President Barack Obama to Speak at Georgia Tech on Student Loan Repayment; WATCH it LIVE
ByContinuing his focus on higher education reform, President Barack Obama is expected to speak at the Georgia Technical Institute Tuesday on student loan repayment.
According to Reuters, Obama's address will center around his signing of a "student aid bill of rights." He plans to unveil a number of guidelines for higher education lending meant to protect borrowers and help them pay off their debt.
WhiteHouse.gov will be offering a live stream of the President's address HERE. The event is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. ET. Georgia Tech also has more information on Obama's visit on their official website.
Compounding the average bachelor's degree holder's loan debt of $28,400 has been allegations of borrowers' rights violations from major lenders. The U.S. Education Department (ED) came under harsh scrutiny at times last year for appearing to favor lenders facing such accusations.
Ted Mitchell, ED undersecretary, told Reuters and other news outlets on a conference call the Obama Administration feels obligated to look out for student loan borrowers.
"It's our responsibility to make sure that the 40 million Americans with student loans are aware of resources to manage their debt, and that we are doing everything we can to be responsive to their needs," he said.
Though he has yet to unveil his "student aid bill of rights," the President will reportedly seek increased transparency from lenders, especially regarding repayment options.
"Repayment rates improve when servicers work well and work directly with borrowers, helping them understand the terms of their loans," Sarah Bloom Raskin, deputy secretary of the Treasury Department, said on the conference call.
Among the multiple agencies investigation these alleged shady lending practices has been the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). They released a study in Oct. that suggested lenders intentionally try to incur late penalties with an array of what CFPB Director Richard Cordray called "illegal activities."
You can read more about the CFPB's findings, which includes useful tips and guidelines for taking out and repaying student aid loans, HERE.