110th U.S. Congress -
FY 2008 Federal Agenda
Higher Education Policy Priorities
Reauthorization of Higher Education Act
The UH System supports the reauthorization of this landmark legislation and hopes that a compromise can be reached that will expand college access and affordability without imposing intrusive or burdensome federal requirements on institutions. In particular, the UH System favors such measures as a year-round Pell Grant and reductions in student loan interest rates for students and parents. At the same time, the UH System does not believe that prescriptive federal standards on traditionally academic matters such as transfer of credit and accreditation are necessary.
Funding for Student Aid
The decision to fund most of the federal government on a continuing resolution for FY 2007 means that the $100 Pell Grant maximum increase contained in the House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill will not become a reality. The Pell maximum has now been flat at $4050 for four straight years, and the UH System strongly urges Congress to end this trend by providing robust increases in the maximum grant and the overall program beginning in FY 2008.
The UH System also supports robust funding for the campus-based student aid programs: the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, and the Perkins Loan, all of which have been level-funded for the last several fiscal years. These programs form an important part of our ability to offer aid packages to our neediest students.
Finally, the UH System supports legislation such as last year’s Child Protective Services Student Loan Forgiveness Act, which would offer student loan forgiveness to social work professionals. As the home of one of the nation’s leading social work training programs, the UH System believes measures such as these are necessary to address the ongoing workforce challenges in this profession.
Funding for Hispanic Serving Institutions
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) funding has now been level for several years. Institutions like UH-Downtown (where Hispanics constitute the largest ethnic group among the student body – 38%) rely on this funding to help them serve America’s growing Hispanic population, which is attending college at an ever-increasing rate. The UH System hopes Congress will provide strong support for this account in FY 2008.
Student and Faculty Visas
The U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security continue to improve processing times for faculty and student visas. UH continues to support a secure visa policy that still preserves transparency of the process and reduces unnecessary delays. Foreign students and scholars remain a vital asset in our nation's academic and research culture, as well as vital contributors to major technological advances.
