Democratic wish list includes billions to help students finish their degrees

By Olivia Sanchez

Administrators at Alabama’s Bishop State Community College had a goal: Reenroll some of the 800 students who had recently completed some coursework but never finished their degree.

Though the proposed fund is backed by a scores of higher ed experts, it’s competing for funding against a multitude of other programs.

If it’s included in the reconciliation package, it could fund programs like Degrees When Due, the umbrella initiative organized by the Institute for Higher Education Policy that Bishop State was participating in to re-enroll students. The initiative is designed to help the 36 million Americans who have attended some college but haven’t earned a degree.

Piper Hendricks, director of communications for the Institute for Higher Education Policy, said the completion fund is not a “nice-to-have” piece — it’s essential. She said resources should focus on students of color and low-income students, who face greater hurdles in college access and completion.

Read the full article at The Hechinger Report