Realizing the American Dream 2.0
Project: American Dream 2.0 Coalition | Partnership length: 2012-2014 | HCM Service Area Spotlight: Strategic Communications, Campaigns + Coalitions, Designing, Evaluating and Implementing Policy Agendas | Portfolio Category: Postsecondary
HCM established and led an unprecedented coalition to address how financial aid can play a role in advancing the American Dream, comprised of diverse national leadership—college and foundation presidents; civil rights leaders; top state policymakers; student activists; former budget and higher education officials; college access advocates; business leaders; and the nation’s foremost authorities on financial aid.
OVERVIEW
Every year, millions of men and women enroll in a U.S. college or university. They dream of earning a degree that will help them secure a good job and support their family. Many of them, however, won’t see that dream come true. Almost half of all students who enroll in an institution of higher learning do not graduate with any credential within six years.
HCM coalesced and led this unique coalition to address how financial aid can play a role in advancing the American Dream. Members represented diverse national leadership—college and foundation presidents; civil rights leaders; top state policymakers; student activists; former budget and higher education officials; college access advocates; business leaders; and the nation’s foremost authorities on financial aid.
OUR WORK
HCM built the American Dream 2.0 coalition and focused on the twin challenges of declining affordability and the increasing number of students who enter college but don’t graduate. Our coalition believed that smarter, more efficient, and more effective financial aid investments will strengthen our country and improve millions of lives. We began a national dialogue to offer three overarching recommendations:
Make aid simpler and more transparent;
Spur innovations in higher education that can lower costs and meet the needs of today’s students; and
Ask institutions, states, and students to share responsibility for producing more graduates without compromising access and affordability.
COLLATERAL
Report
WEBSITE: http://americandream2-0.com/
