by Amanda Erickson
A final version of the bill designed to give students more information about college costs was circulated Sunday, but it may not pass before Congress leaves for vacation Friday.
The Higher Education Act has been many months in the making. It includes language designed to help students more accurately assess what they'll pay for school before they even apply.
Several contentious issues held up the legislation until this past weekend. Among the compromises hammered out: the states that cut higher education funding won't be punished. Also, money was included for a grant program to develop masters-level programs and historically black universities and colleges.
Lawmakers said they hope the bill will pass both houses (bodies) this week, but there were no guarantees. If it doesn't make it to the floor by Friday, the legislation probably won't be considered again until after the election.
• 
• 
• 
Comments
The last thing the government should do is throw more money at colleges and universities because of the high level of excess and waste that currently exist. Compared with private business, there is over-staffing, excessive benefits, encouragement to spend budgets fully instead of returning money to the state, and under-utilizing professors who often teach as little as 3 hours a WEEK or not at all. Any additional funds should be predicated on proof of efficiency, starting with the introduction of de nova or zero budgeting each year.
Posted by: Darius | July 29, 2008 4:09 PM