2020-2021 LEDA Policy Corps Policy Recommendations

Each year, as a part of their policy training, the Policy Corps is asked to identify a set of key issues and/or policy recommendations that they think leaders in higher education policy and practice should address. Since the goal of the LEDA Policy Project is to amplify student perspectives, these recommendations are driven by the students. The following policy recommendations were identified by the 2020-2021 LEDA Policy Corps:

• Strengthen the pathway to college
• Prioritize financial sustainability for FGLI college students
• Prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education
• Promote student safety, health and emotional wellbeing
• Incentivize and promote data transparency

Additionally, the Policy Corps has a set of specific solutions for each recommendation. These are based on their experience, education, and research. You can read the full set of solutions here.

Selected Press and Media (2020-2021)

• Cynthia: “You Know What I Mean?”: Universities Need Better Representation Of Counselors And Therapists Of Color, Forbes
• Ariana: The Importance Of Creating Space For Underrepresented Students, Forbes
• Tiffany: Colleges Can Do More To Raise Awareness of Emergency Aid Resources, NCAN
• Omar: Segregating Schools Is Bad. Segregating Opportunities Is Worse., Forbes
• Carolina: College students faced food insecurity before COVID-19. It’s time for sustainable change., Today’s Students Coalition
• Jacqueline: Why We Need More Faculty Of Color In Higher Education, Forbes
• Jesse: Mental Health: Black Students In Crisis, Forbes
• Stephanie: The Invisible Labor of BIPOC Students, NCAN
• Katrina: The mental health of BIPOC and FGLI students still requires our attention, Today’s Students Coalition
• Amber M. Briggs (staff): We Need A Student-Centered Approach In Higher Ed’s Response To The Pandemic, Forbes
• Christopher W.:It is time to disrupt the cycle, Today’s Students Coalition

Selected Press and Media (2019-2020)

• Maria and Will: Students Discuss Inclusion and Diversity in Higher Ed, NACAC
• Heidy, Jessica, Will, and Eric Waldo (Executive Director of Reach Higher): Student Reflections: Belonging in Higher Ed – A SXSW EDU Panel, SXSW EDU
• Heidy: Why Community And Belonging Are Important For U-FLi Students, Forbes
• Jessica: Money Matters: My Journey Through Princeton, Forbes
• Will: How I’m Working To Make My University A More Inclusive And Welcoming Community, Forbes
• Amber M. Briggs (staff): Listening To Today’s Students, Forbes
• Jorden: Equity for Low-income Black Students, Higher Learning Advocates
• Martin and Mysia: CCA 2019 Annual Convening Recap – #CompletionNation19, Complete College America
• Mysia: Student Voice: Today’s Students Rethinking Financial Aid, Higher Learning Advocates
• Joscelyn: Getting To and Through College, The Education Trust
• Luis: How do you manage college online – quarantined with eight people?, Hechinger Report/Washington Post
• Mysia: Insights & Outlooks, Higher Learning Advocates
• Martin: Insights & Outlooks, Higher Learning Advocates
• Getzamany: Insights & Outlooks, Higher Learning Advocates
• Abel, Carolina, Amber M. Briggs (staff), and Nada Abdelaziz (staff): A conversation with students on overcoming hidden barriers to college success, NPEA
• Supporting DACA Students in Higher Ed: A Q&A with Students, Today’s Students Coalition on Medium (adapted from College Board’s Prepárate Conference)
• Willian: The Power Higher Ed Institutions Can Have in Supporting Undocumented Students, NCAN
• Maria: A Recent Graduate’s Perspective: How Higher Ed Institutions Can Better Support First-Gen Students, NCAN

Selected Press and Media (2018-2019)

• Moises: Student Voice: A First-Generation Advocate for Equity in Education, Higher Learning Advocates
• Diego: More Than Access, Higher Learning Advocates
• Aya: Student Voice: Universities overlook graduate students’ mental health, Hechinger Report
• Charlie: Student Voices: Hearing and Supporting Native/Indigenous Students, The Education Trust