After nearly a year and a half of public meetings, private conversations and multiple drafts, the Commission on the Future of Higher Education has voted on and passed the final draft of its report to the Secretary of Education. The fourth and final draft, now available on the Department of Education's Web site, has few substantial changes from the third draft—except for a last-minute elimination of a recommendation steering students towards private lenders in applying of college loans, potentially leading to added costs. The two early versions of the report stirred plenty of controversy—the first to which AFT responded for being too harsh and the second for being too watered down. This draft has drawn less criticism than its "relentlessly negative" first draft.

Even though the final draft was approved with a voice vote, it did not escape criticism during the two-hour meeting on August 10, 2006. Commission member David Ward, President of the American Council on Education, commented that he had concerns about the report in its entirety and would not be signing the report. According to an ACE press release after the meeting, "The recommendations as a whole also fail to recognize the diversity of missions within higher education and the need to be cautious about policies and standards based on a one-size-fits-all approach. Beyond my disagreement over some recommendations, it is in the end my belief that our solutions should be built upon the strengths of higher education rather than on inferences that could project a false sense of crisis."

ACE represents approximately 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations.

While casting their votes, the commission members each had a chance to speak to the report and what comments or suggestions that may have for future implementation. Overall the substance of the comments was to be expected. The business representatives endorsed the sections on innovation and workforce development and the for-profit sector supported the ideas on expanding options to higher education; however the one issue that seemed to move everyone to supporting the report was the recommendations to increase need-based aid and adjust the financial aid system to allow for greater access. Also a number of commission members mentioned the need for greater investment in higher education in order for these recommendations to be made.

So what happens now? The final draft still needs cosmetic changes, including the addition of graphics, charts and possible "best practices type" sidebars. The Secretary is scheduled to receive the report in mid September and will need to present the recommendations to the President and Congress. But as one commission member said, the hardest work is still ahead of us. The actual implementation of these will still need the buy-in and support of multiple groups and organizations. [Lindsay Albert]

August 10, 2006