See how ASLA is supporting legislation aimed at protecting access to graduate education for landscape architects.

On December 16, LAND reported on ASLA's review of proposed federal actions to cap graduate student loan borrowing-changes that could significantly affect access to landscape architecture education nationwide. In response, ASLA is supporting legislation aimed at protecting access to graduate education for landscape architects and other allied design professionals.

Recently, U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (NY) introduced H.R. 6677, the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act. The bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to restore prior federal student loan limits for graduate and professional students, reversing recent reductions tied to recommendations from the U.S. Department of Education's RISE Committee.

The RISE Committee has recommended that student loan borrowing limits be based on how programs are classified under current federal law. Because landscape architecture and other allied design professions are not included in the narrow list of degrees designated as "professional," students in accredited graduate programs could face reduced access to federal loans-potentially forcing them toward higher-cost private financing or discouraging them from pursuing advanced degrees.

For the profession, H.R. 6677 represents an important step toward protecting access and affordability in graduate education. ASLA supports the legislation and will continue working with Congress and coalition partners to build support for solutions that preserve access to graduate education for current and future landscape architects.