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AACRAO and Federal Relations Update AACRAO and Federal Relations Update • • • • • • AACRAO Update Postsecondary Institution Ratings System Higher Education Act Reauthorization FY 2015 Budget Negotiated Rulemaking Issues to Watch AACRAO Update • Several new publications released: Helping Veterans Succeed and Retention, Disposal, and Archive of Student Records • A new book on Transfer is scheduled for release by the Baltimore Annual Meeting • Look for several research reports from AACRAO’s new research division (benchmarking surveys and cost/benefit study of electronic record exchange) AACRAO Update • Reports from two task forces expected this summer: the Task Force on International Admissions and Credential Evaluation and the Program Task Force • Upcoming meetings: Tech/Transfer July 6-8 in Ft. Lauderdale; Summer Institute for International Admissions July 28 to August 1 in Washington DC; Strategic Enrollment Management conference October 2629 in Los Angeles College Rating System • New rating system for college by 2015 • Institutions to be evaluated on measure of access, affordability, and outcomes. • Calls on Congress to tie federal student aid to college performance by 2018, such that students who enroll at high performing colleges would receive larger Pell Grants and more favorable rates on student loans. College Rating System • Expands programs and options in an effort to help struggling borrowers repay their debt. • Challenges institutions to offer students a greater range of affordable, high-quality options, such as competency-based learning, course redesign, the use of technology for student services and more efforts to recognize prior learning. • Other efforts to promote competency-based education HEA Reauthorization • • • • • • • Accreditation and the role of the “triad” Simplifying FAFSA Income-Based Repayment programs Pell grant eligibility and funding TRIO and Gear Up Higher education tax credits Taskforce on Regulatory Burden Federal Budget Update • FY 2014 Budget – Sets annual spending levels at just above $1 trillion in both the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years – Softens second round of cuts under sequestration – Ends a $3 billion program that sets aside a portion of the Education Department's loan servicing contracts for nonprofit lenders – Reduces the compensation that guarantee agencies receive for rehabilitating loans in the defunct bankbased student lending program Federal Budget Update • President Obama’s FY 2015 Blueprint – Education Department would receive $68.6 billion in discretionary funding, $1.3 billion more than last FY – Increases maximum Pell Grant award by $100, from $5,730 in 2014-15 to $5,830 in 2015-16 – Expands income-based repayment plans – Makes permanent the American Opportunity Tax Credit – Provides $7 billion over 10 years for College Opportunity and Graduation Bonuses Federal Budget Update • President Obama’s FY 2015 Blueprint – Includes $4 billion in new mandatory spending for competitive grants for states to encourage performancebased funding – Allocates $75 million in competitive grants to "reduce costs and improve outcomes" at minority-serving institutions – Provides $6 billion for job-training programs at community colleges and $100 million in additional funds for the president's "First in the World" initiative Negotiated Rulemaking • Program Integrity and Improvement – Topics include cash management of Title IV funds, state authorization for online programs, underwriting standards for PLUS loans, clock-to-credit-hour conversions, and repeat coursework provisions • Violence Against Women Act • Gainful Employment – NPRM published March 13th – draft rule does not do enough to protect students from predatory practices. Issues to Watch • Competency-Based Education • Federal Unit-Record Data System • Veterans Issues – DoD MOU for TA Program – Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014 • 150% Direct Loan Legislation • Immigration and the DREAM Act Questions?