Hosts Jon and Mushtaq are joined by special repeat guest Justin Draeger, president and CEO of NASFAA, to talk about the Education Department’s flawed rollout of the new FAFSA form and the implications for students and colleges as well as what happens next. They also dive into the proposed legislation that would extend Pell Grants to short-term career training programs.  

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected]. 

House Committee Approves Bills on Short-Term Pell, WIOA Reauthorization American Council on Education | Dec. 18, 2023

Department of Education Announces Steps to Make Better FAFSA® More Readily Accessible Diverse: Issues In Higher Education | Feb. 13, 2024

Education Department Says FAFSA Fix Is Coming for Social Security Issue USA Today | Feb. 20, 2024

OPINION: Every FAFSA Delay Puts College Further Out of Reach The New York Times (sub. req.) | Feb. 8, 2024

Extending Enrollment and Financial Aid Deadlines American Council on Education

ACE’s Emmanual Guillory, senior director of government relations, joins hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer to talk about the College Cost Reduction Act—the new Higher Education Act reauthorization bill from House Republicans—as well as the status of funding the federal government for FY 2024 and the latest on the Department of Education’s problematic FAFSA rollout.

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected]. 

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

Senate Republicans Officially Block Foreign Aid Bill With Border Changes Politico | Feb. 7, 2024

House Committee Advances GOP Plan to Overhaul Higher Ed Inside Higher Ed | Feb. 1, 2024

Summary: The College Cost Reduction Act American Council on Education | Jan. 19, 2024

College Cost Transparency Initiative

Millions of College Students in Limbo After Aid Application Information Is Delayed Until March NBC News | Jan. 30, 2024

Some Colleges Are Pivoting as FAFSA Delays Drag On The New York Times (sub. req.) | Feb. 8, 2024

Extending Enrollment and Financial Aid Deadlines American Council on Education

Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education 2023-2024 U.S. Department of Education

Nicholas Dirks joins Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq to discuss his new book City of Intellect and his time as chancellor of University of California, Berkeley. Dirks offers insights on critical campus issues like working with state governments and balancing free speech with safety. The hosts kick off the episode with an update on the problems with the Education Department’s new FAFSA form. 

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected]. 

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

Fixing Error in FAFSA Application Adds Another Delay, Education Dept. Says The Washington Post | Jan. 30, 2024 

Colleges Should EXTENDMAY1 Decision Deadline Amid FAFSA Delays, Higher Ed Groups Say Higher Ed Dive | Feb. 1, 2024 

Education Department Announces ‘FAFSA College Support Strategy.’ Here’s What It Involves. The Chronicle of Higher Education | Feb. 5, 2024 

House Education Committee Approves College Cost Reduction Act American Council on Education | Feb. 5, 2024 

City of Intellect: The Uses and Abuses of the University  Nicholas Dirks

‘A Roller-Coaster Ride From Start to Finish’  Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 30, 2024 

The Latest on Campus Cuts   Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 8, 2023 

‘America Is Under Attack’: Inside the Anti-D.E.I. Crusade The New York Times | Jan. 20, 2024

Amid Violence, Yiannopoulos Speech at Berkeley Canceled Inside Higher Ed | Feb. 1, 2017 

Amid National Backlash, Colleges Brace for Fresh Wave of Anti-DEI Legislation The Chronicle of Higher Education | Jan. 16, 2024 

In the first dotEDU Live of 2024, hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer discuss how the 2024 presidential election might impact higher education. They also delve into problems with the new FAFSA, the latest House Higher Education Act reauthorization bill, short-term Pell, and more.  

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected]. 

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

House Dysfunction by the Numbers: 724 Votes, Only 27 Laws Enacted  The New York Times | Dec. 29, 2023    Higher Education in Political Crosshairs as 2024 Election Heats Up  Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 16, 2024    FAFSA Rollout Off to a Rocky Start  The Washington Post | Jan. 2, 2024    House, Senate Pass Short-Term Bill Averting Government Shutdown Until March  The Washington Post | Jan. 18, 2024    Ed Dept Funding Levels Maintained as Biden Signs 3rd Stopgap for FY 24  Higher Ed Dive | Jan. 22, 2024    House Republicans to Broaden Higher Education Inquiry Beyond Antisemitism  The New York Times | Jan. 5, 2024    Growing Number of Colleges Face Federal Investigations for Antisemitism  Insight into Diversity | Jan. 19, 2024    The College Cost Reduction Act: What You Need to Know  American Council on Education | Jan. 19, 2024    House Committee Approves Bills on Short-Term Pell, WIOA Reauthorization  American Council on Education | Dec. 18, 2023    2 Final Title IX Regulations Will Likely Be Delayed — Again  Higher Ed Dive | Jan. 19, 2024    How a Fishery Case Fits into a Long-Game Effort to Sap Regulation of Business  The New York Times | Jan. 17, 2024 

As higher education enters the new year under heightened scrutiny from legislators, campuses are getting back to business. Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq are thrilled to speak with ACE Board member and American University President Sylvia Burwell as she prepares to finish out her final year at the helm of the Washington, DC, campus. She talks about the challenges she faced during her tenure and what she thinks are the biggest changes higher ed has faced over that time.

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected]. 

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

Congress Has a Deal to Fund the Government and Not Much Time to Pass It The Washington Post (sub. req.) | Jan 7, 2024

House Republicans Plot Swift Impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas as Moderates Signal Support CNN | Jan. 7, 2024

The Big Questions Looming Over the Iowa Caucuses: Here’s What to Expect The New York Times (sub. req.) | Jan. 9, 2024

Claudine Gay: What Just Happened at Harvard Is Bigger Than Me The New York Times (sub. req.) | Jan. 3, 2024

American University President to Step Down After the Coming School Year The Washington Post (sub. req.) | Aug. 8, 2023

College Presidents Are Still Overwhelmingly White Men Higher Ed Dive | April 14, 2023

Most New Presidents at Top Research Universities Are Now Women The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) | May 31, 2023

AU Launches ‘Change Can’t Wait’ $500 Million Comprehensive Fundraising Campaign American University | May 12, 2021

Changemakers for a Changing World American University

AU Welcomes District Scholars American University | June 2, 2020

In the final episode of the year, hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer discuss the top higher education issues of 2023. The overarching theme is working through the chaos in Washington, and the lineup includes student loan forgiveness, the Supreme Court’s decision on race in admissions, institutional accountability, the uptick in international students, and more.

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected].

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy to Exit Congress, Along With a Flock of Other Lawmakers Nevada Current | Dec. 6, 2023

After House Hearing on Campus Antisemitism, College Presidents Are Under Fire NPR | Dec. 8, 2023

A New Legal Blitz on Affirmative Action Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 20, 2023

Reforming Higher Education, One Bill at a Time Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 9, 2023

House Committee to Mark Up Short-Term Pell Grant Bill ACE | Dec. 11, 2023

Summary: The DETERRENT Act ACE | Nov. 9, 2023

Letter to the State Department on Visa Interview Waivers ACE | Dec. 8, 2023

A ‘Near-Record’ International Student Surge Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 13, 2023

Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq are thrilled to mark the 100th episode milestone of dotEDU! Also, ACE President Ted Mitchell joins Mushtaq and Jon to dive into the upcoming changes to the renowned Carnegie Classifications along with Timothy Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected].

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

Carnegie Classifications To Make Major Changes in How Colleges and Universities Are Grouped and Recognized, Set Clear Threshold for Highest Level of Research  American Council on Education | Nov. 1, 2023    A New Approach to Categorizing Colleges  Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 1, 2023    Changes to the Next Iteration of the Carnegie Classifications: We Want Your Feedback  Carnegie Classifications | Nov. 1, 2023     The Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education Announce Partnership on the Carnegie Classifications for Institutions of Higher Education  American Council on Education | Feb. 9, 2022 

Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer are joined by their ACE colleague Steven Bloom to discuss how the never-ending threats of a government shutdown are impacting funding legislation for higher education. They look at the Education Department’s proposed timeline for the new FAFSA and what’s left for Congress to deal with after the Thanksgiving holiday, and Steven shares insight into the Department of Labor’s proposed policy to switch up overtime pay requirements.

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected].

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

House Passes Funding Bill To Avert Government Shutdown The Washington Post (sub. req.) | Nov. 14, 2023 

House Education Budget Cuts Federal Work-Study, Other Programs  Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 7, 2023 

Colleges Predict Tuition Increases, Layoffs Under Proposed Overtime Rule Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 13, 2023 

House Republicans Blame DEI Programs for Rise in Campus Antisemitism Inside Higher Ed | Nov. 15, 2023 

Overhaul of Widely Used College Financial Aid Form Could Make it a 10-Minute Process ABC News | Nov. 15, 2023 

Final Title IX Rules Delayed Once More as Education Department Misses Deadline Higher Ed Dive | Nov. 1, 2023 

College Hazing Under Scrutiny in New Bipartisan Legislation USA Today | Oct. 24, 2023 

Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of San José State University, joins the podcast to talk about her first year at the California campus in the heart of Silicon Valley, particularly how to create equitable spaces at public institutions. But first, ACE President Ted Mitchell talks about campus protests over the war in Israel and Gaza and how presidents are responding.

Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or [email protected].

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

Fear and Anger Spread on Campuses as Protesters’ Rhetoric and Actions Escalate Inside Higher Ed | Oct. 27, 2023

Biden Administration Announces Measures to Combat Antisemitism on U.S. Campuses CBS News | Oct. 30, 2023

Carnegie Classifications to Make Major Changes in How Colleges and Universities Are Grouped and Recognized, Set Clear Threshold for Highest Level of Research ACE | Nov. 1, 2023

Cynthia Teniente-Matson Appointed President of San José State University The California State University| Nov. 16, 2022

Deep Dive in Five With SJSU Cares San José State University | Nov. 8, 2022

Silicon Valley’s Vast Wealth Disparity Deepens as Poverty Increased Cal Matters | Feb. 27, 2023

Report: Silicon Valley Latinos face ongoing struggles San José Spotlight | June 13, 2023

ACE Comments on How Campuses Are Using AI And the Role of Government Oversight American Council on Education | Sept. 22, 2023

Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer discuss the House speaker race and its implications for the packed agenda—such as the ongoing spending battle—in Congress, as well as its impact on the Biden administration. Then Heidi Tseu, ACE’s newly appointed assistant vice president of national engagement, drops by to talk about the increased scrutiny higher education is facing at the state level.  

Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

Jordan Defeated Again for Speaker as Republican Stalemate Deepens The New York Times (sub. req.) | Oct. 18, 2023

As House Goes Into Second Weekend Without New Speaker, Moderate House Democrats Propose Expanding Temporary Speaker’s Powers CBS News | Oct. 15, 2023

Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education 2023-2024 U.S. Department of Education

Ed Department: Mass Loan Cancellation Is off the Table Inside Higher Ed | Oct. 11, 2023

Education Department Offers More Insights Into New Debt Relief Plan Inside Higher Ed | Oct. 12, 2023

House Bill Would Overhaul Foreign Gift Reporting Requirements Inside Higher Ed | Oct. 12, 2023

ACE Launches Office on National Engagement ACE | Sept. 11, 2023