A Big Plan, but Will Biden Get the Votes?
President Biden is calling on Congress to fund a $109 billion program for tuition-free community college, an initiative that has gained support in recent years but still isn’t a guaranteed legislative victory. The administration’s American Families Plan unveiled Wednesday proposes billions of dollars in higher education investments that would increase the maximum Pell Grant award by $1,400, provide two years of subsidized tuition to historically Black colleges and other minority-serving institutions for students from families who earn less than $125,000, and create a grant program to fund student success services at colleges that serve a high number of low-income students. All together, spending would top $250 million. Biden wants to fund his $1.8 trillion plan —which addresses a range of issues from affordable childcare to unemployment insurance reform —by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans and closing tax loopholes. ( Inside Higher Ed - Apr. 29, 2021)
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Biden’s Plan Would Make Community College Free. It Could Also Have Unintended Downsides.
President Biden’s plan to make two years of community college free, which could make college more affordable and accessible to millions of Americans, is being praised as a long-overdue step forward. But depending on how it’s structured, some experts also caution that it could end up hurting disadvantaged students by diverting them to colleges where they’re less likely to succeed, and that it could provide free tuition to those who can already afford it. Some experts also worry about the potential impact of giving students incentives to not start in a four-year college. They argue that students who start out in community colleges—including minority and first-generation students—are less likely to end up with four-year degrees, largely because many of their credits fall through the cracks when they transfer to a four-year institution. ( The Chronicle of Higher Education - Apr. 28, 2021)
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State Department Adds Students Traveling from China, Additional Countries to Travel Restriction Exemptions
On Monday, Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken made a new national-interest determination for students and exchange visitors, exempting them from the COVID-19-related visa and entry restrictions currently in place for China, Iran, Brazil, and South Africa. This adds those countries to the national-interest exemptions already in place for students and exchange visitors traveling from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe’s Schengen area. Valid F-1 and M-1 visa holders can begin to enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before the start of their academic studies, starting on August 1, 2021. The notice says, “students seeking to apply for new F-1 or M-1 visas should check the status of visa services at the nearest embassy or consulate; those applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified for an F-1 or M-1 visa will automatically be considered for an NIE to travel.” ( Association of American Universities - Apr. 28, 2021)
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ICE Renews COVID-19 Guidance on Foreign Students
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program announced on Monday that it was extending guidance, originally issued at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, for foreign students studying in the United States. The guidance enables schools and students engaged in online learning programs to remain in the United States beyond normal eligibility limits. There are no changes to the original guidance, which will remain in effect during the 2021-22 academic year. The guidance is available here, and FAQs regarding the guidance are available here. ( Association of American Universities - Apr. 28, 2021)
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FY 22 APPROPRIATIONS NEWS
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AAU, Associations Send Letter Urging Support for EducationUSA in FY22
On Monday, AAU joined APLU, NAFSA, and NAICU in sending a letter to House and Senate appropriators urging them to support the State Department’s educational and cultural exchange programs – and specifically EducationUSA, a network of more than 430 international student advising centers in 175-plus countries and territories. The letter recommends that EducationUSA receive $50 million in FY22, an increase of $37 million above FY21. “International students contribute immensely to our nation, enriching the classroom for U.S. students while helping to fulfill key economic, diplomatic, and educational goals,” the letter notes. “They conduct cutting-edge research that spurs critical innovation and technological advancements necessary to maintain our global competitiveness.” ( Association of American Universities - Apr. 28, 2021)
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