U.S. Under Secretary of Education to discuss college cost management

A forum about college affordability sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education will take place from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Indiana Memorial Union’s Whittenberger Auditorium.

U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter and other guests will discuss ways to keep college costs down as well as pay off student loans in a timely manner. The discussion will also include information about increasing college accessibility.

There will be an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and parents to exchange ideas about college affordability.

While the University is hosting the forum, it is not directly sponsoring it. Similar forums have taken place at a number of campuses, including the University of Pennsylvania and Ashland University in Ohio.

The forum is presented in conjunction with President Barack Obama’s plans for making college more affordable, which were presented Jan. 27 at the University of Michigan, as well as in his State of the Union address.

“When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college,” Obama said during his State of the Union address, adding that Americans today owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt.

Obama’s plans include, among other things, reforming student aid, a higher education version of the “Race to the Top” program implemented in primary schools and better informing families about higher education by creating a college scorecard.

Registration, while not mandatory, is encouraged. To register, follow the link at newsinfo.iu.edu. The event is free and open to the public.

— Kirsten Clark