In early March, I joined over 100 career education leaders in Washington, D.C. for CECU’s annual Washington Briefing and Advocacy Day. Held at the Capitol Hill Club, the event offered a timely look at the future of higher education policy, with robust participation from members of Congress, policy experts, and institutional leaders. Day one featured remarks from prominent lawmakers who play central roles in shaping federal education policy:
- Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, emphasized the need to address regulatory overreach and highlighted the importance of expanding short-term Pell eligibility.
- Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, voiced strong support for eliminating outdated regulations that hinder student access and institutional innovation.
- Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT) and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) brought forward their perspectives on ensuring a level playing field for all institutions in the higher education ecosystem.
In addition to congressional speakers, the event featured several key policy discussions:
- Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, offered insight into the impact of federal budget dynamics on education funding.
- Jonathan Fansmith, Senior Vice President at ACE, provided an overview of the current political environment and how it affects all sectors of higher education.
- Jed Brinton, CECU’s SVP and General Counsel, led an in-depth session on Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDR), the Bare Minimum Rule, and Gainful Employment—all critical for compliance teams to monitor.
- A panel on the workforce skills gap included voices from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, SkillsUSA, and the Bipartisan Policy Center, reinforcing the role of career colleges in bridging economic and labor divides.
- A standout session by Lightcast showcased the power of ROI data and analytics in shaping both institutional strategy and federal policy priorities.
Five Key Policy Priorities That Resonated Across the Aisle
Throughout our meetings with over 120 congressional offices, we found bipartisan interest in learning more about several of CECU’s top policy priorities. While perspectives varied, there was a shared openness to meaningful dialogue and greater understanding—especially on how these issues affect students in underserved communities and the institutions that support them.
Here are the five key initiatives CECU is advancing:
1. Risk-Sharing Formula Reform
CECU strongly opposes the proposed risk-sharing formula tied to Title IV programs. As currently written, the formula could penalize institutions that serve low-income and nontraditional students by failing to account for socioeconomic factors in student loan repayment. This is not just a funding issue—it’s a matter of fairness.
2. Repeal of the 90/10 Rule
The 90/10 Rule applies only to proprietary institutions and fails its attempt to serve as a proxy for program quality. Legislators from both sides expressed interest in reconsidering whether the rule—especially in its current form—serves the interests of students or taxpayers. Specifically, they were interested to learn about how 90/10 can inflate tuition costs to students. CECU supports the Ensuring Distance Education Act (H.R. 1174) to help clarify revenue definitions under the rule.
3. Expansion of Pell Grants to Short-Term Programs
There was strong bipartisan interest in expanding access to short-term Pell Grants—particularly in light of labor shortages in high-demand fields like healthcare, skilled trades, and transportation. The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act and the amended JOBS Act offer clear pathways to make this a reality.
4. Restoring the 150% Rule for Clock Hour Programs
The Department of Education’s recent regulation to limit course lengths to the “bare minimum” required by states has caused concern. Legislators appreciated hearing how the 150% Rule provides institutions the flexibility to deliver more comprehensive training. CECU supports the Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act (H.R. 1176) to restore that flexibility.
5. Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
CECU continues to advocate for modernizing the Higher Education Act, which hasn’t been reauthorized in over a decade. A key priority is the creation of common accountability metrics that are fair, outcomes-focused, and reflective of the diverse populations career colleges serve.
Department of Education Changes: What’s on Everyone’s Mind
Underlying all these discussions are sweeping regulatory changes from the Department of Education. Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDR), Gainful Employment, and the “Bare Minimum” Rule were all hot topics. CECU’s legal and government affairs teams emphasized that these policies could have far-reaching financial and reputational impacts—especially for schools already serving vulnerable student populations.
As CECU’s official statement notes, the current regulatory climate threatens to reduce access to education for the very communities most in need of affordable, career-ready pathways. Auditors must stay informed and proactive, aligning compliance and reporting frameworks to support institutional resilience in this uncertain landscape.
Key Takeaways for Higher Education Auditors
From an auditing perspective, the policy discussions at Advocacy Day underscored several themes worth monitoring:
- Regulatory Volatility: Institutions should prepare for fast-moving shifts in policy, particularly around program accountability and financial risk exposure.
- Data Integrity: With ROI and repayment metrics playing a growing role in policy, auditors must ensure systems are equipped to produce clean, accurate, and consistent data.
- Financial Strategy: Changes to Pell Grant eligibility and loan caps may affect budgeting and financial aid planning, especially for institutions with high Pell populations.
Stay Ahead of Regulatory Changes with McClintock & Associates
As the landscape of higher education policy evolves, institutions must proactively adapt to new regulations and financial risks.
Connect with us today to schedule a consultation and take a proactive approach to protecting your institution and your students.
