Abstract
The federal government's role in supporting higher education touches nearly every aspect of the work performed by American colleges and universities. Federal authorities control an immense amount of public resources that are used to strategically exert influence across a complex and differentiated postsecondary system. This report is intended to introduce faculty and administrators within that system to key domains of federal higher education law. The authors want to raise awareness about issues that are likely to receive attention under the current presidential administration and the 114th Congress, especially in light of the HEA's impending reauthorization. In the report, the authors explain key provisions of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and Title IX and make selected policy recommendations. The specific issues addressed in the report--financial aid, college readiness, for-profit college regulation, and Title IX--were chosen for their relevance to the mission of the Pullias Center for Higher Education, which is established on a commitment to improving college access, affordability, and outcomes for marginalized student populations, including first-generation, low-to-moderate income, and students of color. With these commitments in mind, the authors believe a few principles must be maintained or strengthened as foundations for federal higher education law: (1) Equal opportunity to learn and equal protection under the law; (2) Evidence-based policy; and (3) Consumer protection.