WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the final version of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, H.R. 4137, which contains several initiatives authored by Congressman David Wu.  This legislation is a compromise between the House and the Senate higher education bills, and passed by a vote of 380-49.  It is expected to be passed by the Senate this week and go to the president for his signature.

“Every American deserves access to an affordable college education,” said Wu.  “In sum, the programs that I incorporated into this legislation, combined with the bill’s many other worthy measures, will reform our higher education system so that it operates in the best interest of Oregon students and families, while boosting our competitiveness and strengthening our country’s future.”

Congressman Wu’s provisions seek to increase access to higher education by:

Since 2003, Congressman Wu has been working to find ways to reduce the cost of college textbooks, which have far outpaced inflation over the past decade, adding to the growing costs students face when seeking a college degree.  Provisions included in H.R. 4137 will give students more information and choices when purchasing textbooks, helping them both plan for, and reduce, these expenses.

According to a 2005 study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), during the 2003-2004 school year, the average cost of books and supplies for students at four-year public institutions was $898, or close to 26 percent of the average cost of tuition and fees.  For students at community colleges and two-year institutions, these costs are especially high, with the average cost of books and supplies totaling almost 75 percent of the cost of tuition and fees.  

The GAO also determined that one of the biggest factors driving these increases has been the practice of “bundling,” in which textbook publishers package books with expensive supplementary materials, such as DVDs, CDs, or workbooks.  In many cases, colleges and universities are only given pricing information on “bundled” textbooks, making it harder for them to purchase cheaper alternatives.

In order to help students better afford the textbooks necessary for their education, Congressman Wu’s provisions will:

•    Help students plan for textbook expenses by making it clear which textbooks their courses require and providing advance information on textbook prices, allowing them to shop around for the best deal possible.
•    Require that college textbook publishers sell unbundled versions of every bundled textbook and provide full pricing information for both bundled textbooks and unbundled alternatives.
•    Ensure that colleges and universities provide bookstores with important course information, including the number of students enrolled, to help stores improve their used-book programs.

“College students all across Oregon have contacted me for help with the high cost of their college textbooks,” said Wu.  “When textbook prices almost double the cost of tuition for community college students, it puts higher education out of reach for many.  These provisions will make textbooks costs more manageable and help students access the education that they deserve.”  

Congressman Wu led the effort to establish grants that will help institutions of higher education establish dual enrollment programs between community colleges and four-year colleges and universities, known as articulation agreements.  These agreements help pave the way for the thousands of students who begin their degree at a community college and then seek to continue their education at a four-year institution.  

Community college students who want to further their education at a four-year institution often take concurrent classes at both schools, fitting their schedule around full-time work or other commitments.  In order to create such a class schedule, students often have to deal with two sets of administrations, two sets of paperwork, and two sets of financial aid.  When students experience difficulty trying to negotiate these duplicate systems, or trying to transfer between schools, some drop out of college before completing their degree, placing them at a greater risk of defaulting on their student loans and setting them back in career development.

“Funding for new articulation agreements between community colleges and four-year institutions will encourage more of these students to continue and complete their degrees,” Wu said.  “These agreements will make the transition between two schools seamless, letting students readily transfer their class credits, financial aid, and administrative paperwork—and ultimately, complete their degree.”       

The Higher Education Opportunity Act extends and expands a historic higher education program that increases college opportunities for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and low-income students.  The Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) program provides grants to eligible colleges and universities that serve large numbers of Asian American and low-income students to help the schools improve and expand their services.  

Congressman Wu shepherded the AANAPISI program into law in September 2007.  The program has now been incorporated into the Higher Education Opportunity Act, reauthorizing it through fiscal year 2013 and expanding the services that schools may provide with the grants.  Services may include tutoring, counseling, and support services; establishment of community outreach programs and partnerships; and procurement of laboratory equipment and library books.
 
“Although Asian Americans are sometimes portrayed as universally excelling in school, a staggeringly large number within the community fall well below national averages with respect to both income and education,” said Wu.  “This initiative will let eligible schools better support low-income Asian American and Pacific Islander students with a variety of targeted services, helping them overcome barriers to a college degree and putting them on the path to success.”

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