The conversation around higher ed reform is shifting, and voters are paying attention.
Join us on March 9 as we unpack how the public is responding to OBBBA and what it means for the path forward.
Save your spot 👇 bit.ly/4kWXRDs
Is college worth it? In Illinois, the numbers say yes. 🌾
From strong earnings outcomes to meaningful access for Pell students, the University of Illinois System shows what it looks like when public universities deliver real economic mobility.
Check out our latest blog at buff.ly/Se4LQcD
The data is in.
Voters have clear reactions to the higher ed reforms in OBBBA, and we’re breaking it all down on March 9. Join us for a webinar on what policymakers need to know now. Register here: bit.ly/4kWXRDs
The K-12 tax credit scholarship program may look like a typical school voucher—it's not. It incentivizes taxpayers to donate to scholarship organizations, which then provide funds to students who need them most. More from @laurameckler.bsky.social ( @washingtonpost.com ) 🔗https://buff.ly/ALsiXAb
If ED is serious about putting students at the center, the data must follow. Restore funding for key NCES surveys, link IPEDS with Treasury to track outcomes, expand grad program transparency, and better measure community college success. Here’s how.
New polling shows how voters are responding to the higher ed reforms in OBBBA.
On Monday, March 9, we’ll break down what the data says, what’s resonating, and what policymakers should be paying attention to. ⤵️ bit.ly/4kWXRDs
As we conclude #BlackHistoryMonth, we sat down with Lodriguez Murray from UNCF to talk about the role the organization plays in advancing Black student success and why continued investment in HBCUs matters right now. Tune in to the full conversation 💡 buff.ly/UIcyeLK
Relying on inconsistent annual appropriations leaves students and families unsure how to pay for college. Pell Grant purchasing power is shrinking. Lawmakers must ensure stable funding, including Workforce Pell, so the program delivers on its promise. Read more in Best Colleges:
On this week’s episode of The Fly-In, hosts @repgreglandsman.bsky.social & @repmarcveasey.bsky.social are joined by @lanaeerickson.bsky.social , Senior Vice President for Social Policy, Education & Politics at @thirdway.bsky.social, to discuss DHS reforms & the New Dem Affordability Agenda.
Grad PLUS loans are on their way out. In just a few months, new borrowers won’t have access. Here’s the rise and fall of a program that once opened the door to graduate school for thousands. 🔗
The max Pell Grant covers less than a third of college attendance costs. With eligibility expanding, it's time to increase the funding. But let's get back to the basics to truly understand the process.
Watch our video to see how Pell Grant funding works.
Opening Pell Grants to short-term programs without new funding risks weakening a key college access tool. Pell already covers less than 1/3 of public four-year costs. Using its limited surplus could threaten long-term stability. Learn more at the link. ⤵️
Our higher ed job board just got an update. Take a look at some amazing roles available! 💼 buff.ly/3iHlHMz
More students qualify for Pell. Workforce Pell expands eligibility. The funding? Still not expanding.
Read more in @insidehighered.com. 👀 buff.ly/m2Xws3p
New grad loan limits aren’t cutting access. They fix a broken system. The final definition of professional programs covers 440,000+ students, nearly 40,000 more than before. ED should hold the line and honor the negotiated deal. ⤵️
College is an investment in your future. 💰This #FinAidFeb, weigh the costs of borrowing against the potential long-term benefits of a college degree. 🔎
ED released proposals to overhaul grad ed financing for public comment. The plans move closer to loan caps & defining covered programs. These categories aren’t about value. They’re guardrails to limit debt & keep tuition in check. More from @insidehighered.com ⤵️
As accreditation reform takes shape, Emily Rounds points to a way forward on student outcomes: accreditors should “work with its institutions to set benchmarks for continuous improvement.” More from @jessicablake.bsky.social ( @insidehighered.com ) buff.ly/C83vKqb
Next up in the neg reg series: accreditation. Let’s get back to basics and unpack what it actually means for institutions, students, and taxpayers. ⤵️
ED is asking to delay forgiveness for 170,000 borrowers from the 2022 Borrower Defense settlement, citing backlogs & limited capacity. Cuts that reduced ED staff by nearly 50% make the challenge worse. With Wednesday’s deadline, here is what’s at stake.⚠️ buff.ly/WHAj6EG
On International Day of Education, we celebrate youth shaping the future of learning. Gen Z values higher ed but worries about rising costs & student debt. Listening to young people means policies that deliver affordability, transparency, & real outcomes. #EducationDay #HigherEd
ED recently hosted sessions on the new earnings threshold, and our policy advisor Emily Rounds was there every day to follow along. Want the full recap? Read Emily’s latest blog🔎:
The OBBBA may spark debate, but it also creates opportunities for students. Making the most of this bill to boost higher ed value is a bipartisan imperative. Hear from our director, Michelle Dimino, on making this bill work for students, in a panel hosted by @insidehighered.com 🗣️
ED is finalizing how the earnings threshold will work. It is not perfect, but it is a meaningful step toward stronger accountability and transparency in higher ed and rebuilding trust in the system. Read more about the process ⬇️ buff.ly/u4qYUpW
We're hiring at Third Way! Are you a health care wonk? Come be out newest Deputy Director for Health Care www.thirdway.org/careers#depu...
Rules for short-term Pell Grants need stronger guardrails to protect students. “There’s just a lot we don’t know about what financial returns students will get in the labor market by pursuing a short-term program,” says @bencecil.bsky.social. More from Money 📰
buff.ly/A7PVQci
Looking for your next career move in the new year? Here are some of the latest additions to our higher ed job board!
🔷Program Asst., PNPI
🔷Research Analyst, National Student Clearinghouse
🔷Senior Project Assoc., ACCT
Check out more or submit your own at higheredpolicyjobs.org.
ICYMI - Negotiators reached consensus on new accountability rules tying federal funding to earnings outcomes. Programs that repeatedly fail could lose loan access, and institutions dominated by those programs could risk Pell eligibility. Read more below. 🔽 www.linkedin.com/pulse/all-ey...
