Earlier today, VEP Executive Director Donald Franklin delivered public comment at the Department of Education’s hearing on proposed regulatory changes to Title IV programs. We called on the Department to iron out a regulatory environment that upholds strong accountability standards while preserving access to high-quality programs that serve Veterans effectively.
In our Public Comment, Franklin praised the Department’s shift toward outcomes-based accountability as outlined in the recent One Big Beautiful Act. Focusing on measurable student outcomes, such as post-graduation earnings, ensures institutions are held accountable for student success, not just enrollment statistics.
However, we also cautioned against the unintended consequences of legacy regulations like the 90/10 rule. Instead of blanket enforcement, VEP proposed a waiver system that would allow schools with strong student outcomes and affordable tuition to remain in compliance without facing perverse incentives that drive up costs or limit Veteran enrollment.
We also raised concerns about the proposed timeline for measuring graduate and professional degree earnings. Many essential Veteran-facing careers, particularly in healthcare, require post-graduation licensure or residencies that delay earnings. VEP urged the Department to shift to a measurement window that considers these programs, ensuring that institutions aren’t penalized for producing the very professionals our Veteran community depends on.
VEP remains committed to working alongside the Department, Congress, and other stakeholders to ensure that regulatory reforms remain grounded in transparency, accountability, and access. Veterans have earned the right to choose the educational pathway that fits their goals. VEP remains committed to ensuring those pathways remain open, affordable, and effective.
