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NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick, D.M. Issues Statement on President-elect Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan

January 15, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC (January 15, 2021) – NAICU President Barbara K. Mistick, D.M. has issued the following statement regarding the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan announced last night by President-elect Joe Biden.

The plan provides $35 billion in funding for two- and four-year public institutions, as well as, public and private Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions.

“The global coronavirus pandemic has indiscriminately impacted all sectors of our nation, including private, nonprofit higher education.  President-elect Joe Biden’s ambitious $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, released last night, provides $35 billion in funding for two- and four-year public institutions, as well as, public and private Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions.”

“NAICU is very disappointed that the majority of the nation’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities were excluded from the Biden plan.  This awful virus does not distinguish among types of colleges and neither should our unified national fight against this disease. With more than 1,700 degree-granting private, nonprofit colleges and universities, located in all 50 states and in 391 congressional districts, private, nonprofit colleges enroll over 5.1 million students and provide more than 1.2 million administration, faculty and staff jobs to the economy.”

“Low income students, regardless of their college of choice, face the same daunting challenges during this time, including paying college expenses and covering their daily living expenses. Private, nonprofit and public colleges enroll similar percentages of students who are Pell Grant recipients: 38% at private, nonprofit four-year colleges compared to 40% at public institutions.”

“Colleges and universities, whether public or private, are facing significant challenges to their operations as the pandemic continues.  Increased expenses for online learning, COVID testing programs, enhanced cleaning and maintenance have stretched university budgets beyond the limit.”

“Most of the more than 1,700 private, nonprofit colleges and universities nationwide are critical economic drivers in their communities, often serving as the largest employer and source of economic and cultural activity.”

“Private, nonprofit colleges and universities are integral and irreplaceable parts of our society.  Their value is demonstrated across rural, suburban and urban communities across the country.  The entire nation is enduring this pandemic, now is not the time favor one sector over another.”

“We look forward to working with the new Administration to ensure we are all working together to combat this disease and to ensure our institutions and the students and communities we serve are partnering with them to help solve this challenge.”

Barbara K. Mistick, D.M.
President
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)


 

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