University of Illinois President Tim Killeen says he's pleased the Republican tax reform bill protects graduate education … but he cautions it could harm higher education in other areas.
In an email to U of I employees, Killeen says he is glad Congress kept the tuition tax benefit in place for graduate students. If grad students get their tuition waived as part of their research and teaching work, they will not have to report that waiver as income.
While Killeen says he’s glad Congress kept the status quo for grad students, he warns that other provisions in the tax bill will increase costs for universities. And, he says it may be more difficult to raise private donations, which he calls critical to higher education.