Here’s a selection or articles the Federal Relations Team is reading this week.
Whither Pell? – A new report released Thursday provides a detailed look at the graduation rates of low-income college students. At many colleges, low-income students graduate at much lower rates than their high-income peers. Read more at The Atlantic.
Chill in the Pacific – China and the US have not have the warmest relationship and President Xi’s recent visit to the country did not seem to warm the relationship. While focus on constructively engaging China has been a priority for decades, this attitude seems to be shifting to an attitude of competition. Read more at Politico.
Killed It Dead? – In his five years as Speaker, Boehner endured an adversarial President, Senate and internal party. Has the Speakership been irrevocably marginalized in an era of intense partisan factionalism? Or is Boehner’s resignation a weathervane for something else—a GOP establishment? Read more at Politico.
Little Loan, Big Issue – Community colleges are relatively affordable, and their students tend to borrow less than those who attend other types of institutions. Yet the debt students rack up at community colleges is troubling. The reason is that students who attend two-year colleges struggle to repay even small loans, and often default on them, a concern that is reinforced by a new study from one of the sector’s primary trade groups — the Association of Community College Trustees. Read more at Inside Higher Education.
Default Rates Going Down – The share of federal student loan borrowers who default on their debt within three years of entering repayment dropped for the second year in a row, the U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday. The national default rate on student loans made by the government fell to 11.8 percent from 13.7 percent last year, the department said. Obama administration officials credited their success in getting more borrowers to sign up for income-based repayment plans for some of the decline in defaults. Read more at Inside Higher Education.
Five on the Horizon – The Supreme Court convenes its new session on Monday, October 5th. While court has already agreed to hear 34 cases, the docket is not yet totally set. There are five big cases on the horizon with sweeping implications on race and college admissions, the criminal justice system, public sector unions and, many experts expect, another rendezvous with ObamaCare. Read more at The Hill.
Bankruptcy – The Administration is calling on Congress to make it easier for some student loan borrowers to erase their debt through bankruptcy, as part of a package of proposals aimed at helping Americans who are struggling with loan payments. In a report released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education, administration officials outlined a range of recommendations for improving the nation’s student loan system, most of which require congressional action. Read more at Inside Higher Education.
College Athletic$ – A court just affirmed that the NCAA may restrict colleges from compensating athletes beyond the cost of attendance. A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Wednesday in an apparent victory for the college sports establishment as it fights efforts to expand athletes’ rights. Read more at the New York Times.
Gore – The Smithsonian closed its popular dinosaur hall at the Natural History Museum several years ago for a total makeover. Today, the Smithsonian revealed the new central exhibit to the hall, which is of a T-Rex killing a triceratops. It looks pretty badass. Check it out if your in DC in 2019. See more at the Smithsonian Magazine and the Washington Post.