AALS Discussion Group

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At present, 44 million Americans owe a combined $1.5 trillion in student loans. Only 60% of borrowers are in active repayment. These numbers, along with skyrocketing education costs, drop-out trends among marginalized groups, and predatory behavior by for-profit institutions and lenders point to the need for regulatory action. Missteps on the part of the U.S. Department of Education increase concerns regarding the current state of regulatory oversight. This discussion group brings together law professors who focus on administrative law, student loans, debt, bankruptcy, poverty law, and more. The panel discussion will focus on four areas related to higher education finance: (1) Growing student loan debt, racial justice issues, and potential policy responses; (2) consumer protection issues; (3) student loans and systemic risk; and (4) the role of bankruptcy in protecting students.