Policymakers Must Act Now to Reform the Student Loan Default System

Pursuing a college degree has turned into a nightmare of loan default for millions of students – which disproportionately affects students of color, first-generation students, and students from low-income households. The vast majority of those who experience student loan default have faced persistent economic and social vulnerability. Rather than helping struggling borrowers get back on their feet, the student loan default system plunges them deeper into poverty.

A new brief from TICAS provides an overview of the current student loan default system and urges policymakers to re-think its structure so that it helps students instead of perpetuating poverty.

Read the brief

Momentum Growing for Investments in Higher Education

In early February, 187 organizations urged lawmakers to invest in our nation’s students by doubling the maximum Pell Grant award and protecting the long-term viability of the Pell Grant program – and to pursue all available means, including appropriations and other spending measures, to meet this crucial goal.

We applaud President Biden for affirming his commitment to the Pell Grant program in the 2022 State of the Union, and we appreciate the president’s acknowledgement of the importance of new investments in community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving institutions. We are also grateful to the Senate for investing in Pell, retention and completion initiatives, and basic needs in the passage of a $1.5 trillion spending package. Our nation’s higher education system remains a powerful driver of social and economic mobility, but as long as a high-quality, affordable degree remains out of reach for many, it can reinforce rather than combat systemic racial and economic inequities.

The president is right to prioritize higher education investments as critical to a robust recovery from the pandemic, and we urge him to we urge to propose major new funding for higher education in his forthcoming budget. Students and their families cannot afford to wait.

A Stronger Cal Grant is the Key to Meeting California’s College Attainment and Equity Goals

With FAFSA completion and college enrollment down since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, additional Cal Grant investments and reforms are more urgent than ever to support California’s long-term educational attainment and economic and social wellbeing.

Alongside over 30 diverse partners, we highlighted the changes proposed in the Cal Grant Reform Act (AB 1746) and urged the Legislature and Governor Newsom to ensure that the final state budget reflects these critical updates.

Read the joint statement on the Cal Grant Equity Framework
Read the TICAS statement on AB 1746

TICAS Statement on the Proposed 2022-23 Michigan Budget

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently unveiled the state’s 2022-23 proposed budget, prioritizing K-12 student learning, mental health support, and teacher retention and attraction to the profession. TICAS looks forward to working with the legislature to support investments that will meaningfully help students from low-income households get to and through college.

Learn more about our work in Michigan

TICAS Welcomes New Team Members

We’re celebrating growth as we head into spring and are pleased to announce new additions to the TICAS team!

Dr. Marshall Anthony Jr. has taken the helm as Research Director and brings crucial insight and expertise to the role from his previous work in the field, most recently with the Center for American Progress. Jocelyn Salguero will work on TICAS’ federal affordability issues as Senior Program Associate building on her time with the National Conference of State Legislatures, and Ana Oseguera will support day-to-day organizational operations as Senior Operations Associate, joining us from the Greenlining Institute. Nicholas Hillman from the University of Wisconsin-Madison joins TICAS as a Senior Fellow. His work has focused on higher education deserts, and recently co-edited a book on civil rights and federal higher education.

And we’re still growing! Visit ticas.org/careers to learn more about our open positions.

#RealStories, #RealStudents on Instagram

Did you know TICAS is on Instagram? We recently highlighted the experiences of Black students and borrowers for #BlackHistoryMonth, are celebrating the women of the Institute for College Access & Success in March, and as the negotiated rulemaking process continues, we’re hearing from #RealStudents about how they could have benefited from stronger accountability protections. Follow us for in-depth features and stories, and get to know more about TICAS!

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