965. For example, the bill allows Pell grants to be used for short-term education programs, far better for many students than trying to get a bachelor’s or even an associate’s degree.
The bill adds a Pell bonus for swift completion of courses, simplifies the loan application process, and reduces the dizzying array of loan programs. It protects religious freedom on campus. It increases universities’ transparency about the success of their programs. It requires due process for those accused of sexual assault. It does away with the discriminatory Public Service Loan Program, which gives special repayment treatment to those who go into the government or “public service” organizations. The bill endorses the use of competency-based educational progress as an alternative to the traditional credit-hour model.
There are many other changes because the bill represents a complete rethinking of the federal role in higher education. One provision tightens up the requirement for higher education institutions to return to the federal government a portion of students’ loans if the students fail to complete courses. “We are asking for a sense of responsibility on the part of both the student and the institution,” Foxx said. “Under this bill, institutions have to pay back some of the debt if students drop out.”
And most universities don’t like that.
The Educrats fear for their monopoly and look to THEIR enablers in the Democrat/UniParty to protect it. The systemic way that the Federal Government has become the dominant player in the education field is also matched by the crisis in student loan debts and the falling in academic standards as measured by remedial 1st & 2nd year courses and the decrease in 4 year graduation rates.
It is time for a “Cry from the Heart” (cri de cœur) against the solid LEFT Educrat monopoly on the same lines as President Eisenhower’s departing speech on the “Military-Industrial Complex” (MIC). The vested interest of the members of the Educrats, Unions, Politicians & Bureaucrats (at a minimum) is as malign an influence as the MIC was in 1961.
Close them all for five years! Make the current crop of “educators” go elsewhere to get food!
Ever since the 60’s unrest universities have been nothing about education and everything about propaganda and Marxist socialist teachings in a capitalist country. Now they have produced social justice warriors who are more radicalized and more brainwashed then their predecessors protecting all the protected classes against white oppression in a country predominately white like themselves
Then the government got involved in handing out student loans like candy to 18-year old babies who had no idea what burying themselves in debt to live the life of Animal House would do to them, and the universities used it to subsidize "minority" students with "scholarships" from the proceeds of those student loans, and to subsidize affirmative action "perfessers" of imaginary subjects.
American “higher education” is a huge bubble, fed by massive debt, and massive spending in our printed, unbacked US dollar.
Its out of control
Part of the reason this generation is called snowflakes is due to how easy the universities have made their housing communities . My daughters housing complex had 6 swimming pools, dog parks, car wash,coffee shop, dry cleaner and huge townhomes with 4 car garages.anything after college life is a step down. So they move home with mom and dad.
Educrats steal from taxpayers and damage our children... they fear being exposed for what they are...
"The students will pay for it." They say.
That happens when the people in charge are too lazy to seek donations to pay for the building.
On one campus I know, a building for the business degree department was donated by group of rich alumnus who pooled their money and paid for the much needed building. A couple of buildings over was built a brand spanking new, state-of-the-art student residence apartment-style building with underground parking - all on the backs of the students.
Of course tuition has gone up to pay for all the bells and whistles.
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