[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6229958,"mediaKeyId","3443666-3dca1c9e416b665376d6064a1a6faee4","parentId",3443666,"title","Witnesses debate DEI, campus culture and the role of faith‑based colleges amid concerns about antisemitism","audioSeconds",1323,"startMs",983000,"endMs",2306000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3443666-3dca1c9e416b665376d6064a1a6faee4&start=983&end=2306","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3443666-3dca1c9e416b665376d6064a1a6faee4/thumbnail_983000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6229958/Witnesses-debate-DEI-campus-culture-and-the-role-of-faithbased-colleges-amid-concerns-about-antisemitism","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229958-7d1d2005be4914fda156b1dafae52606/orig.mp4?Expires=1773990723&Signature=eetGjapQ07tnjJUg-Y4OP-707FBAeOVa1Lf6lwiCJlxTnr4jIlaPhhNZZRJg9lXby9TXm8KrQcvHiF6jXGnpnn6IpswygV6JRBdPvKr-OgiYS2QkD0XOu0DbjSQjiR3vDM5OKI~CuPLlnzpmSWqzLr5MRPkU~xa2dSbWpwJfwiP5fu1u1ai6a2usoYrVxRC0TjCjXA80zzQARp~o3F0f4wjr6eL8T~cEehoU4WKLW2TNwcs0yN2N16UYsGnQqiu9A8FCBzhJQTyiDW5wb2CNWQyzbTGZ9y~MhM12ROeUNaC3JHzJPtyTYDHc7tDuWCsq~aKAJkuA2KbB2CfmGQAr7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","Senators and presidents at the Senate HELP Committee hearing debated whether diversity, equity and inclusion programs and campus political culture are weakening public trust in higher education and discussed recent antisemitism concerns at some institutions.

Senator Bill Cassidy opened the hearing by saying the higher education system \"has lost its purpose\" in some respects and criticized diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) spending and campus political polarization, noting that some reports show institutions spend on administrative staff to promote DEI. Cassidy told witnesses that Harvard University declined the committee's invitation to testify about recent antisemitism reports.

Michael Lindsey, president of Taylor University, told the committee that many campuses have \"grown rich but rudderless\" and that his Christian liberal‑arts institution has sought to combine moral formation with student development. \"American higher education has lost the trust of the people it's intended to serve,\" Lindsey said. He described Taylor's emphasis on shared foundational documents, expanded teaching‑learning centers and community investment, including a local revitalization initiative he said would generate housing, trails and business development in Taylor's hometown.

Why it matters: Senators from both parties raised campus safety and freedom‑of‑expression questions amid high‑profile incidents of antisemitism at multiple colleges. Witnesses representing faith‑based and historically Black institutions urged policies that preserve access while ensuring campuses protect students and demonstrate results in training and employment.

Discussion vs. decision: The session recorded witness testimony and senator questions without any formal committee action. Senators emphasized differing views on admissions standards and mission‑driven institutional approaches and asked witnesses how to balance pluralism, academic freedom and institutional values.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","The State of Higher Education ","oneSentenceSummary","Senators and several college presidents discussed campus culture, diversity‑equity‑inclusion programs, accusations of ideological capture and recent antisemitism controversies; President Michael Lindsey described Taylor University's approach stressing values, student formation and community engagement.","taxTitle","Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1995,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6229963,"Austin Community College chancellor: free tuition and flexible Pell eligibility can expand workforce pathways",370,2840000,3210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3443666-3dca1c9e416b665376d6064a1a6faee4&start=2840&end=3210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3443666-3dca1c9e416b665376d6064a1a6faee4/thumbnail_2840000.jpg","/articles/6229963/Austin-Community-College-chancellor-free-tuition-and-flexible-Pell-eligibility-can-expand-workforce-pathways","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229963-5389f722a36d4e0b4f4d9856456fa160/orig.mp4?Expires=1773990723&Signature=NAewt4v0iKvj~a063lt5khd27F1hXyY371rwWpWh4v9vswYEnEGwupoUg~-vA~GLBq9f7WTOLxbkrzWvNJg5UpmyW3dIsAbePTw3Cj3XdtwpLf95gn~Iy981dPEWoPJtJ7H4XOFIrnCAgnU33NLFgIUFE6LVGnNqWkMreivy5HGLxr9sTDjx-LtRrKTv6ECsRK~7H6ZaEPQVuSaVBTs5XAyokorEqpIemv~D-xLt43GUk~Ixrn3qCcX4XzfalxTa0jTyXfMLVvJIllgDR4RxaTvyM9jSUbb~oi0USgGeZRzdF1nDGJcXiaSmViTeJbE54EOiiDvMcG~MPISNSqgPFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Russell Lowery Hart, chancellor of Austin Community College, told the Senate HELP Committee that community colleges are the nation's primary workforce education institutions and urged federal support for flexible financial aid and stronger transfer pathways.

\"Our average student is named Ashley,\" Hart said, describing a typical student as a 27‑year‑old working parent attending part time and vulnerable to small financial shocks. He said Austin Community College serves 70,000 students across a territory larger than some states and has not raised tuition in 12 years; the district's free‑tuition program produced a roughly 40% increase in enrollment, Hart said.

Hart urged Congress to expand Pell eligibility and make aid flexible for short‑term and stackable credentials that lead directly to family‑sustaining jobs. He said part‑time Pell and credit‑transfer barriers are immediate threats: Hart told senators that 5,000 Austin Community College students taking 6–7 credit hours could lose Pell access under certain proposed changes, and he outlined data showing many community‑college students face food and housing insecurity.

Why it matters: Senators and witnesses agreed that improving credit transfer, dual‑enrollment alignment and short‑term Pell access could reduce time‑to‑degree, lower costs and supply the skilled workers employers seek. Hart described partnerships with employers such as Samsung and Tesla as examples of how colleges connect training to local labor demand.

Discussion vs. decision: The hearing captured testimony and questions but produced no formal committee directives. Senators from both parties expressed interest in bipartisan proposals such as the JOBS Act and short‑term Pell pilots.","Russell Lowery Hart told senators that Austin Community College's free tuition program raised enrollment and supports workforce training; he urged flexible Pell eligibility for part‑time and short‑term credential programs and better credit transfer systems.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6229968,"Tuskegee president warns Pell and parent/graduate loan cuts would shrink access, harm regional economy",396,2440000,2836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3443666-3dca1c9e416b665376d6064a1a6faee4&start=2440&end=2836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3443666-3dca1c9e416b665376d6064a1a6faee4/thumbnail_2440000.jpg","/articles/6229968/Tuskegee-president-warns-Pell-and-parentgraduate-loan-cuts-would-shrink-access-harm-regional-economy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229968-c21e63fc80ffe1bf5b7b865ec0816b04/orig.mp4?Expires=1773990723&Signature=X-SMJGxyYV0upbZSg7OsEgrGtFWWlmzcj9CPndC3-AiktfE00IBS8ylvtblOKINBEo803SciG2auaU5a-aRFaaL3LJeDSw87O49BtwfPNzmFx~~gU7-i5H-gP29pCW6yORAd9wePhVxgbyJrw6h31-gSsL~gQpZ6l8QstMCX9DN07V16c9tuL3QHQ6O9Ig~ZZ0TQy4rWQ~s7d~o3QYa3Uu5GXlii0dfDZCOaOraHUEx3xP~FzCJzOskDeW2EoUpNeWy8l8n6YdkPxYz~qFh0301AN1B~jFkymGv4D2vGMVRbFMNNo9dLbIOsdy2oS4JsdYa3VMRxZvOhR8Hte0EXuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mark A. Brown, president of Tuskegee University, told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions that Pell Grants and federal loan programs are essential to his campus and to the broader region's workforce.

\"These programs are not luxuries, but necessities for our students,\" Brown said, describing how federal aid supports students in veterinary medicine, engineering and other critical fields and citing university figures for the 2024–25 academic year.

Brown told senators that Tuskegee processed about $22,000,000 in federal loans in the referenced academic year, including roughly $5,000,000 in Graduate PLUS loans, $10,000,000 in Parent PLUS loans and about $5,300,000 in subsidized loans. He said Pell Grants now cover about $7,395 annually for eligible students and that Pell's purchasing power has declined: at an average four‑year public college Pell covered roughly 31% of costs compared with 79% in 1975, as Brown noted.

Brown also described Tuskegee's local economic footprint: citing a 2024 report, he said the university generates approximately $237,100,000 in total economic impact for Alabama and supports more than 2,064 jobs.

Why it matters: Brown warned that cutting Pell or capping student loans without clear alternatives would reduce college access for high‑need students and could impede supply of professionals in critical fields. He urged lawmakers to preserve need‑based funding and to align federal assistance with evidence‑based gainful‑employment outcomes.

Discussion vs. decision: The hearing recorded testimony and questions; senators pressed for specifics on how proposed federal changes would affect HBCU students and institutional finances. No committee action or votes were taken.","Tuskegee University President Mark A. Brown told the Senate HELP Committee that reductions to Pell Grants or elimination of Graduate PLUS or Parent PLUS without alternatives would limit access to graduate and professional training and reduce the university's regional economic impact.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6229973,"Witnesses urge caps, program-level accountability and accreditation reform to curb rising college costs",351,1699000,2050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3443666-3dca1c9e416b665376d6064a1a6faee4&start=1699&end=2050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3443666-3dca1c9e416b665376d6064a1a6faee4/thumbnail_1699000.jpg","/articles/6229973/Witnesses-urge-caps-program-level-accountability-and-accreditation-reform-to-curb-rising-college-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229973-bd880885c7a22e70564a19bf1a53eef5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773990723&Signature=knT8OlKVQ28BMGs~eIdiJoPuKNVnJ90OVtxlTZC444f1y1vsVFYYGwFHr4ZtYS-MuKdN~TaVLxkgRdlVts7jKjK9Egkb6~byK5iCb~HCPFHMDvnp4QFAoW8OHFRMEXL0ILI8l~i8T3CpUaTM6E1ZS9TURnNTD8OdMm9-JylEtngQQtz50gfTdQbnWUcqh-dVAyUJlzADLVhPhFOvIGRT5tCJPeyURvBerOcuGGg0wFFAVkZFive9tdoYoi0f0BqJcXbwskeqQzAkuksKfySaqqaErj60D0MlvLrk9r1EbH~pyA6GZKJzTaFoE0mLJul0K6qAAzw9~2A07XqGR8~6PA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Gillen, a researcher with an independent policy organization, told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions that Congress should cap uncapped federal loan programs, base aid eligibility on a median cost measure and hold programs — not just institutions — accountable for graduates' labor-market outcomes.

Those changes, Gillen said, would blunt incentives that he and other witnesses said have helped push tuition higher while leaving too many students with degrees that do not pay off. \"We can completely neuter that. We can sever that link, by using the median cost of college,\" Gillen told the committee when describing how a median-based aid benchmark would break the link between institutional price increases and higher federal aid.

Why it matters: Committee members opened the hearing by citing steep tuition growth and studies showing that a sizable share of degree programs deliver negative returns on investment, a concern witnesses tied to both student debt burdens and inefficient public spending.

Gillen recommended several policy changes that surfaced repeatedly in the hearing: capping certain federal loan programs (witnesses contrasted capped Pell and undergraduates loans with uncapped Parent PLUS and Graduate PLUS); using program-level accountability metrics such as repayment and employment outcomes; and pairing sticks (sanctions) with carrots (bonuses or regulatory relief) so high-performing programs face fewer accreditation burdens.

On accountability metrics, Gillen emphasized repayment measures and relative performance rather than fixed numerical cutoffs. \"Repayment rates...actually makes the most sense. It's most logical accountability metric for student loans,\" he said. He also defended risk-sharing proposals in which institutions would absorb a portion of loan losses when former students default, saying those proposals would prevent institutions from \"profiting from offering an education that leaves the student and the taxpayers worse off.\"

Witnesses also raised accreditation as a barrier to innovation. Gillen told senators accreditation currently \"directs giant barriers to entry for new colleges\" and forces institutions to use similar inputs and processes, suppressing new program models and competition. He urged reforms to focus accreditor attention on measurable student outcomes rather than prescriptive inputs.

Discussion vs. decision: The committee heard testimony and questions but took no formal votes or adopted policy. Senators and witnesses debated trade-offs — for example, how to protect access if Parent PLUS or Graduate PLUS loans are capped — and several panelists recommended alternatives such as expanding Pell eligibility or redirecting aid rather than eliminating it.

The committee requested further information and will accept questions for the record; witnesses said they stand ready to provide data and technical proposals for program-level metrics and risk-sharing formulas.","At a Senate HELP Committee hearing, a higher-education researcher urged caps on uncapped federal loans, program-level accountability tied to labor-market outcomes, and accreditation reform to spur competition and innovation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Witnesses debate DEI, campus culture and the role of faith‑based colleges amid concerns about antisemitism

Austin Community College chancellor: free tuition and flexible Pell eligibility can expand workforce pathways

Tuskegee president warns Pell and parent/graduate loan cuts would shrink access, harm regional economy

Witnesses urge caps, program-level accountability and accreditation reform to curb rising college costs