The U.S. Department of Education has appointed Rajeev Darolia, professor in the University of Kentucky Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, to be the economic and higher education policy analysis advisor for a new rule-making committee tasked with reforming federal regulations related to affordability and student loans. 

The committee is part of a negotiated rule-making process required by law to make or adjust federal higher education regulations authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The affordability and student loans committee will address issues including Public Student Loan Forgiveness, borrower defense to repayment, closed school discharges, income-driven replacement and Pell Grants for prison education programs.

"The rule-making committee will do the important work of improving borrowers’ access to benefits that reduce the burden of federal student loans, including targeted discharges," U.S. Secretary of Education Miquel Cardona said in a news release announcing the negotiated rule-making timeline. “We look forward to convening the committee and remain committed to the mission of better serving our nation’s students and borrowers."

Sixteen constituent groups will be represented on the committee, which is meeting virtually three times between now and the end of the year: Oct. 4-8, Nov. 1-5 and Dec. 6-10. All committee meetings are open to the public. Darolia was chosen for this newly created advisor position because of his expertise in economic and higher education policy analysis and in data that can be used to support policy decisions.

“We are very proud of Raj being named to this important position,” said Ron Zimmer, director of the Martin School. “He is an outstanding faculty member, who is gaining well-deserved national recognition for his expertise on public policy issues affecting education."

Darolia is the Wendell H. Ford Professor of Public Policy and an associate professor of public policy and economics in the Martin School. He also is the director of graduate studies for the Martin School Ph.D. program.