[DRAFT] Access to Higher Education

[United Massachusetts]

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Access to Higher Education
Category: Education and Creativity | Area of Effect: Education | Proposed by: United Massachusetts

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Lauding the success of this Assembly in promoting access to primary education, an advance which ensures economic equity in, at the very least, the most basic level of schooling,

Noting the increasing need for higher education in the modern world, a situation which exacerbates the economic disadvantage posed to those citizens who, by means of their birth alone, are unable to obtain said education,

Aware that the debts associated with obtaining a college education often dissuade students from pursuing it, despite the benefits thereof in the job market,

Believing, on account of the above inequities, that action must be taken to ensure that the right to higher education remains open to the public, rather than being concentrated in the hands of a select few:

The General Assembly:

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution, "undergraduate education" as a level of education up to and including the receipt of a degree or its equivalent in an institute of higher education,
   
   
2. Compels member nations to take appropriate financial and/or social action to ensure that citizens thereof are able to obtain an undergraduate education or its equivalent at an accredited educational institution, in a manner which is financially non-prohibitive to the citizen,
   
   
3. Authorizes the usage of the World Assembly General Fund to assist member nations in fulfilling the demands of this resolution,
   
   
4. Clarifies that nothing in this resolution shall be interpreted as a prohibition on disciplinary expulsion or as mandating the provision of degrees to students.

[United Massachusetts]

Reserved.

[Separatist Peoples]

"Individuals should bear the cost of their own education. It is an investment, not an entitlement, and the state is not in the business of making unsecured investments for others. Opposed."

[United Massachusetts]

"Individuals should bear the cost of their own education. It is an investment, not an entitlement, and the state is not in the business of making unsecured investments for others. Opposed."

"The state is, however, in the business of ensuring that all have equal access to education, I'd argue. At any rate, I was expecting the Confederate Dominion to come out in opposition."

[Separatist Peoples]

"Individuals should bear the cost of their own education. It is an investment, not an entitlement, and the state is not in the business of making unsecured investments for others. Opposed."

"The state is, however, in the business of ensuring that all have equal access to education, I'd argue. At any rate, I was expecting the Confederate Dominion to come out in opposition."

"Equal access does not require tuition subsidization. It is unreasonable to compel states to do so when no discrimination occurs, nor either does the effect transcend international borders."

[Imperial Polk County]

Compels member nations to take appropriate financial and/or social action to ensure that citizens thereof are able to obtain an undergraduate education or its equivalent at an accredited educational institution, in a manner which is financially non-prohibitive to the citizen,

Drane reads the clause several times. "I'm not sure what would count as 'social action'. Please, explain. Also, 'financially non-prohibitive', would that include low-interest student loans? If that's your intent, fine, but it's arguable that, unless a graduate finds a job, any sort of loan would be financially prohibitive."

[United Massachusetts]

Compels member nations to take appropriate financial and/or social action to ensure that citizens thereof are able to obtain an undergraduate education or its equivalent at an accredited educational institution, in a manner which is financially non-prohibitive to the citizen,

Drane reads the clause several times. "I'm not sure what would count as 'social action'. Please, explain. Also, 'financially non-prohibitive', would that include low-interest student loans? If that's your intent, fine, but it's arguable that, unless a graduate finds a job, any sort of loan would be financially prohibitive."

Social action would refer to any other action needed to make education attainable. I'm not sure what that would entail. If you'd like, I can delete it.

I was struggling with writing financially non-prohibitive. In essence, it's supposed to be financially reasonably-accessible, however member nations seek to do that.

[Attempted Socialism]

"Individuals should bear the cost of their own education. It is an investment, not an entitlement, and the state is not in the business of making unsecured investments for others. Opposed."

"Education is not an investment for the individual, who gains no new ownership of property, no new job, and no new production. Education for the individual is attaining a state of learning and enlightenment, which makes them more capable in their lives and potentially more able to do work. For society, however, education is an investment in human resources, in scientific progress and a better public discourse. If any entity is making unsecured investments, it is the individual using years of their life, and in the CDSP apparently also their fortune, to attain an education, the aggregate benefits of which the state will reap.
In the Solidarity Movement education is free for all, and eighteen years of formal education is the required minimum unless a formal dispensation from the rules is granted. The last five of these eighteen years are at universities across the nation, meaning that citizens are encouraged to move about, and become independent adults. We naturally make sure that all citizens are cared for during this time, so they have free access to dormitories, IT services, books, and all other requirements that may be needed for a young person to attain their desired education and become a responsible citizen.
We would happily vote for giving the same opportunity to young citizens across the memberstates of the World Assembly as well."

[Separatist Peoples]

"Individuals should bear the cost of their own education. It is an investment, not an entitlement, and the state is not in the business of making unsecured investments for others. Opposed."

"Education is not an investment for the individual, who gains no new ownership of property, no new job, and no new production.

"Individuals have a property interest in a degree or professional license, ambassador."

Education for the individual is attaining a state of learning and enlightenment, which makes them more capable in their lives and potentially more able to do work. For society, however, education is an investment in human resources, in scientific progress and a better public discourse. If any entity is making unsecured investments, it is the individual using years of their life, and in the CDSP apparently also their fortune, to attain an education, the aggregate benefits of which the state will reap.

"A state cannot reposes years of an individual's life. Ergo, the investment is unsecured.We reject that approach as a viable option."

In the Solidarity Movement education is free for all, and eighteen years of formal education is the required minimum unless a formal dispensation from the rules is granted. The last five of these eighteen years are at universities across the nation, meaning that citizens are encouraged to move about, and become independent adults. We naturally make sure that all citizens are cared for during this time, so they have free access to dormitories, IT services, books, and all other requirements that may be needed for a young person to attain their desired education and become a responsible citizen.
We would happily vote for giving the same opportunity to young citizens across the memberstates of the World Assembly as well."

"Good for you. Keep it in your nation. Leave the rest of us the hell alone."

OOC: I also strongly suspect that this is illegal.

[Pilarcraft]

"We fully support this. A Level of higher education should be available for everyone at the lowest possible cost."
~Chancellor Yularen

[Xmara]

“This appears to be an excellent resolution. But would the General Assembly have enough funds to cover all impoverished nations?”

[United Massachusetts]

OOC: Any legality issues?

[United Massachusetts]

“This appears to be an excellent resolution. But would the General Assembly have enough funds to cover all impoverished nations?”

I would assume so. We have employed the Fund for similar purposes before (ie. Promotion of a Basic Education)

[Separatist Peoples]

OOC: It is difficult to see how compelling state action in the financial industry by requiring low-interest loans does not constitute a restriction of commerce, in this case, a financial loan service, and therefore violate GAR#68. Such efforts would undercut commercial loan services.

[Araraukar]

OOC: Define "an undergraduate education".

[Attempted Socialism]

OOC: It is difficult to see how compelling state action in the financial industry by requiring low-interest loans does not constitute a restriction of commerce, in this case, a financial loan service, and therefore violate GAR#68. Such efforts would undercut commercial loan services.

OOC: I read through the proposal twice, and I can't see how state action in the financial industry is compelled. One might just as easily fulfill the provisions through student grants, paying tuition, supplying students housing, or any other alternative to requiring students to indebt themselves for education. These can also all be means-tested if one wants to just eke across the "non-prohibitive" line (IRL I've seen the step further, where tuition and grants are paid as means-tested loans that are also condition to future means-testing, so if you earn enough later in life, you'll have to pay back student loans).

[United Massachusetts]

OOC: It is difficult to see how compelling state action in the financial industry by requiring low-interest loans does not constitute a restriction of commerce, in this case, a financial loan service, and therefore violate GAR#68. Such efforts would undercut commercial loan services.

Who says a nation is compelled to enforce the mandate through loans? One could easily also do it by Bernie-ing out education.

[United Massachusetts]

OOC: Define "an undergraduate education".

I figure I'd intentionally leave the term vague so as to allow nations with different educational systems to deal with it in their own way.

[Separatist Peoples]

OOC: It is difficult to see how compelling state action in the financial industry by requiring low-interest loans does not constitute a restriction of commerce, in this case, a financial loan service, and therefore violate GAR#68. Such efforts would undercut commercial loan services.

Who says a nation is compelled to enforce the mandate through loans? One could easily also do it by Bernie-ing out education.

OOC: Which would similarly restrict the private higher education business. And, frankly, destroy national education systems in many places.

[United Massachusetts]

Who says a nation is compelled to enforce the mandate through loans? One could easily also do it by Bernie-ing out education.

OOC: Which would similarly restrict the private higher education business. And, frankly, destroy national education systems in many places.

Such are not the only ways. Provide government-authorized grants to students that are means tested, etc. The idea is to allow many possible ways of reaching the same goal.

[Separatist Peoples]

OOC: Which would similarly restrict the private higher education business. And, frankly, destroy national education systems in many places.

Such are not the only ways. Provide government-authorized grants to students that are means tested, etc. The idea is to allow many possible ways of reaching the same goal.

OOC: No method that this compels will not adversely harm an industry, and there is no threat to a national population. I question the international applicability of this as well.

[United Massachusetts]

Such are not the only ways. Provide government-authorized grants to students that are means tested, etc. The idea is to allow many possible ways of reaching the same goal.

OOC: No method that this compels will not adversely harm an industry, and there is no threat to a national population. I question the international applicability of this as well.

What exactly do you mean by "international applicability"? Is it a problem if something is not internationally applicable, or could we merely add a clause clarifying that the mandates of the resolution only apply where applicable?

[Separatist Peoples]

OOC: No method that this compels will not adversely harm an industry, and there is no threat to a national population. I question the international applicability of this as well.

What exactly do you mean by "international applicability"? Is it a problem if something is not internationally applicable, or could we merely add a clause clarifying that the mandates of the resolution only apply where applicable?

OOC: Nobody in your nation is affected if my nation has expensive college. There is no international or transboundary issue. And higher education is certainly not a right.

[United Massachusetts]

What exactly do you mean by "international applicability"? Is it a problem if something is not internationally applicable, or could we merely add a clause clarifying that the mandates of the resolution only apply where applicable?

OOC: Nobody in your nation is affected if my nation has expensive college. There is no international or transboundary issue. And higher education is certainly not a right.

Is my preserving my own wetlands of importance to you?

There is also a trans-boundary issue. There is a significant gap in accessibility to education abroad, meaning that immigrants from SP to UM who might not have the same access to education are put at a disadvantage, one which is a drain on my economy.

[Separatist Peoples]

OOC: Nobody in your nation is affected if my nation has expensive college. There is no international or transboundary issue. And higher education is certainly not a right.

Is my preserving my own wetlands of importance to you?

OOC: Yes. Environmental concerns are inherently trans-boundary because ecological communities don't perceive political boundaries.

There is also a trans-boundary issue. There is a significant gap in accessibility to education abroad, meaning that immigrants from SP to UM who might not have the same access to education are put at a disadvantage, one which is a drain on my economy.

OOC: So don't permit Separatist immigrants free access to your educational facilities. I promise you, ICly, that will not bother the CDSP.