Brenda Brooks dropped out of college 40 years ago. Federal rules mean she can’t afford to go back.
Lately, Englewood native Brenda Brooks has had a tough time finding work. The 60-year-old has decades of experience at CVS and the historic Regal Theater in Avalon Park. But recently, prospective employers have told her, “ ‘You have the qualifications...
News
Our news, editorial, and analysis on federal policy surrounding higher education’s most pressing issues.
Unveiling the New TodaysStudents.org
How well do you know today’s students? Their stories may surprise you. Over the past few months, we’ve been reaching out to students and collecting stories that showcase just a few of the incredible individuals who are balancing family, career, finances, and education. At the newly-revamped TodaysStudents.org, you can listen to first-han...
[STATEMENT] Higher Learning Advocates Submits Comments Opposing Repeal of Gainful Employment Rule
For Immediate Release: September 13, 2018 WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 13, 2018) — Today, Higher Learning Advocates submitted comments in response the U.S. Department of Education’s proposal to repeal the Gainful Employment rule, a federal regulation that holds certain programs at institutions of higher education accountable based on the ear...
Hearing Student Voice: Why Telling the Story Matters in Federal Policy
One of the challenges holding back federal policy is the disconnect between the experiences of today’s students and the conventional wisdom around what college is like. Too often, myths and misconceptions take root that contradict student realities. For example, we tend to think of students as 18-22 year-olds hanging out on the quad, studying...
[STATEMENT] Public Comment on Quality and Innovation at U.S. Department of Education Hearing
Bipartisan advocacy group urges the Department of Education to offer regulatory changes “through the lens of putting student outcomes first” WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 6, 2018) — Emily Bouck, Policy and Advocacy Director at Higher Learning Advocates, testified at a hearing held by the U.S. Department of Education today as it ...
Press
Is college enrollment among older adults increasing? Depends who you ask
Source: Hechinger Report
It’s Time for a Real Definition of Student Success
I work for a 16,000-member association that, like many other higher education organizations, has a goal of helping all students succeed. In fact, I think the words “student success”, particularly for undergraduate students, may finally be popular enough to surpass “big data”, which are two words that I think have permeated nearly every inst...
Today’s Students and the Evolving Equity Movement in Higher Education
The march toward equity has been, for nearly a century, a hallmark in the history of American education. The movement gained nationwide momentum with the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision at the Supreme Court, which found school segregation unconstitutional and established full and equal access to public education as protected under the...
Credential Transparency: Essential for Education and Training Accountability
It’s ironic, but true: right now it’s easier to find rich, comparable, transparent data when shopping for cars, airline tickets, phones, washing machines—just about anything—than it is to find similar information across the breadth and depth all types of credentials available today. Try it. If you’re in the market for a new car, it’s re...
How Tennessee is Writing a New Narrative about College Opportunity
The last few years have been a time of pivotal change and dramatic progress in Tennessee, and our state’s focus on higher education has played a significant role in this advancement. We are experiencing record low unemployment, leading the nation in the growth of student outcomes in K-12 education, and are proud to be home…
FAFSA Verification Melt is Trending for All The Wrong Reasons
Nearly half of low-income students who are accepted to college never show up for the first day of classes. Bogged down by the complex and paperwork-intensive financial aid process, would-be enrollees simply drop out before they start. At a federal level, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has become an easy scapegoat when…
Whatever It Takes: The Student Success Renaissance at Paul Quinn College
For most college presidents, converting the school’s football field into an organic farm would be a career-ending move. For Michael Sorrell, it was just the beginning of a historic turnaround that’s occurred at the 146-year-old institution where he serves as president. Facing sagging enrollment, financial challenges and growing questions about ...