The Department of Education used a recent negotiated rulemaking session to establish an extremely narrow definition of a “professional student” that limits higher graduate borrowing caps to a short list of fields, excluding nursing and other high-cost, high-need degrees. ACE is strongly advocating for a broader definition and has endorsed a bill introduced in December by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) that would add additional programs to the professional definition. Higher education stakeholders, advocates, and the public can contact lawmakers to urge them to support the Lawler measure. Click here to view a "Contact Congress" letter that can easily and quickly be sent to senators and representatives from different states and districts. The letter can be adapted as desired, or it can simply be sent as is.
ACE also has developed these talking points that can be used in conversations with policymakers to help explain the importance of the issue.
For more information about the bill, view ACE’s summary.
