Reading Reauthorization: Lessons for Tomorrow in Yesterday's Debate

Abstract

Urban and metropolitan universities should continue to track legislative efforts to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. However, there is much they can learn from observing the discussion this legislation has engendered, for this discussion has revealed an array of attitudes that bode ill for universities. So as to do everything possible to ensure their continued effectiveness, they must take such attitudes seriously and mount credible, persuasive responses to them. This essay identifies many such issues and proposes pragmatic responses.