H.R. 4983 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4983 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 26, 2014 Ms. Foxx (for herself, Mr. Messer, and Mr. Kline) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To simplify and streamline the information regarding institutions of higher education made publicly available by the Secretary of Education, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act. 2. College Dashboard website (a) Establishment Section 132 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking first-time,; (B) in paragraph (3) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking first-time,; and (C) in paragraph (4), by striking first-time,; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking first-time; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking first-time; (3) by striking subsections (c) through (g), (j), and (l); (4) by redesignating subsections (h), (i), and (k) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and (5) by striking subsection (d) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following new subsection: (d) Consumer information (1) Availability of title IV institution information The Secretary shall develop and make publicly available a website to be known as the College Dashboard website in accordance with this section and prominently display on such website, in simple, understandable, and unbiased terms for the most recent academic year for which satisfactory data are available, the following information with respect to each institution of higher education that participates in a program under title IV: (A) A link to the website of the institution. (B) An identification of the type of institution as one of the following: (i) A four-year public institution of higher education. (ii) A four-year private, nonprofit institution of higher education. (iii) A four-year private, for-profit institution of higher education. (iv) A two-year public institution of higher education. (v) A two-year private, nonprofit institution of higher education. (vi) A two-year private, for-profit institution of higher education. (vii) A less than two-year public institution of higher education. (viii) A less than two-year private, nonprofit institution of higher education. (ix) A less than two-year private, for-profit institution of higher education. (C) The number of students enrolled at the institution— (i) as undergraduate students; and (ii) as graduate students, if applicable. (D) The student-faculty ratio. (E) The percentage of degree-seeking or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within— (i) the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the program in which the student is enrolled; (ii) 150 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the program in which the student is enrolled; and (iii) 200 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the program in which the student is enrolled. (F) The average net price per year for undergraduate students and a link to the net price calculator for such institution. (G) The average Federal student loan debt incurred by an undergraduate student who has obtained a certificate or degree from the institution and who borrowed Federal student loans in the course of obtaining such certificate or degree. (H) The cohort default rate (as defined in section 435(m)) for such institution. (I) A link to national and regional data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on starting salaries in all major occupations. (2) Additional information The Secretary shall publish on Internet webpages that are linked to through the College Dashboard website for the most recent academic year for which satisfactory data is available the following information with respect to each institution of higher education that participates in a program under title IV: (A) Enrollment (i) The percentages of male and female undergraduate students enrolled at the institution. (ii) The percentages of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution— (I) full-time; and (II) less than full-time. (iii) Of the undergraduate students enrolled at the institution— (I) the percentage of such students who are from the State in which the institution is located; (II) the percentage of such students who are from other States; and (III) the percentage of such students who are international students. (iv) The percentages of students enrolled at the institution, disaggregated by race and ethnic background. (v) The percentage of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who are formally registered with the office of disability services of the institution (or the equivalent office) as students with disabilities, except that if such percentage is three percent or less, the institution shall report three percent or less. (vi) The percentage of students enrolled at the institution who are veterans (as defined in section 480). (B) Completion The information required under paragraph (1)(E), disaggregated by— (i) recipients of a Federal Pell Grant; (ii) recipients of a loan made under part D (other than a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan) who did not receive a Federal Pell Grant; and (iii) persons who did not receive a Federal Pell Grant or a loan made under part D (other than a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan). (C) Costs (i) The cost of attendance for full-time undergraduate students enrolled in the institution who live on campus. (ii) The cost of attendance for full-time undergraduate students enrolled in the institution who live off campus. (iii) The cost of tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate students enrolled in the institution. (iv) The cost of tuition and fees per credit hour or credit hour equivalency for undergraduate students enrolled in the institution less than full time. (v) In the case of a public institution of higher education and notwithstanding subsection (b)(1), the costs described in clauses (i) and (ii) for— (I) full-time students enrolled in the institution who are residents of the State in which the institution is located; and (II) full-time students enrolled in the institution who are not residents of such State. (vi) The net price for students receiving Federal student financial aid under title IV, disaggregated by the following income categories for such students: (I) $0 to $30,000. (II) $30,001 to $48,000. (III) $48,001 to $75,000. (IV) $75,001 to $110,000. (V) Over $110,000. (D) Financial aid (i) The average annual amount of a Federal Pell Grant awarded to an undergraduate student enrolled at such institution who receives a Federal Pell Grant. (ii) The average annual amount of Federal student loans provided through such institution to an undergraduate borrower enrolled at such institution. (iii) The average annual grant amount (including Federal, State, and institutional aid) awarded to an undergraduate student enrolled at the institution who receives financial aid. (iv) The percentage of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution receiving Federal, State, and institutional grants, student loans, and any other type of student financial assistance known by the institution, provided publicly or through the institution, such as Federal work-study funds. (v) The percentage of students enrolled at the institution receiving Federal Pell Grants. (3) Other data matters (A) Completion data The Commissioner of Education Statistics shall ensure that the information required under paragraph (1)(E) includes information with respect to all students at an institution, including students other than first-time, full-time students, in a manner that the Commissioner considers appropriate. (B) Adjustment of income categories The Secretary may annually adjust the range of each of the income categories described in paragraph (2)(C)(vi) to account for a change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics if the Secretary determines an adjustment is necessary. (4) Institutional comparison The Secretary shall include on the College Dashboard website a method for users to easily compare the information required under paragraphs (1) and (2) between institutions. (5) Updates (A) Data The Secretary shall update the College Dashboard website not less than annually. (B) Technology and format The Secretary shall regularly assess the format and technology of the College Dashboard website and make any changes or updates that the Secretary considers appropriate. (6) Consumer testing In developing and maintaining the College Dashboard website, the Secretary shall conduct consumer testing with appropriate persons, including current and prospective college students, family members of such students, institutions of higher education, and experts, to ensure that the College Dashboard website is usable and easily understandable. (7) Provision of appropriate links to prospective students after submission of FAFSA The Secretary shall provide to each student that submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in section 483 a link to the webpage of the College Dashboard website that contains the information required under paragraph (1) for each institution of higher education such student includes on such Application. (8) Interagency coordination The Secretary, in consultation with each appropriate head of a department or agency of the Federal Government, shall ensure to the greatest extent practicable that any information related to higher education that is published by such department or agency is consistent with the information published on the College Dashboard website. (9) References to College Navigator website Any reference in this Act to the College Navigator website shall be considered a reference to the College Dashboard website. . (b) Conforming amendments The Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), as amended by subsection (a) of this section, is further amended— (1) in section 131(h) (20 U.S.C. 1015(h)), by striking College Navigator and inserting College Dashboard; and (2) in section 132(a) (20 U.S.C. 1015a(a)), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraph: (1) College Dashboard website The term College Dashboard website means the College Dashboard website required under subsection (d). . (c) Development The Secretary of Education shall develop and publish the College Dashboard website required under section 132 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a), as amended by subsections (a) and (b) of this section, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (d) College Navigator website maintenance The Secretary shall maintain the College Navigator website required under section 132 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015a), as in effect the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, in the manner required under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as in effect on such day, until the College Dashboard website referred to in subsection (c) is complete and publicly available on the Internet.