The 23-college Consortium on Financing Higher Education yesterday released a report recommending broad changes in Title IV student assistance programs of the Higher Education Act.

The report calls for changes in virtually all existing federally funded student financial assistance programs, aimed at their "consolidation and expansion," R. Jerrold Gibson '51, director of the University's student loan office and Harvard's representative to the consortium, said in a news conference last week.

The consortium last week submitted its report to the House Subcommittee on Post-Secondary Education, which is currently considering a financial assistance bill drafted by chairman James G. O'Hara (D- Mich.).

The report proposes modifications in the two major federal grant programs-the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program (BEOG) and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program (SEOG).

Under the consortium proposal, BEOG grants would be expanded to meet the average national tuition level of $2100, less an allowance for summer earnings of $500, giving any student with financial need access to a "zero-tuition" state institution.

BEOG grant increases would be supplemented by similar increases in the current State Student Incentive Program (SSIP), and in increased work-study programs.

Beyond the BEOG ceiling of $1600, students would be encouraged to obtain an additional $1000 through "increased opportunities for on-campus work," Gibson said.

Grants from the SEOG program would be expanded, and would be extended to families with gross incomes of "up to $19,000," he also said.

Credit Procedures

The report also proposes a number of measures which would simplify student credit procedures.

"By consolidating all types of student loans, by making the terms of all loans the same, and by generally equalizing loans, we would be taking a step toward better debt management," Gibson said.

Amy Nychis, director of financial aid at Wellesley and a member of the panel which drafted the report, agreed with Gibson that the loan proposals "would be a help to the federal government in its budget considerations."

Gibson said that the report seeks to raise the terms of student loans administered under the National Direct Student Loan program (NDSL) from 3 to 7 per cent in order to reduce delinquency in repayment.

Other Proposals

Webb Buell, administrative assistant to the Post-Secondary Education subcommittee, said last Friday that the consortium's report will be considered by the House group "along with the other proposals which we have received over the past few months from citizen's groups."