This week on “Off The Cuff,” Justin, Megan, Jill, and Rachel delve into the Title IV implications of the Coronavirus on students in disrupted study abroad programs. At 10:43, Jill answers questions from members about whether the Department of Education (ED) will offer regulatory relief for universities and students. At 19:20, Megan talks about Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and her defense of President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal as it relates to higher education, and details a letter ED’s general counsel wrote on DeVos’ behalf defending her refusal to testify on a slew of issues from sexual assault on campus to student loan forgiveness. Rachel discusses welcome upgrades to the student-facing portion of the federal student aid website at 26:24, and the group wants to know: What food do you spend an exorbitant amount of money on?

Speakers

Justin Draeger President & CEO	Megan Coval Vice President, Policy & Federal Relations	Rachel Gentry Assistant Director of Federal Relations	Jill Desjean Policy Analyst

Resources

• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Episode 137 Transcript (PDF)
• FY 2021 budget proposal justification
• DeVos Defends 2021 Budget Proposal as House Appropriators Push for Answers
• Rising Tensions Between DeVos and Democrats (Inside Higher Ed)
• Upgraded Federal Student Aid Website Includes Loan Simulator, Repayment Pilot
• ‘It’s My Guilty Pleasure’: Schumer Admits to Spending Nearly $9,000 on Cheesecake (The Washington Post)

Send your thoughts, questions, and comments. We'd love to hear what you think.