Higher Ed Policy Roundup: Vol. 4 - Issue 19

On Wednesday, a group of Democratic and Republican Senators sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Betsy DeVos requesting adjustments to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due to COVID-19. In the letter, the Senators expressed concerns over how the national unemployment rate is affecting students and urged ED to “take additional steps to ensure that shifts in financial circumstances receive due consideration and that students have the information they need to continue to pursue postsecondary educational opportunities.” Specifically, the letter asks ED to add a temporary question to the FAFSA for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 award years that asks whether the student’s income was significantly reduced due to the COVID-19 emergency.

Confusion persists over ED’s recent statement on emergency student aid funding set forth in the CARES Act.

Inequalities within the higher education system are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus crisis will reshape higher education—for better or for worse.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, shares his thoughts on the critical question facing colleges this fall: when and how to reopen campus?

No relevant student aid bills were introduced this week for consideration by the 116th Congress (2019-2020).