Changes coming to higher ed

Plus students ask colleges for more financial aid, and a must-read.

View this email online Narciso Espiritu for NPR Happy Sunday! Elissa Nadworny, here. I cover higher ed, and it’s my birthday week (shoutout to all you Geminis!), so buckle up.  First off, it’s finally June! The U.S. Education Department welcomed the new month by starting the long regulatory process to reverse the higher education policies of the Trump administration. Here’s what’s on the department’s agenda:  Changes to Title IX, which governs how schools and colleges respond to cases of sexual misconduct. Hearings begin this week, as an initial step. Here’s a great primer on Title IX and where the rules stand right now, after recent changes under former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.  Revisiting “gainful employment,” an Obama-era rule that restricted access to federal student aid dollars for institutions where too few students are able to find jobs that pay enough for them to repay their loans. The Trump administration rescinded the rule in 2019.  Pell Grant eligibility for people in prison. In December, Congress lifted the 26-year ban on granting Pell Grants to people in prison. Later this month, the department will begin hammering out the details. If you’re interested in learning more about prison education, I’d recommend this lovely profile of a graduation speaker and also this cool comic that gives a glimpse into the history of college in prison. (Yes, I know I wrote them.) Changes to some student loans are also in the works. Loan cancellation is on the table for certain groups of federal borrowers, including those working in the public sector, under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program; those who have significant disabilities; and those who attended colleges that deceived them or closed suddenly. Newsletter continues after sponsor message On to more news… The battle between the Education Department and a controversial college accrediting agency continues: On Wednesday, the department announced it will no longer recognize the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), meaning the long-embroiled accreditor will no longer be able to open the door to billions of dollars in federal financial aid for its affiliated schools.  Students and families are asking for more money for college. Financial aid offices are reporting an increase in requests, according to a new survey from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. The survey also found that 64% of financial aid offices anticipate even more requests in the coming year. Colleges can reconsider financial aid awards under a process called professional judgement, though most refer to it as the appeals process. If you, or someone you know, need help navigating this process, SwiftStudent offers a free tool here.  More evidence that the pandemic has been hard on kids: The leading children's hospital in Colorado has declared a pediatric mental health emergency. Jenny Brundin, a reporter with Colorado Public Radio, spent a year talking to teens about their anxieties. You can listen to her report for Morning Edition here.  Listen Here And one final thought: I can’t stop thinking about this powerful story in The Washington Post about a child sex trafficking victim named Alexis Martin. It expertly illustrates how, at every turn, people in positions of power failed her -- and even now that she’s been released from prison, that legacy remains.  Thanks for reading! Feel free to stay in touch — I’m on Twitter @ElissaNadworny. Have a great week.  — Elissa See you next week. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: npred@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Politics, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Education emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy