Collegiate Times

Higher education may have flown under the radar amidst the handful of top issues the presidential candidates are debating.

The economy crisis, the war in Iraq and tax policies have become top priority for discussion, while higher education has become a topic constantly on the political backburner.

Although Barack Obama and John McCain have some similarities in their plans for higher education if elected, many of their ideas are very different.

Obama has said that he plans to double federal money for basic research. Obama also plans to allow researchers to use federal funds in research involving human embryo stem cells, an action that's currently banned.

McCain stated that he supports federal funds for research involving adult stem cells and amniotic fluid but not actual human embryos.

The policy that has possibly received the most attention is Obama's American Opportunity Tax Credit. Obama plans to provide students who agree to perform 100 hours of public service with a $4,000 tax credit toward their tuition. According to Sara Hebel in the Chronicle of Higher Education, this amount is fully refundable, so people could still benefit if they do not owe taxes.

The tax credit policy description on the campaign's Web site states that the first $4,000 of a college education would be entirely free for most Americans.

Also, two-thirds of the average public college or university tuition bill would be covered, and community college tuition would be completely free for the majority of students.

"Senator Obama is committed to making college more affordable for students coming out of high school," said Bobby Whithorne, a spokesman for his Virginia campaign, adding that the issue is a top priority for Obama.

He said the issue might be viewed from angles other than just strictly better education for America's students. It also "speaks to the national security of our nation," Whithorne said.

Obama also plans to make it easier for families to apply for federal student-aid by allowing them to simply check a box on their tax forms if they wish to apply.

Part of McCain's higher education plan is to broaden the "lender of last resort" system, so the federal government can ensure that students are able to obtain loans in the case of a loan emergency.

Kirsten Nelson, director of communication and government relations for the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, said that "access and affordability are huge issues" for SCHEV.

Financial aid for students and availability of low-interest student loans are two of the most important issues to the organization, Nelson said.

Nelson added that nobody has cut financial aid for students for 2009, the end of the current fiscal year. But the next president might not be able to continue this trend.

"It's important for whoever gets in there to be able to deal with the economy," Nelson said. "A healthy economy is extremely important for higher education."

Sara Hebel, senior editor of government and politics at the Chronicle of Higher Education, said that the next president will have to confront "rising costs of college and continued gaps in who is able to access top institutions."

Hebel said the most important higher education issues that the next president will need to address are economic competitiveness, extending access to colleges and increasing accountability in higher education.

Part of this accountability process and another goal for McCain is to provide students' parents with more accurate and clear information about their children's potential colleges. However, McCain has not yet identified exactly how this would be handled.

As for affirmative action, Obama believes that college admission offices should continue to consider race in admissions decisions. McCain said in September that he would stop public colleges and other state agencies from considering race in the application process.