State Capital Notes …
In the second session of the biennium, Connecticut legislators approved a $19 billion budget for FY15 that increases spending by 2.5%.
Toward the end of the session, revised revenue forecasts forced lawmakers to scale back in a number of areas. Gov. Dannel Malloy’s promise to provide Connecticut taxpayers with a $55 rebate was put on hold as projections for dec...
DC Shuttle ...
HEA bills advance in House panel. The House Education and the Workforce Committee advanced a package of legislation aimed at reauthorizing provisions of the Higher Education Act (HEA). The three bills, Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act (H.R. 3136), Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Ac t (H.R. 4983), and Empowering Students through Enhanced Financial Couns...
DC Shuttle ...
Senate Democrats introduce draft HEA reauthorization language. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) put forth a draft bill, previewing the Higher Education Affordability Act he will introduce and summarizing Democrats' priorities for reauthorization, he explained in a press release. The bill would create several new grant progr...
DC Shuttle ...
Senate bill would promote reverse transfer of credits. Senators Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced legislation to support associate degrees for students who transfer between institutions without attaining a degree. The Correctly Recognizing Educational Achievements to Empower (CREATE) Graduates Act would encourage states to establish or expand "reverse transfer" prog...
DC Shuttle ...
Obama gives executive order on student loan repayment. The Obama Administration announced that it would take executive action to allow borrowers of older student loans to cap their repayment at 10% of income. Five million borrowers with student loan debt would be eligible to cap their student loan repayments under the proposed regulation. Under the executive order, the U.S. Educati...
NEBHE will explore competency-based education (CBE) during a conference titled The Case for Competency-Based Education: A New Age of Teaching and Learning? to be held Monday, Oct. 20 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Among questions to be explored by speakers:
What is the evidence that CBE is a more effective than traditional instructional strategies?
What does CBE mean for the ever-risin...
DC Shuttle ...
Senate Banking hearing on student loan servicing. The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection held a hearing on the difficulties for student loan borrowers. The hearing focused on loan servicers and how borrowers and veterans negotiate repayment. Senators and witnesses said that action should be taken agai...
The Finance Authority of Maine, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authorityhave been selected through a competitive RFP process to participate in the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) Redesigning Student Aid in New England (Redesigning Aid) project, funded by Lumina Foundation.
NEBHE will help project participants redesign an...
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Bill to eliminate tax on education technology. Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) is forging a bipartisan coalition to promote a new proposal for permanent elimination of tariffs on certain electronic learning devices used in schools and homes. She is sponsoring the "ETeach" proposal (H.R. 4748) that would make permanent an exception for learning devices that was temporarily backed in 2004.
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Comings and Goings ...
Vermont State Colleges (VSC) Chancellor Tim Donovan announced he will step down on Dec. 31, six months before the end of his contract. He served as chancellor for five years and previously led the Community College of Vermont. Separately, the VSC board elected Martha O'Connor of Brattleboro to succeed Gary Moore as its chair.
UMaine President Paul Ferguson announced ...
State Capital Notes …
In the second session of the biennium, Connecticut legislators approved a $19 billion budget for FY15 that increases spending by 2.5%.
Toward the end of the session, revised revenue forecasts forced lawmakers to scale back in a number of areas. Gov. Dannel Malloy’s promise to provide Connecticut taxpayers with a $55 rebate was put on hold as projections for dec... 
DC Shuttle ...
HEA bills advance in House panel. The House Education and the Workforce Committee advanced a package of legislation aimed at reauthorizing provisions of the Higher Education Act (HEA). The three bills, Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act (H.R. 3136), Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Ac t (H.R. 4983), and Empowering Students through Enhanced Financial Couns...