The Institute for College Access & Success

There's a lot of talk about college affordability. But what does that actually feel like when you’re inside the system? buff.ly/eQsjOHF

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) released its spending bill for FY27, which would eliminate interest subsidies on undergraduate federal student loans to address the looming Pell shortfall.

TICAS Federal Policy expert Michele Zampini, in response, said, "While we support appropriators’ proposed investments in the Pell Grant program, the bill’s other provisions would increase costs and debt burdens for low-income students."

More from Forbes here:

Student Loan Interest Benefit Would Be Terminated Under GOP Bill The proposed legislation, if enacted, would terminate federal subsidized student loans for undergraduate borrowers starting in 2027, increasing costs for borrowers.

Policy shapes how people access college and what it takes to stay there. We want to hear from students and borrowers navigating that firsthand. https://buff.ly/yZ5iqF8

You've been wanting to stay plugged in with all things , and we have a mailing list for federal policy updates, state policy news, and more. Sign up here to stay connected: https://buff.ly/oldoo4m

We are excited to welcome Dr. TeAsia Jordan to TICAS as our Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy in Michigan! TeAsia joins us as a seasoned educational leader, qualitative researcher, and scholar-practitioner. She's excited about this role because it is a continuation of her professional commitment to college access, student development, and community empowerment.

As a West Michigan native, TeAsia believes that Michiganders deserve clear and accessible pathways to economic mobility, including access to quality education. TeAsia is looking forward to the work of making pathways clearer and more accessible at TICAS.

▶️ More about TeAsia: https://buff.ly/BOKsIYr
▶️ More about our Michigan work: https://buff.ly/C5I12kZ

Last week, Governor Hochul and the New York Legislature finalized the FY 26-27 State Budget. We commend the continued investments in college access, affordability, and student success for New Yorkers, but there is still more to be done with SNAP awareness, strengthening TAP, & increasing borrower protections.

TICAS' Senior Director for New York, Kirsten Keefe, said the following in response: "This budget reflects a clear commitment to supporting students where they are. At the same time, this budget underscores that more work remains to ensure higher education is truly affordable for all."

Our full statement here: https://buff.ly/HAE6rBT

As Workforce Pell will be rolled out nationally at the beginning of July, TICAS' Chris Madaio spoke with Education Week about what we can expect: "I think it will go slow at the beginning in terms of the number of states and the number of programs that are ready to be approved."

More from Education Week here: https://buff.ly/uVawQUG

A New Option for High School Graduates? Federal Aid for Workforce Credentials Workforce Pell will grant students federal aid for certificate courses as short as eight weeks.

This May, we recognize and celebrate the diverse lived experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students in .

Many of these students attend rural minority-serving institutions (MSIs), which play a critical role in supporting student success and expanding educational opportunities in rural communities. As federal budget cuts threaten programs and services at these campuses, ensuring funding stability must remain a priority.

As we continue to advocate for policymakers to invest in a more inclusive higher education system, we also celebrate the contributions and experiences of AANHPI students pursuing a postsecondary degree.

Read more about the impact of federal budget cuts on rural MSIs in the comments 👇

Workforce Pell is rolling out nationally starting July 1, and California is preparing systems to be in place. Back in March, TICAS' Manny Rodriguez provided testimony in support of AB 1534, which he says "contains guardrails that would properly implement Workforce Pell and protect students from programs that are unaffordable, low-quality, or not in full compliance with federal law."

Read more at: https://buff.ly/04uqkMw

May is , but supporting student mental health is a year-round priority for academic success and retention. A recent blog from New America & The Jed Foundation explores how building a sense of belonging is critical for parenting students, who often face unique pressures.

Read the full blog to see how policymakers and institutional leaders can better support parenting students' mental health:

Uplifting Student Parent Stories for Mental Health Awareness Month Student parents face stress and barriers to belonging, so colleges should rethink their mental health supports.