|
NASFAA News...
Reauthorization
by Jannine Oyama, Federal Relations Committee Chair
On April 24, 2002, NASFAA posted an article on their
website indicating that the congressional staff received
word that reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of
1965 has moved to the "fast track". The "fast track" is really
for NASFAA to gather recommendation, information,
and feedback from the educational community so that
they are ready to present Congress with proposals in early
2003.
NASFAA has already put a Reauthorization Task Force
together, with Laurie Wolf of the Des Moines Area
Community Colleges as the Chair. Pat Hurley from
Glendale Community College and Bob Collins from
University of Phoenix have been chosen as volunteers to
represent WASFAA on the Task Force for the next two
years. Boy! Do they have their work cut out for them! Their
mission will be to seek broadly acceptable solutions benefiting
students and schools, extending educational opportunities,
reducing the burden on financial aid offices, and
serving the needs of practicing aid professionals.
In addition to the Task Force, three of NASFAA's
standing committees will make recommendations for
changes in the law:
- Federal Regulatory Issues Committee will examine the
area of reducing the burden on schools and students,
building upon the Fed.Up efforts;
- Graduate/Professional Issues Committee will examine
the federal role in financing graduate and professional
education; and
- Technology Initiatives Committee will examine distance
education and financial aid as affected by technology.
NASFAA members are encouraged to provide comments
and suggestions to reauth@nasfaa.org by the following
deadlines listed below.
If you are not a NASFAA member, don't be afraid to
voice your concerns to any of the WASFAA Federal
Relations Co-chairs (Laurie Franklin, Oregon State
University, Jannine Oyama, Honolulu Community
College, or Genevieve Watson, Phoenix College) or to
your State Association's President or Federal Relations
Committee. The WASFAA Federal Relations Committee
will be providing information periodically through the
WASFAA listserv, newsletters, and Executive Council
meetings.We hope to reach as many people in our region
and hope to spark responses from our region.
Remember...Reauthorization comes around every five to
six years so this is our chance to voice our concerns.
|
