Hillary Clinton & Higher Education
Senator Clinton's Positions on Issues Important to College Students
Apr 17, 2008
How do the major 2008 U.S. presidential candidates stand on higher education issues? Here's a summary of the positions of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Financial Aid
Senator Clinton is a strong advocate of programs to make college more affordable for college students. On her campaign website, Clinton says, "I believe that college shouldn’t just be a privilege for the wealthy – but an opportunity for anyone with the talent, determination and ambition to learn. And I believe that every American should have access to lifelong learning opportunities – from apprenticeships, to community college, to the most select four-year institutions." [1]
Clinton's financial aid proposals include:
- Tax credit. Senator Clinton supports a partially-refundable $3500 tax credit to help pay for a student's college education. Taxpayers will be able to claim the first $1000 in expenses, along with 50% of the next $5000. Under this proposal, families will be able to receive this money when tuition is due.
- Pell Grants. Senator Clinton supports annually increasing the maximum Pell Grant award to adjust for inflation.
- Application process. Clinton wants to eliminate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is five pages and 127 questions long. Instead, she wants parents (or students, if they are not dependents) to be able to check off a box on their federal tax forms if they want to be considered for financial aid.
- Student Borrower's Bill of Rights. Senator Clinton has proposed legislation to make loans more affordable to students and to prevent exploitation from student loan companies. The legislation would cap a student's monthly payment if their income is low and give students more information about fees and available lenders.
- Expansion of AmeriCorp benefits. Clinton wants to significantly increase the awards given to students who participate in AmeriCorp, a network of community service organizations.
College Accountability
Senator Clinton has a three-part plan to to make schools more accountable for success and expenses:
- An index of college graduation rates and post-graduation employment rates
- A new online Higher Education Cost Calender to give students and parents a realistic estimate of the total cost of college expenses
- A Truth in Tuition Disclosure, which will require schools to set multi-year tuition and fee rates for students as they enter college, so they and their families can plan for the next four years
In addition, Clinton plans to create a $250 million incentive fund to help colleges improve their graduation rates, especially among low-income and minority students.
Non-Traditional Student Success Act
Senator Clinton has proposed this legislation, which makes it easier for non-traditional students (include first-generation college students of all ages) to attend college. The legislation makes it easier for part time students to get financial aid, and it makes it easier for working students to get financial aid without losing a large portion of their earnings.
Community Colleges
Clinton proposes that $500 million be invested in community colleges to help improve graduation rates, and to help create partnerships between four-year and two-year colleges that would make it easier for junior college students to transfer credits.
A New GI Bill
Clinton has proposed a new GI Bill that would provide full tuition and fees, along with a living allowance, for students who have completed four active years of service in the military.
The DREAM Act
Clinton was a co-sponsor of legislation supporting the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. The DREAM Act would give children of undocumented workers who have been in the United States for a substantial period of time the opportunity to attend college and receive student loans and work study funds (although not Pell Grants).
Sources
1] Expanding Access to the American Dream: Hillary Clinton's Plan to Make College Affordable for American Families. Hillary for President Website, 10/11/2007
[2] Higher Education. Hillary Rodham Clinton's U.S. Senate Website, 2007.
See also:
Barack Obama & Higher Education
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