UUP Press Releases

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 12, 2005

Union chief warns: Higher Education Reauthorization proposals overlook potential fraud and weaken academic freedom  

The president of the nation’s largest higher education union is calling on the House of Representatives to revise some provisions included in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act before it comes up for a vote later this week. William Scheuerman, president of United University Professions (UUP) and Chairman of the American Federation of Teachers’ (AFT) Higher Education Program and Policy Council, is specifically concerned about funding for for-profit institutions and proposals to include a so-called “Academic Bill of Rights” that would impose an ideological litmus test on the appointment of faculty and classroom teaching.

The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness is due to tackle the reauthorization on Wednesday, July 13th.

Scheuerman is troubled about what language may emerge from the subcommittee that could have negative consequences for higher education. “There needs to be increased accountability standards for the management of financial aid, not weaker standards,” Scheuerman said. “The House should do everything in its power to make sure that government funds go only to institutions of quality and integrity, instead of squandering money that could find its way into the hands of ripoff artists,” Scheuerman emphasized.          

Proponents of for-profit proprietary institutions are seeking to reduce restrictions on their eligibility for federal aid, despite allegations of fraud and abuse. Specifically, they are asking Congress to:

• Lift the cap on the “50 percent rule” which requires that no more than 50 percent of courses can be taught online;

• Lift the cap on the “90/10 rule” which requires that institutions receiving federal aid must have at least 10 percent of their income coming from non-federal sources;

• Create a single definition of higher education institution, making for-profits eligible for Title III funding, which provides institutional aid to institutions that serve minorities.        

In a joint statement sent to Congress, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association (NEA) oppose “a change in the definition of an ‘institution of higher education’ that would allow for-profit institutions to participate in the total range of federal higher education programs, not just student aid.”              

Scheuerman also calls on Congress to reject proposals that would police academic integrity. “Congress shouldn’t use this as an opportunity to ideologically meddle in the affairs of higher learning,” Scheuerman said, adding that “government doesn’t belong in the classroom and students are better served by a free flow of ideas without fear of intimidation or reprisals.”

Scheuerman says AFT, NEA and UUP are mobilizing their members to call or fax their elected representatives in the House on Wednesday urging them to reject the “academic freedom” proposal and the proposal to soften financial aid funding qualifications for for-profit, proprietary schools. “This is a critical time to convey our message and concern,” Scheuerman said.

Scheuerman said the unions also want to ensure the revised Higher Education Reauthorization Act includes:

• Increasing the size of Pell Grants, so students are not overburdened with loan debt;

• Maintaining funding for educational opportunities for an increasingly diverse student population;

• Bolstering funding and resources for teacher preparation.    

 

 

UUP represents more then 34,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 New York State-operated campuses, and is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).    

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