College Completion News

U.S. Department of Education Awards More Than $9.2 Million to Institutions of Higher Education for Emergency Management Planning

Institutions of higher education in 17 new sites will be able to develop or review and improve, and fully integrate their emergency management planning efforts as a result of more than $9.2 million in Emergency Management for Higher Education (EMHE) grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Department on Track to Implement Gainful Employment Regulations; New Schedule Provides Additional Time to Consider Extensive Public Input

The Department of Education today announced that it is on schedule to implement new regulations of the for-profit education sector dealing with gainful employment and 13 other issues to protect students and taxpayers. The regulations will be released in two phases.

College "An Attainable Dream," Says New Spanish-Language Video

The U.S. Department of Education today released a new video produced especially for Spanish-speaking families that shows how going to college is more attainable and more affordable than ever before.

Dr. Jill Biden Announces Date of First-Ever White House Summit on Community Colleges

Washington, D.C. — The White House announced today that Dr. Jill Biden will convene the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010. President Obama asked Dr. Biden to chair this event to highlight the critical role that community colleges play in developing America's workforce and reaching our educational goals.

College-Ready Students and Student-Ready Colleges: Remarks of Deputy Secretary Tony Miller at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Conference

Thank you, Thelma, for that generous introduction. I am delighted and honored to be here in Secretary Duncan's place. He has always enjoyed the opportunity to speak and meet with HBCU presidents. He sends his regrets that he could not join you. But I know that improving the education of all students—but especially for students of color--is never far from his mind.

Student Loan Default Rates Increase

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that the FY 2008 national cohort default rate is 7.0 percent, up from the FY 2007 rate of 6.7 percent. The default rates increased from 5.9 to 6 percent for public institutions, from 3.7 to 4 percent for private institutions, and from 11 to 11.6 percent for for-profit schools.

Proposed Rule Links Federal Student Aid to Loan Repayment Rates and Debt-to-Earnings Levels for Career College Graduates

The Obama Administration released today its proposed regulations requiring for-profit career colleges to better prepare students for "gainful employment" or risk losing access to federal student aid. The proposed rules seek to protect students from taking on unsustainable debt they cannot repay and to protect taxpayers from high loan default rates.

The Win-Win Solution: Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks at the Council of Chief State School Officers and State Higher Education Executive Officers' 2010 Joint Summer Meeting

Thank you, Paul and Gene, for that generous introduction. Your leadership, commitment, and courage have been absolutely extraordinary. I can't thank you enough for your hard work and partnership.

I'm excited to join you here this morning at CCSSO and SHEEO's first joint meeting. This conference marks the flowering of an important collaboration that should be celebrated.

Under Secretary Martha J. Kanter's Remarks at the Excelsior College Commencement

President Ebersole, Chairman Yepp, distinguished guests, faculty, families, friends, and, most especially, the Excelsior Class of 2010, students, thank you for inviting me to speak at your commencement.