COHEAO prepares responses to pertinent Notices of Proposed Rule Making and assists COHEAO members in preparing their own responses. COHEAO actively participated in the Federal Reauthorization Process and works with the Department of Health and Human Services on an ongoing basis to develop and reform regulations.   COHEAO has submitted to the House of Representatives, Senate and Department of Education a comprehensive set of proposals for the Higher Education Act this reauthorization cycle.  To see the proposals, click here [note: this document is in Microsoft Word format].

The following are issues of importance to COHEAO:

• The Perkins Loan program - it is a cost effective means of providing access to post-secondary education for low income students. When properly administered, it is the most appropriate and effective use of government funds. Click Here To Find Out What You Can Do To Help Save The Perkins Loan Program.
  
  
• The opposition of institutions’ discretionary distribution of block grant funds. Block grants may result in a reduction of support for programs which require pay back or work participation. Block grants favor non participation and require no repayment. This results in giveaway programs which do not foster sound educational financing for the students, the institutions or the government. Opening avenues of access to post secondary education must include full participation of the prospective students assisted by these aid programs.
  
  
• Some government regulations and policies contribute to high loan delinquency rates instead of addressing the root problems. For example, the Department of Education proposed curtailment of funds to schools having a delinquency rate exceeding a specific percentage. To improve collections, emphasis must be placed on the collection of outstanding delinquent loans and on the prevention or recurrence of defaults. The government’s imposition of flat percentages, resulting in reduction of available funds for schools, does not address the problem and provides no incentives or opportunities for change.

By focusing on the above issues, COHEAO offers it members an opportunity to share and learn from individuals and institutions who represent the full spectrum of post secondary education finance. COHEAO is always prepare to get involved with critical issues while educating and informing its membership.