Re: Comments for US Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee Proposed Rule 

IWPR strongly opposes the proposed Department of Education rule reflecting the RISE Committee’s decision to omit many post-baccalaureate degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree.” The degrees the Department seeks to exclude open access to career paths that provide vital services to communities and families and require years of study, training, and certification. These include advanced degrees within many women-dominated fields, such as nursing, physician assistant, education, and social work, that are vital to supporting families and community well-being.