(from Forbes):
By Thomas K. Lindsay
Assuming that the campaign promises found in each of the two major parties’ official platforms will guide the policies of whichever of the two presidential candidates is elected, what will this year’s presidential election mean for higher education?
The Democratic Party Platform begins with the admonition that “a college degree or another form of post-secondary education is increasingly required for jobs that pay a middle-class wage.” However, it adds, “graduation rates have stagnated for low-income students, and tuition hyperinflation “has required too many Americans to take out staggering student loans or put a degree out of reach entirely.”
Its solution? “Making debt-free college a reality for all Americans.” Arguing that “money should never stand in the way” and “debt should never hold you back after you graduate,” the platform calls for “new investments by the federal government, coupled with states reinvesting in higher education and colleges holding the line on costs.” Not only should “every student be able to go to college debt-free,” but also “working families should not have to pay any tuition to go to public colleges and universities.” CONTINUE READING HERE