A coalition of unions sued the U.S. Department of Education on Aug. 11 over its new definition of a “professional degree.” This new definition excludes education graduate programs, cutting those students’ access to federal loans in half.
Under the new rule, students in “professional” advanced degree programs are eligible for up to $200,000 in federal student loans. But students in advanced degree programs for teaching, as well as nursing and some other disciplines, are excluded from the “professional” designation, resulting in students being allowed to borrow only up to $100,000.
The union coalition, which includes the AFT, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, National Nurses United and AFL-CIO, alleged that the new designation “will make it more difficult and less attractive for students to enter the nursing and teaching profession.”
By “deprofessionalizing” nursing, architecture, social work, teaching and countless other careers, the Trump administration is eviscerating education access for poor and working-class students and their families and dismantling pathways to the middle class,” AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement.
The new rule will exacerbate teacher shortages, according to the AFT.
Higher Ed Dive,
Aug. 13