gore & bush - education and politics - Brief Article

Matrix: The Magazine for Leaders in Education, Oct, 2000 by Jennifer C. Patterson, Nicole Rivard

I also believe we should continue to make college financing far easier for students and parents. The Clinton-Gore Administration created the department's "Direct Student Loan Program" which simplified the college loan process by allowing students to apply directly to the federal government for student aid. This innovative idea saved students an estimated $8.7 billion on their loans over the last five years, and taxpayers have saved over $5 billion through student loan reform. Our administration has also reduced the national cohort default rate from 22.4 percent seven years ago to a record-low 8.8 percent. As president, I will continue to build on these progressive achievements to ensure that college education is possible, affordable, and efficiently financed.

bush: The Department of Education can serve a useful purpose in coordinating research and evaluation of education programs, collecting national data, and administering federal programs such as Pell grants, guaranteed student loans, and Title I funding.

matrix: What research funding, if any, should the U.S. government provide?

gore: The Clinton-Gore administration's commitment to research funding reveals the extent of the nation's reliance on universities as the prime repository of core competency in basic research.

I am eager to continue improving and fostering science and technology partnerships with universities, such as providing university-based researchers access to unique, state-of-the art research facilities. Further, I will also continue to work through the National Science and Technology Council in reviewing the government-university partnership in research and associated educational activities, and recommend ways to strengthen it.

bush: I support the recent efforts by Republicans in Congress to increase both public and private sector research opportunities through increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and by making the research and development tax credit permanent.

In addition, I recognize the unique role teaching hospitals play not only in the training of our medical students, but also in the care of patients. Many times, teaching hospitals are located in medically under served, urban areas and are the only source of medical care for many people. I believe the Graduate Medical Education program is a worthwhile function of federal government and I will work with Congress to find a continuous funding stream for it.

matrix: Should colleges and universities employ affirmative action practices in admission and hiring? If so, why? Under what circumstances?

gore: America is strong because of our diversity, not in spite of it. College students should have the opportunity to benefit from a diverse academic environment. We need to work to mend affirmative action, not end it.

As president, I will maintain and support the "Institutional Development and Undergraduate Education Programs Service" which administers several National Title III programs designed to help higher-education institutions that serve a large proportion of disadvantaged students improve their academic programs and administrative capabilities.