A hat tip to Michael Offerman at The Other 85 Percent for drawing my attention to a report last month from the Center for American Progress entitled Putting the Customer First in College. The report proposes that the United States Department of Education should form or take the lead in the formation of a quasi-independent entity it would call the Office of Consumer Protection in Higher Education.

This entity would, among other things, produce a “College Customer Bill of Rights;” ensure that students had access to full, clear, and accurate information to make decisions about their educations; and serve as an ombudsman for students with various other actors in the education arena. continue reading