[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4983 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4983
To simplify and streamline the information regarding institutions of
higher education made publicly available by the Secretary of Education,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Transparency in Higher
Education Act''.
SEC. 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.
<all>