During Today’s Students Coalition’s annual DC Student Summit co-hosted by CHEPP, 80 college students from across the country advocated for federal policy change on Capitol Hill.
Throughout their lives, people are told that going to college will help them make enough money to support themselves and their families. Despite a college degree being a leading indicator of economic success and improved health and well-being, the path to enroll and complete college can be a bumpy one – whether it is taken right after high school or later in someone’s career.
Last month, 80 students from across the country convened in Washington, D.C., to attend the annual Today’s Students Coalition (TSC) DC Summit. This year, CHEPP was excited to co-host the summit with TSC and LeadMN. The CHEPP team was joined by eight students from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) – four enrolled on the Manchester, NH campus and four enrolled through an Austin, TX-based community partner, PelotonU.
During the summit, students received a deep dive into federal education policy, including college affordability and access to basic needs supports, and learned how to use their stories to elevate policy priorities with lawmakers. The summit concluded with students heading to Capitol Hill for a day of storytelling and advocacy with meetings across the House and Senate.
Here are some of their stories:
- Growing up, Angie’s grades were sporadic, and she struggled in K-12. Despite this, she knew she needed a higher education to have the career she wanted. She decided to enroll at SNHU’s Manchester campus after learning about its small class sizes, affordability, and proximity to home which would allow her to commute. She started at SNHU in the fall of 2020 when classes were still online during the COVID-19 pandemic – a format that didn’t meet her learning needs. She decided to take a leave of absence to preserve her mental health until in-person classes resumed in the fall of 2021, when she hit her academic stride and began to thrive. Over the last five years, Angie has simultaneously juggled four part-time jobs, helped care for her 87-year-old grandfather, and pursued a full-time academic schedule. She attributes her success to SNHU’s mission and design to serve learners from all backgrounds.
- Sarah always knew education was her way out of the cycle she grew up in. Despite being a high achiever, she feared she would be another dropout statistic and labeled as wasted potential because of persistent financial barriers. After enrolling in a traditional college, she was faced with a family emergency that forced her to stop-out. At the time, she sought help from student advisors on how to stay enrolled but was left with no option but to leave college. Fast forward a couple of years, she learned about PelotonU and its partnership with SNHU. She soon enrolled and attributes the program’s flexible structure and affordable cost to her ability to pursue higher education again while also being a caregiver and working full-time.
- Kya is a single mother who does not have access to affordable childcare. She is working on completing her college degree in order to provide and build a stronger foundation for herself and her son. Through PelotonU and SNHU’s competency-based education program, she is able to move through her coursework and navigate her busy and unpredictable schedule.
Student Experiences on Capitol Hill:
With higher education under increased scrutiny and potential cuts to federal funding looming, it has never been more important to share who students are and what they have overcome to stay enrolled and pursue a path to economic security. After spending the day meeting with House and Senate offices, students shared more about their experiences.
- “Sharing my story on Capitol Hill has been incredibly impactful because I was able to advocate for the protection of AmeriCorps. I work with a summer program called Breakthrough Manchester, a college-access program. Due to its rigor, I could co-enroll with AmeriCorps and serve my community for over 300 hours. The federal aid I received helped me avoid taking out a personal loan this semester and gave me the financial stability to continue my work again this summer with a college-access program!” – Mya
- “As a first-generation student in a middle-class family, it was simply unattainable to reach my ideal degree in a school in my home state of Massachusetts. Through SNHU, I am able to attain an affordable degree in something I’m passionate about, along with a healthy support system and low tuition rates. Thanks to this experience on Capitol Hill, I was able to craft and share my story with members of Congress and be the voice for many who also find the path to college out of reach.” – Thomas
- “Competency-based education (CBE) has truly transformed my life. As a mom, full-time employee, and first-generation college student, CBE has made it possible for me to balance school and life without sacrificing anything! I’m so grateful to now be in a position to lead and inspire others who may have a similar journey. ” – Rocio
These are just a few of the students who attended the DC Student Summit, but they represent the diverse backgrounds and journeys of all college students. Across institutions of higher education, on-campus and online, students are increasingly working full-time jobs, parenting, and caregiving their loved ones – and they need support to finish their college degree. Lawmakers shared their appreciation for the opportunity to hear about these struggles directly from the students. The visits emphasized the importance of CHEPP’s advocacy for key policy changes.
Instead of Putting up More Barriers, Congress Should:
- Protect and increase the Pell Grant
- Support flexible college options, including online and competency-based education programs
- Simplify college student access to basic needs assistance, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Expand access to affordable childcare