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Author: McKinzie Strait

ED announces new IFLE Deputy Assistant Secretary

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Today the Department of Education announced Mohamed Abdel-Kader will serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) in the Office of Postsecondary Education.

As Deputy Assistant Secretary of IFLE, Mohamed will “have responsibility for encouraging and promoting the study of foreign languages and the study of the cultures of other countries at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels in the United States; and coordinate with related international and foreign language education programs of other Federal agencies,” as established in the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act. He will be leading the work of IFLE in administering the domestic programs authorized under Title VI of the Higher Education Act and those overseas programs under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange (Fulbright-Hays) Act that ED administers.

Prior to joining us at ED, Mohamed served as the Director of Development for the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and also managed the university’s advancement strategy in the Middle East region, where he focused on major gifts and strategic engagement. Mohamed speaks fluent Arabic and basic Spanish. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Clemson University, a Master’s degree in Higher Education from Vanderbilt University, and an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

ED Announces Final Rule on PLUS Loans

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The US Department of Education will publish new rules in the Federal Register tomorrow (Thursday, October 23) that are intended to strengthen the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program.  The new regulations aim to expand access to higher education and better reflect programmatic changes that have occurred since the PLUS loan program began more than 20 years ago.

In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, “The updated borrowing standards for the PLUS loan program demonstrate our commitment to ensuring families have access to the financing they need to reach their goal.”

Here are some notable changes:

  • Establishes a threshold debt amount of $2,085, indexed to inflation, below which a potential borrower is considered to not have an adverse credit history.
  • Defining terms such as debt “charged off” and “in collection” to more accurately determine whether an applicant has an adverse credit history.
  • Reducing the time period of a borrower’s credit history that is considered to determine adverse credit history from the last five years to the last two years for charge offs and collections.
  • Requiring that PLUS Loan applicants who, despite having adverse credit are able to receive a PLUS Loan based on either demonstrating extenuating circumstances or by obtaining an eligible endorser, participate in loan counseling.

More information can be found here.

Senate Passes CR, Adjourns Until Nov. 12

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Last night the Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government at current levels until December 11. The fiscal year ends on September 30, so passage of a CR was critical in avoiding a government shutdown on October 1.

Following passage of the CR, Congress has adjourned until after the November elections. Members of Congress will return to the hill on November 12.

OSTP Accepting Internship Applications for Spring 2015

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The Office of Science and Technology Policy is currently accepting applications for its Spring 2015 Policy Internship Program.  The application deadline is 11:59pm October 17, 2014. 

The Office of Science and Technology Policy advises the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The office serves as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans and programs of the Federal Government.

More information and application instructions are available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/about/student/.

McCaskill Introduces Sexual Assault Legislation

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Today US Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) is introducing The Bipartisan Campus Accountability and Safety Act. The legislation will address sexual assault on college and university campuses throughout the nation. The bill has bipartisan support with sponsorship from Republican Senators Heller (R-NV), Grassley (R-IA), Ayotte (R-NH) and Rubio (R-FL) and Democratic Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Gillibrand (D-NY). Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) will introduce a companion bill in the House.

Key provisions of the bill include:

  • Establishing new campus resources and support services for student survivors of sexual assault.
  • Ensuring minimum training standards for on-campus personnel.
  • Creating new historic transparency requirements.
  • Increasing campus accountability and coordination with law enforcement.
  • Establishing enforceable Title IX penalties and stiffer penalties for Clery Act violations.

Earlier this summer, McCaskill held a series of roundtable discussions on campus sexual assault and requested over 400 colleges and universities complete a survey on the topic as well.