Rubén Hinojosa: “I also rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 4983, the Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act.…”

“I also rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 4983, the Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act. The underlying bill strengthens data transparency in higher education by establishing a new college dashboard Web site, which replaces the Network Navigator and ensures the inclusion of nontraditional students and data metrics. The college dashboard Web site will provide better and more accessible information for students and families. Key information will consist of enrollment and completion data on full-time and part-time students, disaggregated by Pell recipients; by race, ethnicity, and disability; as well as information on net price, average student loan debt, and the college costs. This bill promotes transparency on the use of adjunct faculty. For the first time, our Nation's colleges will be required to report the ratio of part-time to full-time instructors by degree level. In addition, this legislation creates a more accessible calculator with clearer and more individualized information on student costs. Finally, the bill requires that the college dashboard Web site be consumer tested with other agencies and students and institutions and experts to ensure it provides understandable and relevant information. I am proud to say that Texas has been a leader in this area.…”