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Themes for Higher Education Reform. Issue Brief No. 5403

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Title: Themes for Higher Education Reform. Issue Brief No. 5403
Language: English
Authors: Madison Marino Doan, Adam Kissel, Jonathan Butcher, Heritage Foundation, Center for Education Policy
Source: Heritage Foundation. 2026.
Availability: Heritage Foundation. 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002-4999. Tel: 202-546-4400; Fax: 202-546-8328; e-mail: info@heritage.org; Web site: http://www.heritage.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 6
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Higher Education, Educational Change, Government Role, Federal Government, Accreditation (Institutions), Student Financial Aid, Federal Aid
Abstract: Higher education in America is in crisis. In response, the Trump Administration proposed a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," sent first to nine major universities. Most of the Administration's goals for the compact would help make American colleges and universities worthy of their position as the world's most renowned academic institutions. Indeed, the compact's reforms would address many of the same concerns that other reformers have raised. Even so, federal officials should avoid expanding the federal government's role in higher education in pursuit of these vital goals. Directing efforts to eliminate the Department of Education and downsize the federal role in higher education would be a major step forward. Lawmakers should decouple accreditation from federal financing, lower caps on student lending, phase out the Parent PLuS program, and wind down loan forgiveness. Reforms proposed by the Trump administration identify several core problems in higher education that states and universities themselves should address.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED681016
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Themes for Higher Education Reform. Issue Brief No. 5403
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  Data: Heritage Foundation. 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002-4999. Tel: 202-546-4400; Fax: 202-546-8328; e-mail: info@heritage.org; Web site: http://www.heritage.org
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  Data: Higher education in America is in crisis. In response, the Trump Administration proposed a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," sent first to nine major universities. Most of the Administration's goals for the compact would help make American colleges and universities worthy of their position as the world's most renowned academic institutions. Indeed, the compact's reforms would address many of the same concerns that other reformers have raised. Even so, federal officials should avoid expanding the federal government's role in higher education in pursuit of these vital goals. Directing efforts to eliminate the Department of Education and downsize the federal role in higher education would be a major step forward. Lawmakers should decouple accreditation from federal financing, lower caps on student lending, phase out the Parent PLuS program, and wind down loan forgiveness. Reforms proposed by the Trump administration identify several core problems in higher education that states and universities themselves should address.
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