U.S. education official meets with IUN students to track program

U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal heard several Indiana University Northwest students describe their accomplishments and college struggles during a campus luncheon meeting Monday.

Kvaal said the students impressed him as they detailed how federal funding helped enhance their academic lives.

“I think there’s really something exciting happening here at IUN,” he said. “There’s a strong culture here.”

Kvaal told reporters afterward he’s positive about legal challenges ahead for President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, expected to come before the U.S. Supreme Court next month.

In August, Biden unveiled the program to help borrowers at the highest risk of defaulting on their loans. The plan could offer up to $10,000 in student loan debt relief.

Conservative groups and Republicans oppose the policy saying the president doesn’t have authority to forgive the debt without Congress approving it.

“We feel very strongly we have the authority and we’re ready to act,” Kvaal said.

“I think we’re fortunate now to have a president who wants to support higher education. The work we’ve done in two year is unprecedented,” he said.

Kvaal, who served as deputy domestic policy adviser for President Barack Obama, also headed the Institute for College Access & Success, a research and advocacy organization.

He was accompanied by his chief of staff, Melanie Wilson Muenzer, who graduated from IUN in 2005 with a master of public affairs degree.

Over lunch with about 10 students, they told Kvaal how the federal TRIO student outreach and services program, impacted them. TRIO assists students, from disadvantaged backgrounds, navigate their academic careers.

Sierra Vasquez, a first generation college student, said she felt she “wasn’t progressing” after high school so she decided to enroll in two classes at IUN.

“I had no idea what I was doing. IUN was very supportive from the jump. TRIO paid for my first semester to go to school,” said Vasquez, who’s studying nursing.

Vasquez said she didn’t have money to buy her books, but the TRIO program covered it.

Yasmine Porter, of Crown Point, said she planned to attend IU’s Bloomington campus, but changed her mind after talking to friends about IUN.

“It’s more cost-friendly, I’m glad I stayed here,” said Porter who’s planning a career in physical therapy.

Sophomore A’Reya Davis, of Gary, said she received valuable math tutoring through the TRIO program. “I was struggling, I didn’t have time to meet with my professor,” she said.

A federal work-study program provides Davis with a job at the Calumet Region Archives at IUN. “The research there was eye-opening,” she said.

IUN Chancellor Ken Iwama and other officials briefed Kvaal on how the university was using $8 million in U.S. Department of Education funding from its 2020 designation as Hispanic Serving Institution.

To qualify, a university must have a full-time undergraduate enrollment of at least 25% Hispanic students and 15% African-American.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.