Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act of 2025
Summary
The Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act of 2025 aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow adjunct faculty members to qualify for public service loan forgiveness. This bill specifically targets section 455(m) of the Act, modifying the eligibility criteria for loan forgiveness. The proposed changes would extend loan forgiveness benefits to adjunct faculty who meet certain teaching hour requirements and are not employed full-time elsewhere.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to expand the pool of individuals eligible for public service loan forgiveness to include adjunct faculty. This could alleviate the financial burden on adjunct faculty members who are often employed on a contingent basis. It may also incentivize individuals to pursue or continue careers in adjunct teaching positions.
Potential Benefits
- Provides financial relief to adjunct faculty members struggling with student loan debt.
- Potentially incentivizes qualified individuals to pursue or continue careers in education.
- Could improve the financial stability of adjunct faculty, leading to better teaching outcomes.
- May help attract more qualified individuals to adjunct positions, enhancing the quality of education.
- Addresses potential inequities in loan forgiveness programs by including adjunct faculty.
Potential Disadvantages
- Could increase the overall cost of the public service loan forgiveness program.
- May create administrative challenges in verifying the eligibility of adjunct faculty.
- Potential for misuse or abuse of the expanded eligibility criteria.
- Might not significantly impact the overall student loan debt crisis.
- Could lead to calls for further expansion of loan forgiveness programs to other part-time workers.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the general welfare clause of the Constitution (Preamble), as it aims to improve the financial well-being of a specific group of workers. Congress has the power to legislate on matters related to education and student loans under the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8). The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).