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Senator Introduces Tax-Free Pell Grant Act
Jul 15, 2021
AACRAO supports a bill that aims to remove a major financial and logistical barrier to students securing higher ed opportunities by expanding the usage of Pell Grants on a tax-free basis.
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House Panel Advances FY 2022 Education Spending Bill
Jul 15, 2021
The proposed bill largely mirrors President Joe Biden's budget blueprint, but goes beyond what the White House requested, particularly with respect to financial aid.
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Biden Administration Temporarily Eases Aid Verification Requirements
Jul 15, 2021
The Education Dept. will narrow its financial aid verification procedures to focus only on identity theft and fraud in an attempt to ease pandemic-related challenges for students and institutions.
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Education Dept. Urges Biden to Extend Student Loan Relief
Jul 15, 2021
Agency officials reportedly recommend extending the pandemic pause on student loan and interest payments through the end of January 2022 to give the agency more time to plan how to ease borrowers back into repayment.
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Republican AGs Push Back on Title IX Protections for LGBTQ+ Students
Jul 15, 2021
A group of 21 Republican attorneys general argue that the Biden administration’s recent Title IX guidance broadening protections for gay and transgender students is "substantively flawed."
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AACRAO Supports National Campaign to Double Pell
Jul 15, 2021
A coalition of higher education groups launch a campaign to double the maximum Pell Grant to $13,000 and bring an affordable, high-quality college education within reach of all students.
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Education Dept. Approves Debt Relief to 1,800 More Borrowers
Jul 15, 2021
The Biden administration works to process borrower defense claims more quickly, but a backlog of more than 107,000 applications still remains.
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Public Colleges in Illinois to go Test-Optional
Jul 15, 2021
The state recently passed a law requiring public institutions to offer test-optional admissions.
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College Equity Bill Reintroduced
Jul 8, 2021
Legislation would establish a competitive grant program for higher education institutions to address disparities in recruitment, admissions, and support.
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Student Persistence Rates Fall Amid Pandemic
Jul 8, 2021
The rates at which newly enrolled students persisted in higher education last fall fell markedly after remaining stable for the past four years.
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Trump Administration Took 'Unprecedented' Actions in Sale of For-Profit Chain
Jul 7, 2021
Federal watchdog report finds that Education Dept. officials bypassed long-standing internal policies as the agency oversaw the conversion and closure of Dream Center schools.
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Low DACA Approval Rates Prompt Concern
Jul 7, 2021
DACA applications have increased since President Biden took office, but approvals are being impeded by application processing delays and backlogs.
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Biden Administration Formally Withdraws Proposed Duration of Status Rule
Jul 7, 2021
AACRAO and other higher education groups opposed the plan to change the policy, arguing that it would create uncertainty and confusion for students.
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AACRAO, Other Higher Ed Associations Comment on Higher Ed Regulatory Agenda
Jul 1, 2021
Groups encourage the Education Department to focus on increasing access for all students while employing risk-based oversight and enforcement to protect students and taxpayers.
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Senate Bill to Support Community College Students
Jul 1, 2021
Proposed legislation aims to expand wrap-around services for community college students and improve graduation rates.
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Watchdog Agency Highlights Problems in Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Jul 1, 2021
Federal consumer protection agency found serious problems in how student loan servicing companies responded to borrowers seeking to participate in the loan forgiveness program.
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Justices Also Refuse to Hear Student Loan Bankruptcy Case
Jul 1, 2021
The Supreme Court refused to hear a case on whether student loans can be discharged in bankruptcy, leaving the existing, harsh student loan bankruptcy standard in place.
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Distance Ed and Innovation Rules Take Effect July 1
Jul 1, 2021
The Biden administration is working to implement new rules easing requirements for online programs, including competency-based education models.
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Supreme Court Declines to Hear Transgender Student Dispute
Jul 1, 2021
The move leaves in place the prior ruling in favor of a transgender student, who sued his school district for denying him the right to use bathrooms that match his gender identity.
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DHS to Withdraw Proposed Duration of Status Rule
Jul 1, 2021
The Biden administration will withdraw the Trump-era proposed rule to limit the duration for which international students can study in the United States.