Obama's higher-ed agenda uncertain
In the beginnings of his campaign, Barack Obama promised to help students pay for college, garnering their support to help him win the election. Now, with an economy in recession, experts and students alike are wondering whether any of those promises can
By: Sara Patterson
Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: News
In the beginnings of his campaign, Barack Obama promised to help students pay for college, garnering their support to help him win the election. Now, with an economy in recession, experts and students alike are wondering whether any of those promises can be realized soon enough.
"I think that these are extraordinarily difficult times," said Doug Imig, U of M political science professor. "This economic situation has not been seen in this country in about 80 years, and whoever is in charge is going to have an incredibly difficult job."
In the realm of higher education, Obama has two major proposals on the line. To tackle college affordability issues, Obama and Biden formed a plan called the "American Opportunity Tax Credit." The credit "will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans," as stated on barackobama.com.
Obama's second initiative is to simplify the application process for financial aid by eliminating the current federal application and enabling families to apply by checking a box on their tax form. While out on the trail in Texas, Obama called the cost of textbooks "a big scam," according to Swamppolitics.com. However, he did not propose any legislative action. In a May 2007 proposal, Obama responded to a student loan scandal by proposing a series of reforms that he said would allow for a significant boost in Pell Grant support, pledging to keep the Pell Grant maximums rising at the level of inflation or higher, according to Insidehighered.com. Obama also promised to double federal funds for basic research. The Chronicle also cited Obama's pledges to allow some undocumented illegal immigrants to qualify for certain types of federal aid and to allow colleges to consider race in admissions. Obama's $4,000 tax credit comes with a requirement for 100 hours of community service.
"There is a strong feeling within higher education leadership that some component of community service really should be linked to the federal commitment to provide tax credit and financial aid," said Charles Lenth at the State of Higher Education Executive Offices, or SHEEO.
"I think that these are extraordinarily difficult times," said Doug Imig, U of M political science professor. "This economic situation has not been seen in this country in about 80 years, and whoever is in charge is going to have an incredibly difficult job."
In the realm of higher education, Obama has two major proposals on the line. To tackle college affordability issues, Obama and Biden formed a plan called the "American Opportunity Tax Credit." The credit "will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans," as stated on barackobama.com.
Obama's second initiative is to simplify the application process for financial aid by eliminating the current federal application and enabling families to apply by checking a box on their tax form. While out on the trail in Texas, Obama called the cost of textbooks "a big scam," according to Swamppolitics.com. However, he did not propose any legislative action. In a May 2007 proposal, Obama responded to a student loan scandal by proposing a series of reforms that he said would allow for a significant boost in Pell Grant support, pledging to keep the Pell Grant maximums rising at the level of inflation or higher, according to Insidehighered.com. Obama also promised to double federal funds for basic research. The Chronicle also cited Obama's pledges to allow some undocumented illegal immigrants to qualify for certain types of federal aid and to allow colleges to consider race in admissions. Obama's $4,000 tax credit comes with a requirement for 100 hours of community service.
"There is a strong feeling within higher education leadership that some component of community service really should be linked to the federal commitment to provide tax credit and financial aid," said Charles Lenth at the State of Higher Education Executive Offices, or SHEEO.