Higher Ed Act Reauthorization

Hearing on rising tuitions, normally a scary topic for higher ed officials, treads gently and focuses on proposal to ensure better state funding of public colleges.

House Democrats introduce Higher Education Act bill that would shame institutions that raise prices sharply; 747-page measure would increase federal role in other ways, too.

Congress is jazzed about plan to embarrass colleges with above-average tuition increases. But will the "watch list" identify profligate spenders -- or discriminate against colleges with working class students?

As House panel debates Higher Ed Act bill, lawmakers hammer home risk that rising prices could lead to further federal action. Plus a last-minute gambit on accreditation.

Colleges have mixed views on bipartisan legislation that wins unanimous approval; full House fails to override Bush veto of education/health spending bill.

Regional agencies and college groups spar over Higher Education Act provision on learning outcomes. Does the rift open the door to increased federal role?

Movie lobby blames human error for statistics that were used to call for more regulation of campus networks.

Congressional rhetoric is linking endowment payout rates to access for low-income students. But the data suggest no such relationship.

Reworked Higher Ed Act legislation would limit scrutiny to 5 percent of colleges that raise tuition price the most, but ramp up other reporting requirements.

With House poised to take up bill, one lawmaker offers plan to require 5 percent payout by endowments, and leaders back default-rate change pushed by for-profit colleges.