November 20, 2019 marked the occasion for the release of data on first-year earnings of college graduates according to the academic programs in which they matriculated that are broken down for the first time by program level. Derived from federal tax data, information can be obtained for more than 40,000 programs, showing that median debt exceeded median first-year earnings by more than $1,000 for 6,520 of them.
A dollars and cents analysis should be of value as families decide how much they are willing to invest in programs that ultimately could lead to financial outcomes commensurate with the amount of money spent to obtain proper academic credentials needed for entry into the employment market. A potential downside is that decisions will be made that displace passion in order to acquire more earthly gains in the form of future salaries. A job provides one kind of satisfaction while having a passion for a particular field produces a feeling of satiety and self-fulfillment of a quite different nature. Students and their families must cope with the difficulty of deciding whether to pursue academic preparation in a field that one loves, which may not pay well later on, for an alternative that may be much less interesting, but substantially more remunerative.
Student Assistance, Recognition Of Accrediting Agencies, And State Agency Procedures
The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) on November 1, 2019 amended regulations governing the recognition of accrediting agencies, certain student assistance general provisions, and institutional eligibility, as well as making various technical corrections. The revised regulations continue the emphasis on accountability that has been characterizing federal involvement in accreditation, and providing additional opportunity for accreditation to embrace innovation, along with some streamlining of federal recognition (the periodic review of accreditation). Revised regulations addressing accountability: (1) Increase expectations by USDE concerning student achievement through the collection and analysis of key data and indicators, including institution’s or program’s performance and measures of student achieve- ment; (2) Require more transparency on regional accreditor websites regarding the states in which the organizations operate; (3) Mandate institutional disclosure to accreditors of any law enforcement actions or prosecutions that lead to adverse action; and (4) Protect students through enhanced institutional disclosure requirements about whether programs lead to licensure or qualification to sit for a licensing exam.
Revised regulations addressing innovation: (1) Provide more flexibility for innovation for institutions and accrediting organizations by encouraging accreditors to establish different methods of monitoring institutional success and provide opportunities for experimentation; (2) Open the door to student aid for non-institutional educational offerings from colleges and universities, including partnerships with alternative providers; (3) Provide a simpler path for new accrediting organizations to gain recognition to give priority to student needs and outcomes rather than traditional measurements; and (4) Enable more dual enrollment opportunities through flexibility in standards allowing high school teachers in certain circum- stances to teach these courses.
State Authorization of Distance and Correspondence Education regulations also have been updated and streamlined. The revisions make clear an institution’s responsibilities and the role of State reciprocity agreements while ensuring students have the information they need to make informed decisions. States that join a reciprocity agreement can no longer layer additional State higher education authorization requirements on institutions that participate, but can continue to apply other State laws and regulations that apply to all entities doing business in a State. The final regulations will provide students with more options to pursue a higher education credential of value, transfer credits between institutions, and qualify for career advancement.
Most provisions in the final rule are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2020. Sections that include State Authorization were effective November 1, 2019. Sections that modify the timeline that accrediting organizations are to follow to become federally recognized will be effective on July 1, 2021.
More Articles from November 2019 TRENDS
TECHNOLOGICAL IMPERATIVE CHALLENGES
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PRESIDENT’S CORNER
Phyllis King’s two-year term as ASAHP’s President became effective on October 18, 2019. She offers her thoughts on what she would like to see occur during that time period. Read More
MASS MEDIA FOCUS ON CAPITOL HILL
While the mass media devote considerable attention to efforts to impeach President Trump, reauthorizing both the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and funding for historically black colleges and other minority-serving institutions provide examples of other initiatives deserving of increased focus. Read More
HEALTH REFORM DEVELOPMENTS
Discusses proposed health reform legislation by candidates running for the presidency, hospital compare data on quality, and a new hospital price disclosure rule. Read More
DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Summarizes federal rules involving student assistance, recognition of accrediting agencies, and state agency procedures. Read More
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AVAILABLE RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONICALLY
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WHY AN INSECT APOCALYPSE MATTERS
Mentions the enormous influence that insects have on all other plant and animal species, and how the application of ants’ traffic management skills can benefit humans. Read More
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND RACIAL CANCER DISPARITIES
Refers to how mortgage discrimination is associated with larger black‐to‐white cancer mortality disparities resulting from a tendency to reduce black home ownership and increase the likelihood of renting, which has a negative effect on the accumulation of home equity that limits resources available to offset the financial burden of cancer. Read More