[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965

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                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 4, 1997

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today Mr. Kildee and I have introduced a 
technical amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965. The amendment 
makes a technical correction to the student right to know provisions of 
the Higher Education Act.
  The student right to know provisions of the Higher Education Act 
require institutions of higher education to report graduation rates for 
their student body. These statistics are compiled for the student body 
at large and for student athletes as well. A change made in the fiscal 
year 1996 omnibus appropriations bill resulted in these rates being 
calculated at different points in time during the academic year. As a 
result of this oversight, institutions will be required to keep two 
sets of records for calculating and reporting graduation rates.
  The amendment corrects the problem by conforming the section of the 
Higher Education Act dealing with the reporting date for student 
athletes to the section of the Higher Education Act that requires 
preparation of graduation rates for all students. This amendment will 
first, allow institutions to more accurately reflect the manner in 
which institutions collect the data on graduation rates, and second, 
eliminate the burdensome task of preparing two distinct sets of 
graduation rates.
  I urge all Members to support this technical amendment that 
simplifies record keeping requirements for institutions of higher 
education.

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