WASHINGTON — Today, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Senate HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI), and House Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act, which would take important steps toward doubling the maximum Pell Grant award. Executive Dire...

The four-year college degree has long been the gold standard and the surest gateway to economic opportunity in the United States. But while the four-year degree provides access to the entry-level work and graduate education that lead, in turn, to the best-paying jobs, it starkly divides Americans by race. Often lauded as the great equalizer,&hellip...

The mental health crisis on college campuses, prior to 2020, often referred to the overwhelming demand on campus mental health centers and their frequent inability to meet that demand. Waiting lists and inadequate staffing levels to support student mental health needs were often at the center of the discussion. Along came the COVID-19 pandemic, whi...

WASHINGTON — This morning, the Biden Administration announced the American Families Plan, which includes important provisions that would improve the lives of today’s students. Executive Director Julie Peller made the following statement regarding the plan: “Higher Learning Advocates is excited to see the proposals included in the American Fam...

Nicole Lynn Lewis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Generation Hope, which works to surround motivated teen parents and their children with mentors, emotional support, and financial resources they need to succeed in higher ed, as well as supporting their children through school. Nicole, a former teen parent who worked while pursuing her...

“Today’s college students are not who you think they are. One-third of them are more than 25 years old, according to data released last summer by Higher Learning Advocates, a nonprofit supporting student success. Nearly two in five are part-time students, that report said, and only about one in six live on campus. What’s more,…

Julie Peller and Jamie Merisotis discuss how using the Pell Grant for short-term programs could build a different kind of bridge—one that links training, education and employment. “Just like America’s roads and bridges, building the nation’s talent for the future requires strategic investment, careful planning and partnerships. Investin...

WASHINGTON — Today, President Biden released his proposed FY2022 budget request, which we are thrilled to see includes several wins for today’s students. Executive Director Julie Peller made the following statement: “Higher Learning Advocates applauds President Biden for prioritizing today’s students in his FY2022 budget request.  We are p...

WASHINGTON — Today, the Biden Administration announced the American Jobs Plan, which includes significant investments in workforce training, broadband, and community college infrastructure. Executive Director Julie Peller made the following statement regarding the plan: “Higher Learning Advocates commends the Biden Administration for its propos...

As the country works toward economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are at least 10 million unemployed Americans, many of whom are looking to higher education as a pathway to their next career step. Now more than ever, adult learners are keenly aware of the return of investment they receive from…

“The (students) are certainly not who you see in movies,” said Julie Peller, executive director of Higher Learning Advocates, a nonprofit aiming to improve student outcomes, during a panel. “They’re not, by and large, playing Frisbee on the quad, going to frat parties on Friday nights and leaving in four years.” Many...

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, Congress passed and President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, which will provide much needed support to today’s students as the pandemic continues and beyond. Executive Director Julie Peller made the following statement: “Higher Learning Advocates is pleased to see continued investment in direct emergency aid fo...