The Institute for College Access & Success

NEW | Our latest blog examines the current state of application in CA by demographic & offers policy solutions to ⬆️ access to aid, especially for students from families with mixed citizenship statuses. With the next application cycle looming, California still has time to implement or fund policies and practices that promote student success.

Read the Blog: https://buff.ly/4dGTwiI

TICAS is growing our Team to support our mission of ensuring that students have all the support they need to cross the , focusing on first-gen students, students from low-income backgrounds, & students of color. Apply here: https://buff.ly/3SGyVTw

NEW | Our latest blog examines Minnesota’s new precedent aimed at mitigating the risks that OPMs (online program managers) present and how the state’s new law may present a path for other states to follow.

Read more: https://buff.ly/4d4ygDL

NEW | A college degree remains crucial for improving economic security and narrowing racial and economic inequities. By 2031, 72% of jobs will require a degree, with 42% needing at least a bachelor's degree. Our fact sheet updates data on these inequities by race, state, and region.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/4fAhuya

A functioning & equitable college pipeline can help students lower college costs, minimize student debt, and get credit toward a 4-year degree. Our latest primer on student transfer options in Michigan provides an in-depth review of the myths & realities transfer students face in the state, proven national strategies to improve transfer success, and the impact of Michigan's current transfer policies on students, institutions, and the state workforce. The primer also offers recommendations for ⬆️ transfer affordability and tailored to the system in Michigan.

Read the primer here: https://buff.ly/46toxUW

NEW | Strong early childhood education (ECE) systems are vital for communities; however, early childhood educators face economic and educational barriers. Our latest report, in collaboration with the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality, explores these challenges and offers policy implications that protect educators and advance racial and economic equity. Read our report here: https://buff.ly/464lfHI

We would like to thank the The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The Education Trust for their previous research on this topic, which inspired our methodology. Explore their work here: https://buff.ly/3ScJE87

Do you want to make a difference in policy? TICAS’ new fellowship program is designed to empower the next generation of leaders! If you're a student or a higher education professional who attended: a community college, HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, or MSIs, click the link below to apply! Application closes July 31, 2024. https://buff.ly/4cFsMyC

Last summer, our 2023-24 MI Student Fellows identified a policy priority for their fellowship year: obtaining additional state resources for students to cover non-tuition costs. After their advocacy, the final Michigan budget includes two new provisions to help students cover their basic needs 👏👏

JOIN OUR TEAM | TICAS is looking to expand our Anti-Poverty & Basic Needs Team to support our mission of addressing students' basic needs, focusing on first-generation students, students from low-income backgrounds, and students of color.

Visit here to apply: https://buff.ly/3zEr8iy

We’re hiring! TICAS wants to grow our Basic Needs Team with an individual passionate about supporting students’ basic needs at the federal and state levels! This is a remote position with a preference for the DC area.

Visit buff.ly/3LimQzQ to learn more!

Careers - The Institute for College Access & Success The Institute for College Access & Success is a trusted source of research, design, and advocacy for student-centered public policies that promote affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education.

TICAS is launching its Policy Fellowship Program to equip the next generation of leaders with the skills they need to lead in federal policy. If you're enrolled in a grad program or currently work in at: a community college, HBCU, TCU, HSI, or MSI, apply by July 31, 2024! https://buff.ly/4cFsMyC

Check out our new report on the many challenges that California Community College students are facing to accessing grant aid. Read our report for our recommendations on how to improve access to California Community Colleges! https://buff.ly/3LfVtq7

NEW STATEMENT & FACT SHEET | We applaud Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan legislature for their commitment to finalizing a budget that prioritizes ⬆️ student completion and improving affordability for Michiganders.

Read the full statement and fact sheet here: https://buff.ly/4eUQZmB

NEW STATEMENT | The proposed cuts by House Republican appropriators threaten college affordability and accountability for today's students. We urge policymakers to reject these proposals and instead invest in students while protecting both students and taxpayers against predatory and high-cost, low-value institutions.

Read our full statement here: https://buff.ly/3S0oI46

NEW | TICAS and the Project on Predatory Student Lending (PPSL) are launching a new series of resources, that offers, offers an overview of , myths and facts about the program, and our recs for Congress and the Dep. of Education to protect borrowers and taxpayers.

Read the resources here: https://buff.ly/3Wft1LC

The current student debt crisis continues to leave former students with unaffordable debt and forces prospective students turn to loans to bear the load of rising college costs. The system needs systemic changes to make public college affordable without requiring students to take on debt.

Read more from TICAS President Sameer Gadkaree in Newsweek: https://buff.ly/3RYHjNW

We applaud the successes in CA's 24-25 budget, & congratulate Governor Gavin Newsom & the legislature for a budget that meets fiscal reality. We look forward to highlighting opportunities for further investment.

Read the statement from Emmanuel Rodriguez here: https://buff.ly/3VMq1ox

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY | Applications are now open for TICAS’ Policy Fellowship Program! This opportunity is for students & professionals passionate about shaping the future of policy. Applications close July 31, 2024! https://buff.ly/4cFsMyC

NEW BLOG | Last week, two court rulings paused the Biden Administration's full rollout of the plan for federal student loan borrowers, putting the financial future of millions in limbo. Our blog explores the potential impacts of an IDR system without loan discharge, which could mean a lifetime of debt for some. The blog also showcases a timeline of the statutory and regulatory building blocks of the IDR system.

Read the blog here: https://buff.ly/45TbqMv

NEW BLOG | Our latest blog outlines why the program will remain at annual risk of funding gaps unless it’s funded fully on the mandatory side of the budget. Until then, students are at risk of harmful cuts to .

Read the blog here: https://buff.ly/4eAqkvf

TICAS condemns the court rulings halting the Biden Admins full implementation of its SAVE repayment plan for federal student loan borrowers. Read the full statement TICAS President Sameer Gadkaree issued in response here: https://buff.ly/3VTJ4yl

We are excited to announce Alexie Milukhin will be joining us this summer as a Ford Intern! She is an incoming second-year Master of Public Policy student with a social policy concentration at the of Michigan - Gerald R. Ford School. Lexie will work with our Anti-Poverty and Basic Needs team, which advocates for policies that remove restrictions or barriers to postsecondary education from public programs that provide basic needs supports. Over the summer, one of the projects Lexie will be working on is a set of primers on basic needs and postsecondary education.

NEW | Our new report builds on research from Dec 2023 with data from 9 additional states, dives into the College Affordability Gap. This report proposes strategies for state and federal policymakers to better aid college affordability.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/3RtwjIr

NEW | Our latest primer dives into current frameworks for partnerships, a formula for assessing the College Affordability Gap, and 🔑 considerations for designing a new partnership to achieve -free college.

Read the primer here: https://buff.ly/4bAOq6Z

May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As advocates for equity in , TICAS acknowledges the unique lived experiences that students from diverse backgrounds bring in their pursuit of a .

Earlier this month, we released a brief that examines economic outcomes for students who earned degrees at Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI). Our research shows that students who attended AANAPISIs achieve higher earnings after graduation compared to those who attended a non-AANAPISI, with graduates from four-year AANAPISIs earning an average of $8,700 more than their peers. However, despite their graduate's higher earnings, AANAPISIs still receive notably less funding and smaller grants compared to other minority-serving institutions.

To read more about college value at Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, click here: https://buff.ly/3Wfanno

NEW STATEMENT | TICAS urges members of Congress to reject cuts to & commit to modernizing the program, by improving SNAP’s ability to connect people to credentials that improve income.

Read our full statement here: https://buff.ly/4bO7Bdq

NEW PRIMER | In Michigan, education stakeholders are exploring early postsecondary credit programs to help high school students access . Our primer dives into available program types and considerations for program implementation and evaluation. We offer a guide to 🔑 investments that school districts should consider in creating a successful early postsecondary credit program for their students. https://buff.ly/3wzZiCW

NEW JOB | TICAS is seeking a Research Associate to play a key role on our research team. The research team, led by TICAS’ Director of Research, leads our analytical work to make original contributions to the national debate over higher education policy and to shape and advance student-centered policies.

Apply Here:

We applaud the Michigan Legislature's efforts to expand career preparation, streamline completion,️ lower college costs, & ease housing expenses. Click the link below to read our fact sheet and recommendations, which will help maximize the impact of these investments. https://buff.ly/3wyoV72

NEW BLOG | A new report released by The Hope Center on “The State of State Choices” addresses the gap between insecurity and college access and success, providing policymakers with recent resources on public benefit programs. Our new blog explores the findings & a growing body of evidence linking benefits access, success, and economic prosperity.

Read the blog here: https://buff.ly/3UsMo2L