Media advisory: Professor can comment on Obama tour to promote college affordability
LAWRENCE — William Elliott III, associate professor of social welfare at the University of Kansas and nationally regarded expert on educational outcomes associated with different financial aid approaches, is available to speak with media about college affordability as it relates to President Barack Obama's bus tour to discuss making higher education more affordable.
Obama is taking a bus tour to educational sites on the East Coast this week to discuss his plan to address the student debt crisis and to help young people receive an education without incurring crippling debt.
Elliott is director of the Assets and Education Initiative at KU’s School of Social Welfare. His research has evaluated programs that establish savings accounts for young people, examined data regarding the relationship among assets, debt and educational and financial outcomes throughout young people’s lives, and has shown that students with savings, even modest amounts, are much more likely to attend and complete college than those who do not have savings.
Elliott has served on several national boards studying college affordability and advised policy makers on the issue. His vision for a financial aid approach up to the challenges of the 21st century includes savings accounts and asset accumulation opportunities for all American youths to help them reach and complete college and pay for it without relying disproportionately on loans. He can discuss his research, savings, college completion and attendance, the student debt crisis, the role of assets in shaping educational achievement, helping low-income students attend college, President Obama’s plan and similar topics.
To schedule an interview, contact Mike Krings at 785-864-8860 or by email.