Rep. Stansbury, Senator Heinrich Introduce Bill to Boost College Success

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Postsecondary Student Success Act, legislation to authorize dedicated federal funding for evidence-based programs that help students stay enrolled in college, complete their degrees, and prepare for successful careers.

The Postsecondary Student Success Act would formally authorize the Postsecondary Student Success Grant (PSSG) program, which is a highly successful initiative that has consistently delivered, but never been formally authorized in law. By enshrining the program in law, the legislation would provide long-term support for colleges and universities to implement proven strategies that improve student retention, persistence, and graduation rates.

"Too many students leave college before finishing because they face academic, financial, and personal challenges without support," said Rep. Melanie Stansbury. "The Postsecondary Student Success Act will help make sure students who are veterans, first-generation graduates, low-income, historically underrepresented, and students with disabilities get the support and services they need to achieve their goals and finish their degrees. This bill will help students realize their dreams!"

"Getting students to college is only part of the equation - we also need to make sure they have the tools and support to finish," said Senator Martin Heinrich. "That's why I helped fund the Postsecondary Student Success Grant Program and it's why I am working to authorize it through our legislation, to invest in proven strategies that keep students on track, improve graduation rates, and expand opportunities for New Mexicans."

The Postsecondary Student Success Act will remove barriers that stand in the way of students' academic success by permanently authorizing the Postsecondary Student Success Grant program.

The bill authorizes funding to colleges and universities for evidence-based retention programs, such as:

• Faculty and peer mentoring and counseling;
• Academic advising and real-time student support;
• Tutoring and academic enrichment services;
• Re-enrollment and transfer student support programs;
• Emergency financial assistance;
• Career coaching and workforce preparation;
• Work-based learning opportunities and industry partnerships; and
• Recruitment and retention of faculty and instructional staff.

The legislation prioritizes the use of evidence-based practices through a three-tier framework and reserves a portion of funding for projects implementing interventions with the strongest demonstrated impact on student success. The bill also requires independent evaluations to identify effective strategies and ensure taxpayer dollars are invested in programs that improve retention and completion rates.

This bill is endorsed by EdTrust, Third Way, The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), Complete College America (CCA), The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and New America.

View the bill text here.

Statements of Support:

"EdTrust applauds the Postsecondary Student Success Act, introduced by Rep. Stansbury and Sen. Heinrich, and expresses our unqualified support for the bill. The legislation would codify and improve the current Postsecondary Student Success Grant program and demonstrates continued support for evidenced-based student success programs. This program has been funded for five consecutive years and helps students stay enrolled in school and graduate, while being particularly impactful for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. We urge Congress and the president to enact this bill in the coming months," said EdTtrust.

"Completing college remains one of the most reliable pathways to economic opportunity, but too many students don't make it across the finish line to a degree. Third Way applauds Senator Heinrich and Representative Stansbury for reintroducing the Postsecondary Student Success Act, which will empower colleges to scale proven practices that help students persist and graduate. This investment in our nation's students and their goals will lead to higher completion rates, better workforce outcomes, and a stronger return on investment in higher education. We urge Congress to advance this legislation and provide lasting support for the Postsecondary Student Success Grant program," said Third Way.

"TICAS applauds the reintroduction of the Postsecondary Student Success Act. Too many students leave college without a credential because they lack access to the necessary supports that help them persist and complete. By authorizing the Postsecondary Student Success Grants program, this legislation would help colleges and universities expand evidence-based strategies that improve retention, transfer, persistence, and completion, particularly for students who face the greatest barriers to success. Congress should advance this bipartisan approach to supporting students and improving economic mobility," said Valerie Crespín-Trujillo, Senior Director at College Completion & Basic Needs Policy, The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS).

"Earning a college degree is life-changing for millions of students each year, but too many students who enroll in college don't reach the finish line with a degree in hand," said Association of Public and Land-grant Universities President Waded Cruzado. "We thank House and Senate sponsors of the Postsecondary Student Success Act for championing legislation that would help more institutions scale evidence-based practices that help students efficiently complete college, enter the workforce, and reap the benefits of a college education," said the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU).

"Too many students still face barriers that prevent them from completing college and earning a credential of value. At a time of economic change and budget uncertainty, this legislation would give states and institutions the resources needed to sustain the hard-fought gains in college completion made over the past decade and scale evidence-based strategies that help more students persist and graduate. By investing in student success, Congress can help states strengthen workforce competitiveness, build talent pipelines in high-demand industries, and ensure more learners can achieve economic mobility through higher education," said Yolanda Watson Spiva, President of Complete College America.

"New Mexico has long recognized that student success and credential attainment are critical to the future of our communities, workforce, and economy. The Postsecondary Student Success Act represents the kind of partnership between states and the federal government that will help institutions meet students where they are and ensure more students can complete a credential of value needed to compete or succeed in today's economy. This legislation would provide colleges with the sustained support needed to expand proven strategies that improve retention and graduation rates - especially for students balancing work, family responsibilities, financial pressures, and other barriers along the way," said Dr. Barbara Damron, member of the CCA Board of Directors and University of New Mexico, College of Nursing, Professor Emeritus and Visiting Professor.

"New America applauds the introduction of the Postsecondary Student Success Act. Too many students start college but never finish. This bill meets that challenge head-on, equipping institutions with the resources to close completion gaps, particularly for underserved students, and insisting these dollars back practices proven to work," said Wesley Whistle, Project Director for Student Success & Affordability at New America.

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