Department of Education Repeals Gainful Employment Regulations
Reports & Tools
Effect of Reduced Student Loan Borrowing on Academic Performance and Default: Evidence from a Loan Counseling Experiment
This working paper from Annenberg Institute discusses the results of a study designed to evaluate the impact of an outreach campaign that prompted loan applicants at a large community college to make informed and active borrowing decisions. The study found that the intervention led students to reduce their un-subsidized loan borrowing by 7 percent—resulting in a worse academic performance—and increased the likelihood of loan default during the three years after the intervention occurred. The authors recommend that policymakers and higher education leaders carefully examine the potential unintended consequences of efforts to reduce student borrowing. (Source: PostsecData / Annenburg Institute at Brown University)
Early Momentum Metrics: Leading Indicators for Community College Impact
A recently released research brief from the Community College Research Center examines how well nine measures of students' progress in their first year predict student completion in subsequent years, and how suitable these early momentum metrics are as leading indicators of the effectiveness of institutional reforms. Based on analysis of student data from all community colleges in three states, the brief finds that early momentum metrics do predict longer term success for students. (Source: PostsecData / Community College Research Center)
SAT-Only Admission. How would it Change College Campuses? (Angela Henderson)
This report examines the potential impact on institutions if SAT test scores were the only criteria for admission. Findings suggest that resulting entering classes, comprised of students with scores higher than 1250, would be less racially diverse and more affluent.
Emerging Trends
Informing Improvement: Recommendations for Enhancing Accreditor Data-Use to Promote Student Success and Equity (Angela Henderson)
This report is informed by insights shared during a convening of national, regional, and programmatic accreditation agencies, and individual interviews with accreditors. It profiles several promising data use practices among accreditors and recognizes the role of federal policymakers in supporting accreditors by improving the availability of accurate and timely outcomes data.
Humanities and Liberal Arts Education Across America’s Colleges (Angela Henderson)
According to a new study from the Community College Research Center, humanities and liberal arts are on the rise at community colleges, with the number of associate degrees awarded in those fields nearly doubling from 2000 to 2015.
Policy Watch
Repeal of Gainful Employment Rule by the Department of Education
Late last month, the Department of Education repealed the gainful employment rule from the Obama administration that was designed to hold low-quality career education programs accountable. After failing to reach consensus during the negotiated rulemaking process in 2017-18, the Department decided to shift its efforts to a more comprehensive, market-based accountability framework by expanding the College Scorecard to include program-level data on: (1) program size, (2) median Federal student loan debt and the monthly payment associated with that debt based on a standard repayment period, (3) median Graduate PLUS loan debt and the monthly payment associated with that debt based on a standard repayment period, (4) median Parent PLUS loan debt and the monthly payment associated with that debt based on a standard repayment period, and (5) student loan default and repayment rates (per 3/21/2019 Executive Order). The repeal goes into effect July 1, 2020.
Brewing Battle Over Pell Grants (Casey Kerins)
A new bill called the JOBS act would expand the use of Pell Grants for certificate and non-credit programs as short as eight weeks long. The Bipartisan act, supported by some community college and business groups, seeks to shift the Pell program toward job training in addition to its purpose of supporting low-income students. This article from Inside Higher Ed discusses the pros, cons, and unexpected potential impacts of this shift in Pell program focus.
FTC's 'Safeguards Rule' Cybersecurity Proposal May Burden Higher Ed
This article discusses the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposal to expand the 2003 regulation called the Safeguards Rule, designed to ensure the safekeeping of data and networks in institutions handling consumer financial data. Under the new requirements, colleges and universities would be directed to implement comprehensive cybersecurity programs that extend far beyond what most higher education institutions have committed to today. The FTC is accepting comments on the new regulation and has extended the deadline to August 2. (Source: PostsecData / EdScoop)
Policy Research: College Promise Programs Are Excluding Student Parents
This article discusses a new briefing paper from the Institute for Women's Policy Research finding that eligibility for many college promise (or "free college") programs need to change to include student parents, a demographic that is central to improving college access and equity. College students with children—who are disproportionately women and students of color—often take breaks between high school and college, have high child care and other non-tuition expenses, work significant hours, and attend part-time. The paper recommends that college promise programs modify their requirements to allow participation among working students with children in several ways. (Source: PostsecData / Diverse Education)
NCES Updates
Adult Literacy in the United States
This report, entitled Adult Literacy in the United States, indicates that White and Hispanic adults make up the largest percentage of U.S. adults with low levels of English literacy, according to the most recent results of a survey on adult skills. This Data Point summarizes what data from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) show about adult literacy in the United States.
Trends in Percentage of Total Price of Attendance Covered by Pell Grants and Federal Loan Receipt of Pell Grant Recipients
The report entitled Trends in Ratio of Pell Grant to Total Price of Attendance and Federal Loan Receipt examines the percentage of total price of attendance covered by Pell Grants by control and level of institution and the percentage of Pell Grant recipients who received federal student loans by control and level of institution for selected academic years between 2003-04 and 2015-16. More than 60 percent of Pell Grant recipients at public 4-year institutions, private nonprofit 4-year institutions, and private for-profit institutions received federal student loans to cover the total price of college attendance in each selected academic year measured between 2003-04 and 2015-16.
Outcomes of 2015–16 Bachelor’s Degree Recipients 1 Year After Graduation
A First Look report, entitled Baccalaureate and Beyond (B&B:16/17): A First Look at the Employment and Educational Experiences of College Graduates, 1 Year Later, examines outcomes of 2015–16 bachelor’s degree recipients 1 year after graduation. The report uses data from the 2016/17 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:16/17). New data show that 12 months after they graduated, male first-time bachelor’s degree recipients who were employed full time had a median annual income of $41,600 and females had a median annual income of $37,400.