Apart from legislation that emerges on Capitol Hill, the regulatory arena plays a key role in determining how policies are implemented. A recent example occurred during the week of October 14, 2019 when the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) gave the necessary go-ahead signal to the Department of Education’s final proposal to overhaul college accreditation. This approval means the final regulation likely will be published soon. The proposed rule is intended to ease some requirements that college accreditors must meet to obtain federal recognition, an important status that enables the institutions they accredit to be eligible for federal student aid. An ongoing criticism by the Trump Administration is that the existing college accreditation system is too costly and burdensome.
Protecting Students From Sudden College Closures
Throughout 2019, administrators at some small institutions have announced that their doors soon will be closed. Declining student enrollment and an inability to finance rising costs often are cited as reasons for this decision. In response, on October 3, 2019, Representatives Donna Shalala (D-FL), Peter King (R-NY) and Sean Casten (D-IL) introduced a bill aimed at protecting students in the event of the sudden closure of a higher education institution. As of October 22, the measure had 11 co-sponsors. Among its various provisions, the Stop College Act of 2019 (H.R. 4615) would require accrediting organizations to:
Review teach-out plans and agreements when the accreditor is notified by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) of problems pointing to the potential closure of a college or university, a state removes an institution’s license to operate, or accrediting organizations place an institution on probation, show-cause, or equivalent status.
Monitor institutions whose ability to meet accreditation standards has declined, particularly related to financial responsibility requirements, as identified by USDE, an auditor or the accrediting organization, which may indicate that a closure is imminent.
Respond to complaints, monitor, and assess an institution’s records of student complaints within 30 days and submit such complaints to USDE and state agencies when appropriate.
Reauthorization Of The Higher Education Act
This important piece of legislation last was reauthorized in 2008. Early in 2019, there were hopes that reauthorization would occur by the end of this year. Hearings were held, key issues were identified, and legislators in both political parties have attempted to bring a comprehensive bill to fruition. On October 15, 2019 the House Committee on Education and Labor introduced the College Affordability Act (H.R. 4674), which is designed to achieve: a comprehensive overhaul of the higher education system that lowers the cost of college for students and families, improves the quality of higher education through stronger accountability, and expands opportunities by providing students the support and flexibility they need to succeed. Some of the main provisions under Title 1 of this proposed legislation are:
Ensures programs lead to gainful employment
Protects the integrity of non-profit institutions of higher education
Improves available post-secondary data
Improves the Federal Student Aid (FSA) office
Establishes an enforcement unit
More Articles from October 2019 TRENDS
THE VALUE OF GLANCING IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR
Indicates why it is worthwhile to examine professional literature archives to learn more about present day challenges involving both allied health and genomics. Read More
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Susan Hanrahan offers her thoughts on recently completing a two-year term as ASAHP President. Read More
THE DANCE OF LEGISLATION
A book published in 1973 bearing this title shows how over the decades, certain patterns continue to remain in effect. Read More
HEALTH REFORM DEVELOPMENTS
Discusses recent efforts to curtail waste, fraud, and abuse in programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, along with some reflections on how to reduce administrative expenditures. Read More
DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Summarizes new activity in the regulatory domain, plus recently introduced legislation to protect students when colleges close and reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Read More
QUICK STAT (SHORT, TIMELY, AND TOPICAL)
Death Rates By Marital Status For Adults Age 25 And Older: United States, 2010-2017
Prevalence Of Screening For Social Determinants Of Health
Hierarchical Encoding Of Attended Auditory Objects In Multi-Talker Speech Perception
Exergaming And Virtual Reality For Health: Implications For Cardiac Rehabilitation Read More
AVAILABLE RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONICALLY
Preparing The Current And Future Health Care Workforce For Interprofessional Practice
Integrating Social Care Into The Delivery Of Health Care
Older Americans’ Views On Navigating The Health Care System
Survey On State And Local Income, Poverty, And Health Insurance Statistics Read More
EVIDENCE FOR LATINO PREFERENCES FOR METAPHOR AND ANALOGY
Mentions how a stronger liking for and a desire to connect with individuals who use metaphoric speech can have an impact on the quality of health care services. Read More
PARKINSON’S DISEASE AFFECTS WOMEN AND MEN DIFFERENTLY
Refers to a recognition that the two groups differ in the risk of developing this disease, how it progresses, and survivor rates. Read More
LEARNING ABOUT FIDGETING WHILE FIDGETING
Despite efforts by parents and teachers to discourage children from fidgeting, this form of behavior may persist in adulthood, while a clearer understanding of its neural origins is enhanced by contributions made by expert mice. Read More