Latest news with #NicholasKent
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Trump's Education Department has little time for these big changes
Big Beautiful Bill 101: What you need to know about the new law That process began in earnest on Aug. 7, when the department hosted a public hearing to begin implementing the White House and Congress' mandates. Facing a July 1, 2026, deadline, the agency has a long to-do list. It must create new plans for student loan repayment, revise accountability rules for universities and establish new types of Pell Grants. And the workload keeps growing: The White House just announced plans to reform its main database for higher education information (though the data-gathering arm of the Education Department has been reduced to just a handful of people). Despite those obstacles, leaders at the Education Department insist they can meet the deadlines. In his first interview on the job, Nicholas Kent, the top official overseeing higher education at the department, was optimistic about the agency's bandwidth. He pointed to one provision in the law - an exclusion of family farm and small business assets from financial aid calculations - that is already being rolled out months ahead of schedule. He said that change will be included in the latest version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which will fully launch this fall. Read more: Does the new FAFSA actually hurt farm families? Republicans say yes. "We are off to the races in implementing this historic legislation that's going to make higher education work better for the American people," Kent said. "We are confident that we will be able to deliver it on time, or earlier, than what is required." Read more: Senate confirms former for-profit college exec to oversee higher ed Yet skeptics, including former Education Department officials, worry that the agency lacks the staffing it needs. After the department reduced its workforce by half in March, college financial aid offices have struggled to get in touch with the Federal Student Aid office. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators has reported widespread communication breakdowns and processing delays, leaving students without answers they need to get help paying for school. At the Aug. 7 hearing, Melanie Storey, NASFAA's president and a former Education Department official, urged the agency's leadership to include the financial aid community as it moves forward with putting all the new changes in place. "Ignoring the financial aid community's operational expertise," she warned, "creates a significant risk of implementation failure." Trump administration hits 200-day mark As the administration hits its 200-day mark, higher education reform has emerged as a centerpiece of Trump's domestic policy agenda. After freezing billions in federal funding for academic research, the White House has pushed a growing number of universities into unprecedented agreements. Those deals have included multimillion-dollar fines, commitments to handing over data on student enrollment and promises to prohibit transgender women from playing collegiate sports. Critics have derided those efforts as historic encroachments on academic freedom. Kent, a former for-profit college executive, instead views the recent agreements as examples of a "lot of success." "Stay tuned," he said. Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@ Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @
USA Today
3 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
The clock is ticking for Trump's Education Department
The Education Department has less than a year to implement big changes to student loans and college oversight. The man in charge of it all is adamant the agency can do it – even with half the staff. There's no time to spare at the Education Department. No, not because the agency is going away anytime soon – actually, its plate just got even fuller. When President Donald Trump signed his massive domestic policy bill into law on July 4, the agency's workload ballooned. Now, with its usual staff cut in half, it has less than a year to implement major reforms to college financial aid and oversight. Big Beautiful Bill 101: What you need to know about the new law That process began in earnest on Aug. 7, when the department hosted a public hearing to begin implementing the White House and Congress' mandates. Facing a July 1, 2026, deadline, the agency has a long to-do list. It must create new plans for student loan repayment, revise accountability rules for universities and establish new types of Pell Grants. And the workload keeps growing: The White House just announced plans to reform its main database for higher education information (though the data-gathering arm of the Education Department has been reduced to just a handful of people). Despite those obstacles, leaders at the Education Department insist they can meet the deadlines. In his first interview on the job, Nicholas Kent, the top official overseeing higher education at the department, was optimistic about the agency's bandwidth. He pointed to one provision in the law – an exclusion of family farm and small business assets from financial aid calculations – that is already being rolled out months ahead of schedule. He said that change will be included in the latest version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which will fully launch this fall. Read more: Does the new FAFSA actually hurt farm families? Republicans say yes. "We are off to the races in implementing this historic legislation that's going to make higher education work better for the American people," Kent said. "We are confident that we will be able to deliver it on time, or earlier, than what is required." Read more: Senate confirms former for-profit college exec to oversee higher ed Yet skeptics, including former Education Department officials, worry that the agency lacks the staffing it needs. After the department reduced its workforce by half in March, college financial aid offices have struggled to get in touch with the Federal Student Aid office. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators has reported widespread communication breakdowns and processing delays, leaving students without answers they need to get help paying for school. At the Aug. 7 hearing, Melanie Storey, NASFAA's president and a former Education Department official, urged the agency's leadership to include the financial aid community as it moves forward with putting all the new changes in place. "Ignoring the financial aid community's operational expertise," she warned, "creates a significant risk of implementation failure." Trump administration hits 200-day mark As the administration hits its 200-day mark, higher education reform has emerged as a centerpiece of Trump's domestic policy agenda. After freezing billions in federal funding for academic research, the White House has pushed a growing number of universities into unprecedented agreements. Those deals have included multimillion-dollar fines, commitments to handing over data on student enrollment and promises to prohibit transgender women from playing collegiate sports. Critics have derided those efforts as historic encroachments on academic freedom. Kent, a former for-profit college executive, instead views the recent agreements as examples of a "lot of success." "Stay tuned," he said. Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@ Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nicholas Kent sworn in as US Under Secretary of Education: A closer look at his academic and policy trajectory
Image credit: Nicholas Kent has officially assumed office as the US Under Secretary of Education, following Senate confirmation and a formal swearing-in ceremony. The role places him at the center of federal policymaking on postsecondary education, student aid, and workforce alignment at a time of renewed debate over the future of American higher education. Kent's elevation to the Department of Education's third-highest post marks a critical appointment by the Trump administration as it looks to reassert conservative priorities in education policy. He is expected to take a leading role in overseeing initiatives related to career pathways, short-term credential programmes, and institutional accountability. Known for his work on regulatory reform and workforce alignment, Kent has built a reputation as a pragmatic policy strategist with experience spanning both federal and state education systems. Education and early academic foundations A first-generation college graduate, Nicholas Kent holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from West Virginia Wesleyan College. He later earned a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development from The George Washington University, a programme that emphasizes policy design, data use, and systemic school improvement. His academic path helped lay the foundation for his interest in bridging education with labor market outcomes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Discover the AI-powered language app that's changing how everyone learns Talkpal AI Undo Kent has often spoken about the importance of access and equity in postsecondary education, themes that have underpinned much of his policy work. A career rooted in education reform Before joining the Department of Education, Kent served as Virginia's Deputy Secretary of Education under Governor Glenn Youngkin. In that role, he was responsible for advancing K–12 and higher education reforms across the state, with a focus on career-connected learning and outcome-driven funding models. His earlier tenure as Chief Policy Officer at Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) placed him at the intersection of federal policy and institutional practice. While at CECU, Kent advocated for regulatory frameworks that support alternative education providers and workforce-focused credentials. He also held a senior post at the District of Columbia's Office of the State Superintendent of Education, where he managed data systems and research initiatives tied to student performance and accountability. What lies ahead As Under Secretary, Kent will be tasked with steering federal efforts around student financial aid, accreditation, and the interface between higher education and employment. He joins the Department at a time of significant political attention to cost transparency, institutional effectiveness, and the value of postsecondary credentials. With a blend of academic training and policy experience, Kent's leadership is likely to shape how the federal government addresses questions of quality, access, and return on investment in higher education. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
