The COVID-19 pandemic has become an international crisis that has significantly altered every facet of my life. As a student leader, it has also been the most difficult thing I have dealt with during my tenure. The pandemic hit like a flash flood—one day we were going about business as normal and the next we…

As a graduating senior at the University of Central Florida (UCF), my favorite part about being on campus is getting to network with a group of students that are all in the same walk of life as me. This is extremely evident at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management that I have been so lucky…

For many college seniors, we are often asked, “what’s next for you?” Now more than ever it is an overwhelming and loaded question. Not having an exact plan can be both scary and frustrating. This question that makes students feel anxious and alone is now a shared one. A question many are asking themselves around…

When I was hired to lead Kentucky’s public higher education system in 2018, I asked my staff to design a logo incorporating the words “Higher Education Matters.” Armed with charts and graphs, I embarked on a statewide listening tour to share the benefits of a college credential and hear how higher education could better meet…

“Don’t waste a crisis” is wise advice that can be hard to remember when you’re actually living through one. And right now, our national response to COVID-19 is a mess. To come out of the crisis as quickly and with as little long-term damage as possible we need a lot more coordination among federal, state,…

“While the big-name colleges still enroll plenty of stereotypical students, the institutions that serve the bulk of students have seen changes. The numbers are clear: 37 percent of today’s students are older than 25, according to information collected by Higher Learning Advocates. Almost two-thirds, 64 percent, work while in college. Anot...

To support today’s students during and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress and the Department of Education must take critical steps by removing outdated and burdensome barriers to begin to repair our workforce through higher education. Specifically, policymakers must look to three areas where policy change can have the biggest impact i...

Executive Director Julie Peller commented on how the coronavirus pandemic has led to a particularly difficult situation for student parents, who have been forced to juggle their jobs, classes, and child care. Read the story here.

WASHINGTON — Julie Peller, Executive Director of Higher Learning Advocates, made the following statement in response to the higher education provisions of the coronavirus response package that was passed by Congress today. “Higher Learning Advocates commends Congress for the passage of the CARES Act, which includes several higher education prov...

WASHINGTON — Julie Peller, Executive Director of Higher Learning Advocates, made the following statement in response to the higher education provisions included in Leader McConnell’s COVID-19 package: “Higher Learning Advocates is pleased to see Leader McConnell’s inclusion of several higher education provisions within the COVID-19 response...

A letter to Congress, spearheaded by Higher Learning Advocates and signed by 51 partner organizations, urging policymakers to ensure students’ basic needs are met and to allow emergency funds to cover them, was highlighted in Forbes. Read the full piece here.

WASHINGTON — Julie Peller, Executive Director of Higher Learning Advocates, made the following statement to express the urgent need for Congress to support today’s students during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as through the higher education provisions included in the Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act introduced by Senator Patty ...