News You Need to Know: Daily Roundup, Fri., Oct. 6th

Pelosi discusses Democrats plan to increase the affordability of higher education

In a speech yesterday, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, promised to make higher education more affordable if the Democratic Party retakes control of the House. She criticized the Republicans for cutting federal student aid and increasing interest rates on student loans. The Democrats plan, A New Direction for America, includes three strategies to expand college access: establishing a 100-percent tax credit for tuition of up to $3,000, cutting student loan interest rates to 3.4 percent for loans taken out by students and 4.25 percent for those taken out by parents, and increasing the maximum Pell Grant by 25 percent to $5,100. These proposals have a substantially greater likelihood of being realized if Democrats take majority control of the U.S. Senate as well.

College admissions counselors debate SAT-optional admissions

Counselors at the National Association for College Admission Counselings (NACAC) national conference have been discussing the pros and cons of eliminating the SAT as a requirement for admission. Data from some schools has shown that their students SAT scores do not correlate to academic achievement levels in college. Schools such as Bates College, Lewis & Clark College, Franklin & Marshall College, and Drew University have all ended the SAT requirement, and some have also adopted alternative evaluation approaches, such as portfolios with graded high school work. Interest in making the SAT optional is growing, as colleges question whether the test actually measures the characteristics associated with college success. But high school students should not hold their breaths. The SAT and ACT are still used by more than 95% of selective colleges and universities.

More state universities recruit private funds

As state funding for higher education has slowed or been cut in recent years, state universities are looking for new sources of funds. Schools without strong fundraising traditions are attempting to increase private donations from alumni, community members, and private businesses with new, comprehensive fundraising campaigns. The challenge for state schools is convincing potential private funding sources that public universities need their assistance, as states are not fulfilling their traditional role as funders.