April 2, 2024 – Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer: Chavez-DeRemer, Colleagues Lead Effort to Support Student Success in Higher Education
Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) recently introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation to support evidence-based practices that will help improve student retention, completion, and success in postsecondary education. Specifically, the Postsecondary Student Success Act would permanently reauthorize the Postsecondary Student Success Grant program, which helps remove barriers that stand in the way of students’ academic success.
“By providing critical resources and aid to students, the Postsecondary Student Success Grant program is helping countless students attend and graduate college – supporting them as they work toward fulfilling their dreams,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “Our bipartisan legislation will strengthen the program to unlock even more opportunities in higher education, including for first-generation and low-income students. I was the first person in my family to graduate college, and I recognize the importance of supporting methods that are proven to help new students succeed.”
Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in high school graduation and college enrollment rates, reflecting a concerted effort to expand access to higher education. However, despite these strides, a significant number of students who embark on their college journey, whether at two-year or four-year institutions, falter before completing their degrees. Currently, only 62 percent of college enrollees nationwide successfully achieve their educational aspirations.
The Postsecondary Student Success Act authorizes funding to colleges and universities for evidence-based retention programs, including efforts to:
- Provide faculty and peer counseling services;
- Incentivize students to re-enroll and stay on track;
- Collect real-time data on student progress;
- Provide direct student support services, including tutoring and academic support;
- Prepare students for a career by providing career coaching and counseling:
- Lower student-to-advisor ratios;
- Recruit and lower faculty and other instructional staff; and
- Reform developmental education, including utilizing career pathways and improving transfer student success.
The bill is endorsed by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Campaign for College Opportunity, National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP), New America, Results for America, State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, The Education Trust, The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), Third Way, and UnidosUS.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
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