A House subcommittee is moving one step closer to finalizing for congressional approval the Higher Education Act. On June 16, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Select Education finalized two bills that deal with international studies and graduate education funding in preparation for sending them to the floor for a vote.

H.R. 509, the International Studies in Higher Education Act, authorizes the programs that fall under Title VI of the Higher Education Act—including grants for international study programs, such as foreign language studies and international business. H.R. 510, the Graduate Studies Bill, falls under Title VII. This bill helps students to continue their education through advanced degree programs using fellowships.

The American Federation of Teachers is opposed to one part of H.R. 509—the establishment of a politically appointed International Higher Education Advisory Board.  The AFT has fought for to change this bill on several fronts.

In July 2004, delegates to the AFT convention passed a resolution opposing the board, noting that it would "set a dangerous precedent for government oversight and approval of academic content and curriculum in other areas as well." Since then, the AFT, in coalition with other groups, most notably the National Education Association, has been working to have the board proposal removed from the legislation.

Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) reflected the same misgivings when the bill was discussed in the committee. He questioned the necessity of such a board, saying he feared it "could be an intrusion by the federal government into academic freedom."  Van Hollen asserted that the faculty's ability to raise concerns about curriculum and activities was a sufficient safeguard without the inclusion of an oversight bureaucracy or “police watchdog” with that purpose.

“The AFT will be working with Congressman Van Hollen to strip the international advisory board out of the final version of Title VI when it comes to full committee,” says Gabriella Gomez, AFT assistant director of legislation.

AFT supports the second bill passed through the committee, H.R. 510. The three fellowship programs included in the bill are the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Program, the Thurgood Marshall Legal Education Opportunity Program, and the Jacob K. Javits Fellowships.  This bill passed through the subcommittee and will be brought to full committee along with H.R. 509. [Molly Kinsella]

June 21, 2005