Congress will have its fair share of contentious issues in higher ed in January, beginning with debt-free-college proposals backed by a growing number of Democrats. But a bipartisan consensus appears to be forming behind measures to hold colleges and universities more accountable for student financial outcomes like loan repayments.
Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have introduced legislative proposals to introduce risk-sharing measures that would hold institutions accountable for student outcomes. The idea is that colleges and universities should have a greater stake in the outcomes of the student borrowers they graduate -- if large numbers of students graduate and are unable to pay back their student debt, their institutions could see access to federal programs restricted. And both the Clinton and Trump campaigns have embraced the concept in their policy platforms. Observers in the policy analyst sector expect Congress to take up the issue once the dust settles from the 2016 elections -- as part of a piecemeal approach to the student debt issue or, more likely, as part of a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
Policy thinkers say the main question marks beyond the politics of the campaign season and a larger reauthorization bill are what specific metrics colleges and universities would be graded on under such a rating system. Many who have concerns about the idea represent colleges that educate larger numbers of low-income students and feel the institutions will be punished for fulfilling that mission. At the same time, many experts say the federal government needs a tool for holding all colleges and universities accountable for how well they serve their students.
Read more at Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/08/05/leaders-both-parties-want-colleges-have-more-skin-game-student-outcomes