For Americans seeking to improve their standard of living, higher education has always been the surest route available. Quality postsecondary education is key to a stronger economy, reduced income inequality, healthy families, and vibrant communities. At the same time, the American postsecondary education system is increasingly dependent on debt financing. A recent CAP analysis found that between 2004 and 2012, the proportion of undergraduate students who borrowed to finance their education increased by 18 percent. Given the individual and taxpayer costs of higher education—and its critical role in the nation’s future—we must ensure that learning is of the highest possible quality. This event will examine role of for-profit colleges in our higher-education system and discuss public policies aimed at promoting quality.
Welcoming remarks:
Ted Strickland, Counselor to the Center for American Progress
Featured panelists:
Thomas Babel, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, DeVry Education Group
Wallace Boston, President and CEO, American Public University System
Maura Dundon, Senior Policy Counsel, Center for Responsible Lending
Robert Shireman, Executive Director, California Competes
Moderated by:
David Bergeron, Vice President, Postsecondary Education Policy, Center for American Progress