By Barbara Gooch I pulled into an unfamiliar church in my community that’s become an increasingly important resource to local citizens for reasons aside from faith. I joined the long, winding line of vehicles to collect a food box and some needed diapers. …

by Juan R. Pantoja-Patiño, M.S. As a counselor at a university counseling center, I am honored to walk alongside students’ journeys to healing and change. But in reality, college and university counselors are currently balancing high volumes of caseloads, which are often intense in nature. This comes at a cost…

President Biden used his State of the Union address to celebrate the administration’s bipartisan accomplishments. His speech also touched on hot-button issues, from the war in Ukraine to inflation. One critical issue for Americans is the challenges today’s students face navigating higher education. We asked Today’s Students Coalition steering committee…

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. …

By Mariam Djaballah, Intern, Association of Young Americans The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant mental and financial toll on college students. With the exorbitant price of tuition and the stresses of a heavy workload, college is stressful enough without the added hardships of a pandemic. Fortunately, federal efforts such…

What is your name, age, and what college do you attend? My name is Kasie Gilbert, I am 26 years old, and I hail from Atlanta, Georgia. I recently graduated from Kennesaw State University with bachelor's degrees in integrated studies and human services. …

By Carolina Espinal, 2019–2020 LEDA Policy Corps When prospective students toured universities prior to the pandemic, they were offered a glimpse of vibrant dining halls filled with students indulging in an array of food choices. What they didn’t get to see were the large number of students going hungry and…

Current efforts by institutions are not enough. By Katrina Weti, LEDA Scholar As a Black, first-generation, low-income student, my mental health has continuously been negatively impacted while attending college. Coming into college, I was already unknowingly struggling with my mental health. During my first year, I felt very alone and unsupported as I battled imposter syndrome, financial…

For years, the Pell Grant has enabled socioeconomic mobility for students across the country. But it needs to be doubled to maintain its life-changing impact. By Lauren Valles, University of California Student Association Fund the UC Vice Chair, and Raina Zhao, University of California Student Association Legislative Director at UC…