I spent some time recently chatting with some major players in federal higher education policy, including three members of the U.S. Senate, concluding that almost no important changes will happen before the 2020 elections. The Democrats are not eager to act, thinking they can gain complete control of government in the next elections and enact radical progressive reforms in 2021. The Republicans feel stymied by a Democratic House, a President preoccupied by other issues (mainly his own reelection), and some division within their own ranks. The Higher Education Act renewal is overdue, not surprising as Congress rarely finishes appropriating funds before a fiscal year starts, much less update the Higher Education Act.
Big changes will not happen in the short term. For the Democrats, that means things like free college or, minimally, vastly expanded Pell Grants, killing off for-profit colleges, and restoring Obama era centralized controls over colleges and universities, including highly controversial “guidance” on the handling of sexual harassment cases. For the Republicans, it includes fundamental reform of federal student financial aid, including starting to privatize some or all of it. It might also include legislation promoting intellectual and viewpoint diversity on campus.