Ben Cecil

Grad debt makes up nearly half of student loans. In our latest blog, @bencecil.bsky.social argued Congress intended a narrow definition of ‘professional’ programs so students aren’t overborrowing and have manageable debt. More from @jessicablake.bsky.social @insidehighered.com 🔗: buff.ly/0BSvDPN

Student loan rules are on the table. As negotiators define ‘graduate’ and ‘professional’ programs under OBBBA, access to federal aid and student debt outcomes hang in the balance. Learn more from @bencecil.bsky.social ⤵️
buff.ly/94wWcIz

Major student loan changes just came one step closer to becoming law Senate Republicans advanced a legislative package that would slash the number of student loan repayment plans and increase regulations on colleges.

Our senior policy advisor @bencecil.bsky.social‬ told @usatoday.com‬ that the loan caps for grad students and parents in the Senate’s reconciliation bill are “much more reasonable” than those in the House’s. Read more about proposed student loan changes. 💰

I'm looking forward to attending the EWA National Seminar in St. Louis next week. Reporters on the higher education beat, let's connect and chat—there's a lot going on here in DC! #highered #highereducation

Our Senior Policy Advisor, @bencecil.bsky.social , joined “Trust Be Told” to explore the complex challenges + urgent opportunities facing higher ed institutions in the US and how to rebuild confidence in the value of a degree. Catch the full conversation on Spotify & Apple Podcasts! 🎙️

Amidst the push for loan cancellation, one of the downstream effects is how high schoolers' think about college value and whether or not it's worth it. In my latest for @thirdwayedu.bsky.social, we analyze how students today are thinking about loans, cost, and whether higher ed is for them.

Calls to privatize student loans are gaining traction—but would it really fix the system? It could mean higher costs, stricter eligibility & fewer protections. Rather than dismantling federal loans, accountability & efficiency are key. Read more from @bencecil.bsky.social 💰: buff.ly/f5G126Z

There's been much chatter about how to reform student loans, including privatization.

In my latest @thirdwayedu.bsky.social, I examine the claims of privatization advocates and explain how such a move would impact students, families, and taxpayers.

READ: www.thirdway.org/memo/privati...

Regional Public Universities: Expanding Higher Education's ROI for Students and Communities – Third Way Third Way is a center-left think tank that champions modern solutions to the most challenging problems in US public policy, including the economy, climate and energy, national security, social…

Did you know that regional public universities (RPUs) educate 70% of all students attending four-year public institutions in the US each year? 🤔With affordability being one of RPUs’ major draw, these institutions provide incredible value and ROI:

We describe how different types of RPUs create value for their regions and students. We conclude with policy recommendations that at the time, seemed great but now seem downright fantastical but are still worth stating.

Thanks to @bencecil.bsky.social for the invite to write about RPUs!

I truly believe that Regional Public Universities provide the best possible answer to questions about what value/ROI higher education provides society, which is why I co-wrote a @thirdwayedu.bsky.social brief about them.

New publication 🚨!

www.thirdway.org/report/regio...

Great piece from @econroy.bsky.social ft. some insights from
@bencecil.bsky.social! Republican voters want more accountability across the board, including in higher education. Eliminating ED would make it harder to ensure students and taxpayers get a strong return on investment.

It was a pleasure to work with @ceciliaorphan.bsky.social on this policy brief. Take a look to see how RPUs are delivering on the promise of higher education and policy recommendations to strengthen their impact on students and their communities.

www.thirdway.org/report/regio...

🗣️ Republican voters still value higher ed, according to @ThirdWayEdu @BenCecil's latest poll:

📊87% want more accountability
💰83% support financial transparency
💳79% back continuing PSLF
🛡️71% say guardrails are needed to protect students

bit.ly/4kojZpB

OUT NOW! Our new poll shows that Republican voters want policymakers to strengthen many higher education programs and policies.

87% of Republican voters think more accountability is needed in higher ed.
Read more ⬇️https://bit.ly/4kojZpB

My latest @thirdwayedu.bsky.social: Republicans haven't abandoned higher education, see the value of a degree, and like colleges and universities.

They broadly support many of Congress' targets for budget reconciliation like the Pell Grant and PSLF.

READ: thirdway.org/memo/what-do...

Get the Hell Out of DOGE: Elon Musk's Team Infiltrates Education Department Data Staff with U.S. DOGE Service, charged with scrutinizing federal spending, has reportedly fed sensitive data into artificial intelligence software.

New from me. DOGE staff have accessed sensitive Education Department data, almost certainly illegally. What are the repercussions? What kind of data does the ED Department collect? How does this relate to the administration's efforts to purge DEI? Read on: www.newamerica.org/education-po...

Today, nearly a third of undergraduate students receive a Pell Grant to help pay for college—the main source of federal support for low- to moderate-income c... Pell Grant Funding 101

What happens when there’s a Pell shortfall? Policymakers have to make tough choices—and so do students.

Third Way open memo to 2028 Dem hopefuls in
@politico.com: Reject the Pledges

"We must never again let our candidates fall prey to the siren song of far-left groups who claim, without evidence, to speak for our coalition and offer a path to the nomination."
thirdway.org/memo/why-dem...

The Education Department Acts on OPMs: Misleading Students About Online Degrees Could Cost Colleges Their Federal Aid The U.S. Department of Education says online program managers cannot represent themselves as part of the college they are marketing.

New: The Biden administration warned colleges that companies that work with them to create online programs can’t represent themselves as part of the institution. Doing so could constitute misrepresentation and could lead to their financial aid access being revoked. www.newamerica.org/education-po...

This is my bi-annual reminder for any #highered faculty teaching higher Education policy this spring: I'm happy to come and chat about federal higher education policy, public opinion polling in higher education, or career pathways outside of the academy. Contact info in my bio!

A wonderful outcome would be that this enormously consequential data error leads Congress to finally repeal the unit record data ban

This is my bi-annual reminder for any #highered faculty teaching higher Education policy this spring: I'm happy to come and chat about federal higher education policy, public opinion polling in higher education, or career pathways outside of the academy. Contact info in my bio!

Colleges ask for a third gainful employment extension The leading lobbying group for colleges says the upcoming change in administration necessitates relief from the Jan. 15 due date. So far, the department isn’t budging.

Another way to define the institutional argument? Delay, deny, defend. The article says it best: “It’s a delaying tactic that they hope is going to work in their favor. Even in the most perfect circumstance, the same arguments would be made.”

www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

Supporting students to and through college: What does the evidence say? A comprehensive analysis of evidence from over two decades of research on interventions designed to increase college access and completion.

Excellent new report from @brookings.edu's Sarah Reber synthesizing evidence on what we know (and what we should do) supporting students to and through college. Check it out! www.brookings.edu/articles/sup...

The Explicit Politics of Evasion Progressives pitch a policy of dodging hard questions & denying electoral reality.

A must-read, via @welcomepac.bsky.social:

www.welcomestack.org/p/the-explic...

Supporting students to and through college: What does the evidence say? 10:30 am EST - 11:40 am EST

TOMORROW: Join Brookings to hear from Michelle Dimino and other higher ed experts on college completion. Register here:

Obviously, that was an issue for UGA, so I was graciously "reclassified" to a new salary of $47,476.01.

Why the .01?

The FLSA overtime exemption ended at $47,476. So, with that quick salary bump, I was now eligible to work 40+ hours per week again.

Higher ed will always higher ed.

Speaking from experience, UGA went through with FLSA back in 2017. I went from exempt, making ~$37K/year to non-exempt--with only the director of our office being exempt. Since UGA wouldn't pay overtime, I accrued time off at a time and a half rate, meaning I took a lot of (arguably deserved) leave.

After Handing Out Pay Raises, Ohio State U. Claws Them Back The change came after a federal judge struck down the Department of Labor’s overtime rule, saying it was an overreach. Other colleges could follow suit.

I get that budgets are tight--but these same admins taking back raises that they were legally forced to give--are likely the same ones questioning staff disengagement and retention. Keep in mind, these raises were going to staff making less than $35,000 a year.

www.chronicle.com/article/afte...