2021 in Review
It has been a busy year for the Today’s Students Coalition! We’d like to thank you for following along with our great year of advocating for postsecondary policies that support the success of today’s students. In 2021, TSC welcomed new members: The Student Basic Needs Coalition, Association of Young Americans, College to Congress, The Jed Foundation, The UC Student Association, New America, Let’s Get Ready, and The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL).
As the pandemic persisted, TSC members joined forces to identify urgently needed student supports and to push policymakers to keep the needs of today’s students top of mind by implementing additional policy changes and expanding existing programs. We worked alongside a new administration and made the Coalition known as a leading voice for student-centered policy solutions. We were eager to share our thoughts with the incoming administration on steps to take both through administrative action and with Congress to improve equity in postsecondary education for today’s students.
This year, TSC took action to ensure students had access to stable internet, mental health services, food, and housing. Particularly, TSC highlighted the impact direct emergency aid grants had on students during the pandemic and used this moment to advocate for a permanent student emergency aid solution to ensure that post-pandemic financial emergencies don’t prevent students from succeeding.
In March, TSC brought together over 160 students from across the nation for the first-annual DC Student Summit. Today’s students participated in advocacy workshops, storytelling trainings, and met with their representatives in Congress. In the coming year, the coalition will continue to engage students in federal policy by hosting the 2022 DC Student Summit. Learn how you can sponsor a student to attend the 2022 DC Student Summit here.
Look out for more information in the new year about the 2022 DC Student Summit, TSC’s Student Ambassador Program, and a digital media campaign, #EmergenCAid, advocating for a permanent emergency aid solution for students in California facing unexpected financial emergencies. The Today’s Students Coalition is looking forward to another year of advocating for today’s students and would like to thank Trellis Foundation and the Michelson 20MM Foundation for helping to make this work possible.
