The College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which includes provisions to allow students better access to college and an improved ability to pay off post-education debt, is now fully in place. Although George W. Bush signed the act into law in 2007, many pieces of the act became active only in July 2009.

Much of this information is still being developed, and students are largely unaware of the significant financial benefits now available to them. Campus Compact has created a guide to help members navigate the details of this law, including summaries of key provisions, tips to help students get the most out of the plans, and helpful links for further information.

For more details, see http://www.compact.org/initiatives/policy-and-advocacy/college-cost-reduction-access-act-public-service-loan-forgiveness/ ]]> http://www.compact.org/initiatives/legislation-policy/2009-policy-updates/the-college-cost-reduction-access-act-public-service-loan-forgiveness/7539/feed/ 0 http://www.compact.org/initiatives/consulting-corps/rahima-wade/6449/ http://www.compact.org/initiatives/consulting-corps/rahima-wade/6449/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 19:15:31 +0000 compact339-admin http://www.compact.org/?p=6449

Rahima Wade, Ed.D. was a professor in the University of Iowa’s College of Education for 16 years where she spearheaded service-learning efforts  on the UI campus, across the state, and nationally.  Rahima has coordinated several CNCS grants and published four books and more than 50 articles and book chapters on service-learning and civic education.  An Ehrlich award finalist in 2006 and the John Glenn Scholar for Service-Learning in Teacher Education in 2004, Rahima works as a service-learning and civic engagement consultant with K-12 schools, college and university campuses, and state departments of education across the country. For more information on her services and expertise, go to http://www.rahimawade.com.

The DREAM Act of 2009: Potential Impact on College Access and Success

Prepared by Campus Compact 

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2009 provides qualified undocumented students with a conditional path to U.S. citizenship. After meeting certain provisions and completing two years of college within a six-year period, students will become eligible for permanent citizenship.

The bipartisan legislation has significant support in both the House and the Senate, and would provide higher education and citizenship opportunities for thousands of qualified, undocumented youth. In addition, the Act amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibilities Act of 1996, permitting states to determine state residency in order to offer immigrant students in-state tuition rates.

Due to its potential for supporting college access and success, Campus Compact is following this legislation and will provide our network with updates as we become aware of them. There is speculation that DREAM Act provisions could be included in President Obama’s Immigration Reform plan, expected this summer. Obama supported the DREAM Act while serving in the Senate.                                   

Basic Provisions:

• Repeals Section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996:

o   Section 505 prohibited states from ‘providing a postsecondary education benefit to an alien not lawfully present unless any citizen or national is eligible for such benefit.’ 

o   Repealing this section allows states to decide who qualifies for in-state tuition.

• The Secretary of Homeland Security may adjust the status of undocumented students who demonstrate:

o   They entered the country before the age of 16 and have been present in the US for a continuous period of 5 years;

o   They are of good moral character;

o   They are not deportable under specific grounds of the Immigration and Nationality Act;

o   They have graduated high school or received a GED, or been admitted to a college or university;

o   Since age 16, they have never been under a final order of deportation;

o   They are under 35 years of age.

• Eligible aliens will be granted conditional permanent residency for 6 years, within which they must attend two years of college, and will be eligible for assistance, including:

o   Student loans

o   Federal work-study programs

o   Other services, subject to requirements of such services, (including Federal Pell grants).

For more information, please go to www.thomas.gov. Enter the appropriate bill number: The House version of the bill is H.R.1751; the Senate version is S.7294.

KEY PROVISIONS OF THE EDWARD M. KENNEDY SERVE AMERICA ACT

Compiled by Campus Compact

Background

Passed in March 2009 and signed by President Obama on April 21, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act reauthorizes and expands the National and Community Service Trust Act and the programs and services of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The following is a summary of provisions that are of special interest to and provide potential opportunities for higher education. At this point, the programs and provisions listed below are authorized, however funds have not yet been allocated. Specific regulations for each of the programs and how funds will become available have yet to be determined. Campus Compact has played a pivotal role in designing and advocating for the role of higher education in the Act and will continue to be involved in the appropriation of funds by Congress and the development of the regulations and details of programs and services with CNCS.

SUMMARY OF KEY PROVISIONS

Learn and Serve America

Campuses of Service

Campus of Service is a designation by CNCS, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, of institutions of higher education that have demonstrated a commitment to service, service-learning and community engagement. Nominations will come through the state commissions and must include a diverse group of types of institutions ’“- public, private, 4-year and 2-year. Information required about nominees for this designation may be determined by the state commissions but must include number of service-learning courses, percentage of federal work study placements in the community, percentage of students engaged in community service, and programs that encourage or assist students to pursue careers in public service.

No more than 25 institutions will be designated each year.  CNCS will award funds for these institutions to be used by them to develop or disseminate service-learning models and information on best practices regarding service-learning to other institutions of higher education.

Higher Education Learn and Serve Grants

Retains 25% of funds for institutions of higher education, either as individual institutions or as a consortium. Institutions must meet the minimum Federal Work Study requirements regarding community-based placements, now at 7%, in order to qualify for these funds.

Youth Engagement Zone Program

A Youth Engagement Zone is a service-learning program in which members of an eligible partnership collaborate to provide coordinated school-based or community-based service-learning opportunities. Eligible partnerships include community-based entities, local educational agencies, local government agencies, institutions of higher education, state commissions or state education agencies.

Authorized activities may include Summer of Service programs, youth mentoring, STEM programs and energy conservation.

Service-Learning Impact Study

CNCS is authorized to procure an independent entity to conduct a 10-year longitudinal study on benefits/impact of service-learning programs including the impact on academic achievement, student engagement and graduation rates.

Service Corps Programs

Increases the National Service Education Award to $5,350 immediately and ties its value to being equal to the maximum amount of the federal Pell Grant as it increases over time.

Allows individuals age 55 years and older to transfer their education award to a child or grandchild.

Increases service opportunities under AmeriCorps from 75,000 positions annually to 250,000 by 2017.  Supports the following new national service programs to address unmet community needs.

Education Corps

Authorized activities include tutoring, mentoring, assisting students in being prepared for college-level work, assisting economically disadvantaged students in navigating the college admission process, and conducting a pre-professional training program for students enrolled in an             institution of higher education.

Healthy Futures Corps

Authorized activities include providing translation services, improving literacy of patients regarding health, addressing childhood obesity, and assisting in health promotion interventions.

Clean Energy Service Corps

Authorized activities include weatherization, building energy efficient housing units, conducting energy audits, educating students on home energy use, and assisting in the development of local recycling programs.

Veterans Corps

Authorized activities include recruiting veterans into service opportunities and promoting efforts within the community to service the needs of veterans.

Opportunity Corps

Authorized activities include teaching financial literacy, construction and rehabilitation of housing units, working toward the elimination of hunger, and providing access to job placements.

Support for Nonprofits and Social Innovation

Creates a Social Innovation Fund to:

• Recognize and increase the work of social entrepreneurs and nonprofit community organizations in addressing national and local challenges.
• Stimulate the development of a network of social innovation funds and leverage public and private investment in nonprofit community organizations. Strengthen the infrastructure and support for effective solutions to community challenges.

Establishes nonprofit capacity-building program to make grants to intermediary nonprofits to assist small and mid-size nonprofits with organizational development.

Establishes a National Service Reserve Corps, made up of former participants of national service programs and veterans, who will assist in disaster relief.

Authorizes a Civic Health Assessment comprised of indicators relating to volunteerism, voting, charitable giving, and interest in public service in order to evaluate and compare the civic health of communities.

Other Provisions

Gives CNCS the authority to merge funding streams, expands the use of simplified, fixed amount grants, and gives more flexibility to consolidate application and reporting requirements. Increases the support for State Commissions and enhances the capacity of responsibilities of the Board of Directors of CNCS.

Establishes one or more clearinghouses for information regarding the national service laws that includes information on service-learning.

Click here for an official summary of the legislation. 

On March 31, the House approved the Senate amendments to H.R. 1388, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, by a vote of 275-149. The bill previously passed in the House as the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act.

The bill, renamed in honor of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, authorizes a massive expansion of national service programs for Americans of all ages. The bill passed the Senate on March 26 with widespread bipartisan support in a 79-19 vote.

Campus Compact wishes to thank all of you for your help in getting this important legislation passed. We also encourage you to recognize your Congressmen who supported this bill by calling their office today and extending your appreciation.

Click here to view how representatives voted on the Senates amendments to H.R. 1388: http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2009&rollnumber=169

Click here to read a press release concerning the bill from the House Education and Labor Committee: http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2009/03/house-sends-landmark-national.shtml

On March 18^th The U.S. House of Representatives passed the GIVE (Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education) Act by a roll call vote of 321 ’“ 105. The legislation reauthorizes the Corporation for National and Community Service, expands and strengthens national service and service-learning programs, increases volunteer opportunities for all ages, and promotes social innovation as a strategy to address community challenges. The Senate will now take up the Serve America Act—a bill sponsored by Senators Kennedy and Hatch that has many of the same provisions. 

Campus Compact has played a key role in shaping the areas of these bills that relate to opportunities for and impact on higher education. These areas include: 

• Establishing the ‘Campus of Service’ designation for colleges and universities exhibiting a commitment to civic engagement and service-learning activities.
• Instituting a longitudinal study of service-learning. 
• Including higher education as a partner in the establishment of youth Engagement Zones.

View the summary and full text of the bill from GovTrack.

NEW: On March 26, the Senate approved the legislation in a 78-20 vote. On March 31, the House passed the final version of the act by a vote of 274-149. It now goes to President Obama to be signed into law. 

Thanks to all of you who contacted your Congressmen to enlist their support!

Campus Compact Presidents’ Letter Supports Serve America Act

Led by the Campus Compact national board of directors, more than 100 college and university presidents have signed a letter in support of the Serve America Act, sponsored by Senators Edward Kennedy (MA) and Orrin Hatch (UT). The letter emphasizes the bill’s positive effect on higher education and civic engagement work and encourages members of Congress to support swift passage of the bill. This is one of many mechanisms through which Campus Compact and its members worked to pass this vital legislation.

View letter here. 

The National Recovery and Investment Act (commonly known as the Stimulus Package), passed by Congress in February, contains two items key to civic engagement work in higher education. The Corporation for National and Community Service received a $200 million increase, which means an increase of approximately 13,000 VISTA and AmeriCorps members in the community over the next 18 months.  For information about how these funds are being grants, visit http://www.cns.gov. Federal Work-Study also received $200 million of additional funds. At least 7% of these funds must be spent on the placement of students in community-based organizations.