NDEA extension

This fall, the 88th Congress completed action on a bill to broaden the National Defense Education Act of 1958. In extending the Act for three years beyond its present expiration date of June 30, 1965, Congress at the same time expanded NDEA programs for student loans, graduate fellowships, guidance, and equipment purchases. Items of interest to physics education include an increase in authorization for low‐interest student loans from the present $135 million to $163.3 million for fiscal 1965, $179.3 million in 1966, $190 million in 1967, and $195 million in 1968. In addition, the annual $800 000 limit which any one institution may disburse from its student loan fund has been removed. Loans to graduate and professional students have been raised from $1000 to $2500 per year, while the total loan per student for both undergraduate and graduate education has been increased from $5000 to $10 000. Students carrying one‐half the normal academic workload are now made eligible for loans, and loan forgiveness of up to fifty percent has been extended to those who go on to teach in colleges and universities.