Heading into year two of the COVID-19 pandemic, NCAN's work to support our members in their policy and advocacy efforts carried even greater urgency. Through this work, we continue to expand the number of our members and students who engage, and engage
more frequently, in policy as a core strategy toward closing equity gaps in attainment.
During these difficult times, NCAN members and our students have had a major impact on policy discussions about college access, affordability, and success. This short piece will offer highlights from our work together in 2021, but it is not exhaustive
of all accomplishments and contributions. Thank you to all who became involved, for your efforts and successes.
Building Momentum at the State Level
At the start of 2021, NCAN worked with nine members on developing policy and advocacy projects that would supplement their ongoing strategic work. These organizations are leaders at the state level, with a strong commitment to policy in their efforts
to serve and support students. They are moving the needle on students’ ability to access, afford, and complete postsecondary education. Some highlights from their work in 2021 are below.
State Policy and Agenda-Setting
Arizona College Access Network convened a statewide event focused on FAFSA completion, in collaboration with the state's department of education, other state officials, and current college students. College Crusade of Rhode Island developed and pursued an advocacy agenda around "opportunity loss" for first-generation students and young men of color, focused on postsecondary transition and career and leadership development. Michigan College Access Network brought
important postsecondary education policy priorities to the attention of state officials through meetings, briefings, research, and presentations. Mid-America Regional Council (Missouri) gathered information on attainment, policy recommendations,
and best practices for supporting students and disseminated it to institutions, local and state officials, and other stakeholders. Tennessee College Access and Success Network led a broad effort to engage state policymakers and championed
issues such as "tuition equity," and state aid reform to better serve students and remove barriers to graduation.
Student-Led Advocacy
Montana College Attainment Network held advocacy and leadership training for students and college access practitioners. Montana CAN also convened a college affordability roundtable with member organizations to engage state agency leaders
and officials. The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis implemented a robust digital communications project to engage students impacted by the pandemic around policy issues. Southern California College Access Network led a statewide initiative to offer advocacy training to student-led organizations representing undocumented students, to improve college access and success outcomes for this student population. Woodward Hines Education Foundation (Mississippi) developed a new policy, advocacy, and research internship program for student leaders.
State Policy Report
A broad group of NCAN members lent their expertise and insights to NCAN in the development of a report series on state postsecondary education policy. Twenty NCAN members in six states (California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas) participated
in these discussions. They helped build a foundational understanding of the state policy landscape, emerging and urgent policy issues, and opportunities for future work and supports.
In late 2020, NCAN commenced a yearlong federal advocacy fellowship to engage a cohort of 34 member organizations in national higher education policy discussions.
This group of college attainment practitioners recruited two students each to join them in the fellowship.
With ranks of roughly 100 advocacy fellows, this assembly collectively lent a powerful voice to educate federal policymakers on issues important to educational access, affordability, and attainment.
As part of their commitment, professional and student advocacy fellows engaged in a robust and recurrent training series and participated in NCAN’s core advocacy engagements. In March 2021, NCAN held a New Congress Virtual Advocacy Week event, and in July, a College Affordability Virtual Advocacy Week. In preparation, NCAN members and students participated in advocacy skill-building, learning how to conduct virtual meetings with members of Congress during which they could share their
stories and discuss solutions to address equity gaps in postsecondary attainment.
Between these two engagements, hundreds of NCAN members and students got involved and, in total, organized over 150 meetings with their elected representatives.
Another signature engagement for NCAN is our #Thankful4Pell week centered on celebrating the Pell Grant and elevating
to Congress its impact on student success. Given the diminished purchasing power of Pell and the impacts of the pandemic on college access, the campaign also highlights the potential of #DoublePell as well as smaller increases to Pell Grant funding.
The 2021 campaign received outstanding engagement from NCAN members and their students who shared their stories around Pell and the difference that need-based aid makes – both on social media and in communications to their federal representatives.
Through NCAN’s Action Center, members, students, and other partners sent over 200 messages to elected officials stressing the importance of, and requesting robust support for, the Pell Grant program.
Student Voice Leadership
With support from NCAN and our members, students led the way on advocacy in 2021. Moving forward, NCAN is eager and excited to keep student participation at the core of our policy and advocacy work. Our student advocacy fellows program created many opportunities
for students to engage on policy issues – from writing opinion pieces for publication in media outlets, serving as witnesses in congressional hearings, and generating lasting impact with their stories.
At NCAN’s 2021 Conference, “Rebuilding for Postsecondary Equity,” three student advocacy fellows (from NCAN members LeadMN, Northern Arizona College Resource Center, and TheDream.US) participated in a
"Student Voices for Change" plenary panel. They shared observations from their postsecondary journeys and recommendations for ways higher education can better serve today’s students.
In 2021, students from NCAN member programs, connected through our advocacy work or otherwise, had multiple opportunities to testify before the U.S. Congress. In July, Darleny Suriel of #DegreesNYC, Goddard Riverside Community Center,
served as a witness to the House Committee on Education and Labor during its hearing on "Keeping the Pell Grant Promise: Increasing Enrollment, Supporting Success."
Darleny passionately shared how the Pell Grant has impacted her postsecondary journey. During the hearing, a member of Congress referenced NCAN’s college affordability research – which found that
less than 25% of public four-year colleges and universities were affordable for a student who receives the average Pell Grant.
Many student advocacy fellows wrote about their postsecondary experiences and policy recommendations. Their stories are highlighted here and live on the NCAN news blog:
The college access and success community faces a challenging road ahead, but our collective voice will continue to make the case that we must rebuild for postsecondary equity. All of us – elected officials, policymakers, college attainment practitioners,
and others – must help today's students find greater certainty in their college pursuits and ensure all are on a path to earning a degree or credential.
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