Reauthorization On the Horizon

The actual debate is six months away, but college and university leaders already are floating ideas to reform financial aid and other programs under the Higher Education Act (HEA).

HEA comes up for reauthorization in Congress next year, and some advocates say the debate could drag well into 1998. The November elections will play a crucial role, with the higher education community likely to face a whole new set of lawmakers than they dealt with during the last review in 1992.

High on the list of issues for historically Black colleges and universities is continued support for HEA's Title III, which contains more than $100 million in funding for HBCU undergraduate and graduate institutions. "We're looking for no interference," said Edward Fort, chancellor of North Carolina A&T University. "We want it to sail through unimpeded."

Another issue high on Fort's list is the return of the Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowships and Javits Fellow ships, two small programs Dr. Edward Fort Congress eliminated during budget-cutting efforts last year. Together, the two received funding of about $30 million. "Those two programs are absolutely essential for HBCUs to attract sharp potential Ph.D candidates," he said.

Also on the minds of HBCUs, community colleges and others is the need to preserve federal financial aid for remedial education. Low-income students account for a large percentage of remedial students, and such courses often are essential if these students are to continue in higher education.

"For many of these students, access to college and persistence towards a degree is often contingent upon the completion of one or two required remedial courses," said a recent study from the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, a Washington-based panel examining policy options for reauthorization.

Remedial students claim a growing percentage of financial aid, however, prompting some to seek guarantees that federal aid cover only those students doing "college-level" work.