Higher Learning Advocates

📢 It’s official! We’ve moved! Follow our new page, Today’s Students Coalition (and meet our new logomark!).🧡

In June, we announced HLA would transition its operations and continue its work under the banner of TSC, a coalition formed by HLA in 2019 that sits at the heart of an extensive national network united for . Looking forward, we’re eagerly preparing to launch and reveal the redesigned todaysstudents.org in the coming days, introduce a series of new student voices, and share updates on our work as a coalition.

Be sure to tune in and tag us. Thank you for supporting our work for .

HLA’s Julie Peller talks about next steps in the previously announced transition to the Today’s Students Coalition with Chronicle of Higher Education’s Goldie Blumenstyk.

“Last month HLA announced a transition: a move to continue a 40-group coalition it helped create but reduce the staff of HLA, its parent organization. Starting in June, HLA’s managing director of advocacy, Tanya Ang, will become executive director of the Today’s Students Coalition, which Peller calls a ‘deliberately big-tent’ organization with ambitions to grow even larger. Peller will stay on as a board member.

The moment seemed a good one to check back with Peller on where she’s seen progress for today’s students and where there’s still work to do. Spoiler alert: There’s still plenty to do.”

What ‘Today’s Students’ Still Need For one, policies recognizing that adult students “aren’t just recent high-school grads who showed up on campus a few years late.”

🎉Join us in congratulating our very own Julie Peller for being named on Washington DC's Most Influential People of 2024 List via Washingtonian for the second year. This is a well-deserved recognition of her prominent leadership in shaping federal policy and dedication to .

Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People of 2024 Here’s our list of the experts and advocates, outside the government, who are playing big roles in Washington’s policy debates.

💥💥BIG NEWS: What does HLA + TSC equal? An announcement you DON'T want to miss from HLA's Executive Director Julie Peller:

"Over the past seven years, the term 'Today's Students' has changed how society views people in pursuit of higher education. No longer needing explanation, it's become a fixture in our collective vocabulary, a testament to our strides in reshaping perceptions. This shift is not only in the language we use but in the policies we advance.

Reflecting on Higher Learning Advocates’ work over the years fills me with immense pride. Together, we've journeyed through legislative victories and setbacks and declared the name 'today’s students' as a nationally-known trademark, all while steadfastly advocating for the needs of this country’s learners. Our mission has become a rallying cry embraced by partners, policymakers, higher education leadership, and members of the media alike.

With this momentum, we stand poised to make an even greater impact."

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT ⬇️

The Evolution of Today’s Students Dear Friends:  Over the past seven years, the term "Today's Students" has changed how society views people in pursuit of higher education. No longer needing explanation, it's become a fixture in our collective vocabulary, a testament to our strides in reshaping perceptions. This shift is not only i...

Many of the Americans with some college but no degree continue to learn outside of academia: on the job, at home, through a program.

Access to credit for prior learning saves students time + money on their degrees. to learn more: https://bit.ly/3A5LSwL

Credit for prior learning (CPL) is quantifying learning that takes place outside the classroom and makes returning to college more accessible + affordable, especially for the adults with some college, no credential.

to learn more: https://bit.ly/3xOhq96

📈 Minnesota’s attainment goal: 70% of Minnesota residents between the ages of 25 to 44 will hold a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2025.

Current Rate: 60.6%

There are 40.4 million adults w/ some college, no credential. Let's widen the path : https://bit.ly/40MillionReasons

📈 Texas’ attainment goal: At least 60% of Texans 25-64 will have a postsecondary degree, certificate, or other credential of value by 2030.

Current Rate: 50.5%

There are 40.4 million adults w/ some college, no credential. : https://bit.ly/40MillionReasons

📈 Indiana’s attainment goal: 60% of adults in Indiana will attain higher education by 2025.

Current Rate: 53.3%

There are 40.4 million adults w/ some college, no credential. Let's widen the path : https://bit.ly/40MillionReasons

📈 Florida’s attainment goal: 60% of working-age Floridians will have a high-value postsecondary certificate, degree, or training by 2030.

Current Rate: 54.5%

There are 40.4 million adults w/ some college, no credential. : https://bit.ly/40MillionReasons

📈 California’s attainment goal: 70% of working-aged Californians will hold a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030.

Current Rate: 55.4%

There are 40.4 million adults w/ some college, no credential. Let's widen the path : https://bit.ly/40MillionReasons

When Elizabeth was 19, she was a new mom, a full-time employee, and a . She recently shared her story about losing access to financial aid due to SAP policy with The Hechinger Report.

Although she found success, Elizabeth admits the SAP barrier made it harder than it should have been to go back to school. And her challenge is the same type of obstacle millions of the 40.4 million people with some college, no credential face in trying to regain access to .

(link to full story): https://bit.ly/43YLxtF

Brenda promised her late sister she'd finish college. She’s among 40+ million adults with “some college, no credential.” In an attempt to return 40 years later, she earned all As + a B. But one massive hurdle stands in her way to a degree.

: https://bit.ly/3xvUbE7

This is not a throwback, it’s a step forward. So, if you missed the opportunity to participate in our campaign last year, now’s the time to join us! Follow along this week and get in on the reboot!

bit.ly/40MillionReasons

HLA’s Tanya Ang spoke with Diverse: Issues In Higher Education's Arrman Kyaw about the Postsecondary Student Success Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation that seeks to codify the PSSG program. Read why this is a much-needed investment for today’s students:

Bill to Codify Postsecondary Student Success Grants Met with Support and Criticism from Scholars and Advocates Legislators are looking to codify the Postsecondary Student Success Grant program into law through new legislation. Higher ed scholars and advocates are generally in support of the bill but have still levied some criticisms and concerns about it.

Why do so many of who are eligible for public benefits miss out on the assistance they need from programs that can help cover their basic needs?

“The reason so many students are missing out is unlikely due to hesitation to access assistance. Policies, systems, and processes make it nearly impossible for them to enroll.”

HLA’s Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield explains more and what we can do to change this in our latest policy resource: Today’s Students Deserve Their Fair (Data) Share

https://bit.ly/TheirFairShare

: HLA’s Julie Peller talked with Lisa Kurian Philip from WBEZ Chicago about how Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) can be a massive hurdle for returning adult college students like Brenda Brooks, who promised her late sister she'd finish college. In an attempt to return to school 40 years later, Brenda earned all As and one B. But SAP still stands in her way to a degree.

Give Lisa's three-minute Marketplace Business News story a listen:

Financial aid rule makes returning to college unaffordable for some Students have to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, among other requirements, to keep their federal government loans and grants.

Let the countdown begin!

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT🎙️

In TWO days, we can’t wait to bring nearly 75 students to the Hill for 3 days of excellent events, including a Policy Briefing with Brittany Matthews, director of policy and advocacy at Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice (CHEPP): https://bit.ly/StudentSummitAgenda

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT🎙️

On March 3, we’re thrilled to bring nearly 75 students to the Hill for back-to-back events, starting with a Policy Briefing with Satra Taylor, Young Invincibles’s director of higher ed and workforce policy: https://bit.ly/StudentSummitAgenda

Only days away!!

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT🎙️

This weekend, nearly 75 students will have the unique opportunity to learn how to prepare for meetings with congressional offices on the Hill with Amanda Schermerhorn, partner org. LeadMN’s government affairs coordinator: https://bit.ly/StudentSummitSpeakers

With the bipartisan short-term Pell bill expected on the House floor next week, our latest resource explores how short-term credentials enable access to more educational options and training aligned with in-demand career opportunities for .

Check it out here: https://bit.ly/HLAShortTermPell

National Skills Coalition, American Association of Community Colleges, Association of Community College Trustees, Jobs for the Future, Rebuilding America's Middle Class

Short-term Pell to Expand Opportunity - Higher Learning Advocates - Our Resources Short-term Pell can be a real solution that puts the educational and employment needs of today’s students first.

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT🎙️

Next week, we’re kicking off the 3-day summit on the Hill with keynote Fatu Magassouba, partner org. LeadMN’s interim executive director, + nearly 75 of . Check out the agenda here: https://bit.ly/StudentSummitAgenda

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT🎙️

We are thrilled to kick off this year’s 3-day summit March 3 on the Hill with Julie Peller, Higher Learning Advocates’ executive director, as a keynote who will speak to nearly 75 student attendees: https://bit.ly/StudentSummitSpeakers

NEW! What's the other 'missed connection' on college campuses? HLA's policy associate Richard Davis Jr. explains in his latest blog.

💘bit.ly/MissedConnectionsFAFSAedition

The other ‘missed connection’ on college campuses “What if?” It’s a question that missed connections from chance encounters can leave us to wonder. It’s also the exact type of thinking that…

Ensuring that have access to transportation, food & housing, & child care will lead to our success tomorrow. Help HLA support today’s students this by donating here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/higher-learning-advocates-inc/hla-s-giving-tuesday-2023