Campaign 2008: 15 days remaining
McCain brings change
Ashley Smith
Issue date: 10/20/08 Section: News
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McCain's higher education policy includes six general goals with his main concern in modernizing the country's universities so they rise above the increased competition from overseas.
"The answer is not to impose more regulations on institutions, but to encourage the government to remove regulatory barriers that prevent us from moving forward with new ideas," McCain said.
He wants parents to become more informed about institutions so they, along with their children, can make the right decisions. To do this, he would take the hundreds of factors that are sent to the government every year by these institutions and make the information available to families in a clear and concise manner.
To help pay for college, McCain wants to simplify the existing tax benefits because he feels the existing benefits are too complicated, so many eligible families don't claim them.
McCain also wants to simplify federal financial aid by consolidating programs to help simplify the administration of these programs. Also, he wants to help more students have a better understanding of their eligibility.
"Too many programs and a complicated application process deter many eligible students from seeking student aid," McCain said. "The number of programs also makes it more difficult for financial aid officers to help students navigate the process."
McCain has proposed to expand the lender of last resort capability of the federal student loan system. He will also demand the highest standard of integrity for participating private lenders. With effective reforms he will ensure the necessary funding of higher education aspirations and create a simpler and more effective program in the process.
McCain said, "Higher education is as much a part of that competition as the job sector, and we must rise to the challenge so that they retain their status as producers of the most skilled workforce in the world."
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