Why Students Over Banks?
President Obama has a plan: End a program that gives banks wasteful subsidies on student loans and use the savings — as much as $87 billion over 10 years — to help students pay for college. Unfortunately, bank lobbyists are pressing Congress to kill this common sense reform. Stand up for what's right and join us: Choose Students Over Banks. Because we deserve a better future.
Increase Grants for Students
The Pell Grant, a federal grant for students with the most financial need, covered 72% of the average cost of attending a public four year college in 1976, but only 32% of this cost in 2008. Why? Because college costs have risen without Pell Grants increasing comparatively. President Obama’s plan will not only make Pell Grants more available, it will make Pell more reliable and able to keep up with college costs.
Fight Corruption
The guaranteed loan program (FFELP) has been plagued by scandal over the past two decades, with some lenders giving college financial aid officers improper inducements like paid junkets -- and, in extreme cases, even stock options -- while trying to convince them to recommend their loan companies to students. While some claim this is the work of a few bad apples, the system itself is inherently prone to waste, fraud, and abuse.
End Handouts to Banks
According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, reforming the student loan programs will save tax payers $87 billion over ten years. With that much money, you could buy 3,101 trips to space – or help make college more affordable for millions of young people.
Strengthen Our Future
The U.S. is falling behind in education. Those aged 35-54 rank second worldwide in percentage of college graduates and those 25-34 now rank 10th. Where will the next generation fall? In his address to congress in February, the President made a commitment to restoring America’s place as the global leader in higher education by 2020. His plan for reforming higher education is a critical step towards making this goal a reality.
RECENT VIDEOS
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News
Speech on Student Aid Bill at the Lexington Institute
Posted on 18 November 2009
Check out this speech on the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act by Rich Williams, the Higher Education Associate at US PIRG, at a recent policy forum at the Lexington Institute: Continue Reading
News
Full Page Ad in Politico for Reform
Posted on 17 November 2009
Campus Progress, along with several partner organizations, just placed a full page add featuring a letter, signed by 50 national organizations, supporting strong student loan reform and an investment in education. The organizations collectivly represent millions of people, including undergraduate and professional students, labor, college registrars and admissions officers, faculty, parents, policy experts, african americans, and latinos. Check out the ad: Continue Reading
Resources, Take Action
Debt Slapped: Host a Film Screening
Posted on 13 November 2009
Campus Progress wants to help you bring the new film Debt Slapped to your campus to both educate students about ways to control their student and credit card debt, and discuss how to make college more affordable so that young people can avoid debt in the first place. Check out this clip from the film Continue Reading
News, Resources
50 Groups Urge Senate to Invest in Education, Reform Student Loans
Posted on 10 November 2009
Today, a diverse coalition of 50 groups representing millions of Americans submitted the following letter to the Senate HELP Committee expressing its support for the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. The House passed the bill in late September, and it is expected that HELP Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Harkin will introduce his version of the bill in the coming weeks. Continue Reading
Take Action
Send a Letter to the Editor to Make College Affordable
Posted on 10 November 2009
Congress is currently considering a plan to invest $87 billion to boost Pell grants, lower interest rates on some student loans, and invest in community colleges and minority serving institutions. Young people must be heard on this issue, and writing a letter to the editor is a quick and effective way to add to the debate. Newspapers publish some of the letters that they receive, and, even when letters are not published, editors do make sure to cover the issues that they know their readers care about. Continue Reading
News
SAFRA In the News
Posted on 05 November 2009
There have been a lot of great editorials, letters to the editor, blog posts and articles on SAFRA recently. Check them out! Continue Reading
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