University Business - June 2006 - (Page 41)

ON THE HILL Time Running Out for HEA Reauthorization A temporary extention of existing legislation is possible if the Senate fails to act. By Alan Dessoff T become accreditors approved by the U.S. H E 109TH CONGRESS BE Department of Education. gan business with reauthorization Some amendments to the committee of the Higher Education Act top- bill that were particularly disturbing to ping the higher ed community's agenda. institutions of higher education were de- A year and a half later, HEA renewal still feated. One required any IHE receiving was not a done deal as the legislative body federal funds for international education began to look toward the end of its session. programs under Title VI to report to the The House completed its part of the federal government any contributions or job in March, passing the College Access gifts they received from any source. and Opportunity Act, which reauthorized Another proposal voted down would the HEA for five more years. The Senate have required every institution to provide passed its first version of HEA reauthoriza- an annual report of its student admissions tion earlier this year as part of the Deficit process to the U.S. Department of Edu- Reduction Act, which included $12.7 bil- cation. If the institution considered race, lion in student loan cuts. color, or national origin in its admissions, But following House action on the new Some amendments to the a more complex report would have been reauthorization measure, the Senate was required. required to also approve a new version of committee bill that were Also averted was a proposal to require the legislation. Ultimately, both houses particularly disturbing to colleges to provide an annual report to the must sign off on the same bill. IHEs were defeated. education department of steps taken to With each passing day, the calendar discourage illegal peer-to-peer file sharing. looms larger over HEA in the Senate. With ACE President David Ward, in a state- T h e Washington higher education a July 4 holiday, a scheduled four-week ment after the final vote, said the bill will community had significant reservations recess from August 7 through Labor Day, make it easier for students to attend col- about several parts of the House bill, and and a target adjournment date of October lege by simplifying the federal financial concerns remained after its passage. But 6 so senators seeking re-election can cam- aid application without overly regulating through intensive lobbying led by ACE paign in their home states, the Senate's colleges and universities. However, he before the final vote, postsecondary advo- working days are whittling down, soon to expressed disappointment that federal cates were able to tone down what could be but a precious few. budget constraints made it impossible to have been some harsher actions. A lot will depend on whether the make further enhancements to student Among other things, they gained ap- Democrats decide to make HEA reautho- aid programs. proval of an amendment that wiped out rization politically controversial, because If, for some reason, the 109th Congress many of the new reporting requirements with so little time left in the session, con- nears the end of its session without agree- related to college prices that were included troversial measures will have difficulty get- ment on HEA renewal, it still could in the bill sent to the floor by the House ting to the floor, says Terry Hartle, senior Committee on Education and the Work- vice president for Government and Public force. The same amendment also elimi- Affairs at the American Council on Educa- Alan Dessoff, a former reporter for The Washington nated language to allow state agencies to tion ACE . Post, is a freelance writer based in Bethesda, Md. www.universitybusiness.com June 2006 | 41 OTH.indd OTH.indd 41 5/22/06 10:20:59 AM http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - June 2006

Contents
College Index
Advisory Board
Company Index
Editor's Note
2006 AV Buyers Guide
Admissions
Internet Technology
On the Hill
Financial Aid
Going Green while Saving Green
Viewpoint
Back from the Breach
Value Added
Need Help?
Shared Pain & Payoffs
What's New
Direct Connect
Calendar of Events
End Note

University Business - June 2006