Resources

Sign-on Letter to Congressional Appropriations Committee Leadership Supporting Funding for the Basic Needs Grant in Fiscal Year 2027

March 25, 2026

CHEPP joined more than 90 organizations calling for the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to provide $45 million in funding for the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program, the “Basic Needs Grant”. College students are more likely to stay enrolled and complete their degree when their basic needs, such as housing, food, and transportation, are met.

Sign-On Letter Calling for Congress to Address the Pell Grant Shortfall

March 19, 2026

The Pell Grant program is currently facing a nearly $17 billion shortfall. CHEPP joined more than 65 organizations calling on Congressional leaders to protect the Pell Grant and fund the projected shortfall.

Basic Needs Gaps Increase the Risk of College Stop Outs

February 5, 2026

Rising living costs and unmet basic needs, such as food, housing, transportation, and childcare, are creating an affordability gap that forces many students to stop out of college before earning a credential, with disproportionate impacts on student parents, students of color, Pell-eligible learners, and community college students. Drawing on national data and institutional examples, this fact sheet highlights that basic needs and emergency aid supports improve student persistence, completion, and belonging, and outlines federal policy solutions to strengthen and sustain these supports to advance equitable access and student success.

Public Comment Letter Regarding the Proposed Addition of the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) to IPEDS

December 15, 2025

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) submitted the following public comments to the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed addition of the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for the 2025–26 academic year and beyond.

The December letter focuses on aspects of the proposed ACTS data collection, particularly lowering the admissions-rate threshold for reporting exemptions and clarifying the definition of non-need-based aid, so the requirements better reflect how open-enrollment institutions operate. The letter also recommends limiting reporting to data that institutions can readily access to support consumer decision-making.