WASHINGTON (June 28, 2019) – Today, Julie Peller, executive director of Higher Learning Advocates, released a statement responding to the U.S. Department of Education’s release of the final Gainful Employment Rule:

“This afternoon’s announcement of the complete repeal of the Gainful Employment regulation is a big loss for today’s students. While imperfect, the prior Gainful Employment rule provided valuable information to today’s students regarding debt and earnings for programs of postsecondary education. Further, Gainful Employment provided a baseline of accountability for programs enrolling many of today’s students.

“The federal government has the right and responsibility to ensure today’s students use their aid at programs that produce strong student outcomes, especially as federal spending on student aid exceeds $100 billion a year and students and their families are saddled with student loans to repay. Completely eliminating this accountability measure with no replacement in sight sends the wrong signal to our students and taxpayers. Federal policy should, at minimum, ensure programs lead to better opportunities for students upon graduating than when they first entered, including successful loan repayment. It is our hope that Congress will take up an improved version of this rule during the next reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.”

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Higher Learning Advocates is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to shift federal policy from higher education to higher learning—education and training beyond high school that leads to a degree, credential, or employment. While more students are participating in higher education than ever before, there is a vast and growing disconnect between federal policy and the needs of today’s students, employers, and communities. We are working toward federal policies that create transparent pathways to success, incentivize innovation, protect students and taxpayers, and improve outcomes.