Dr. Monty Sullivan, President of Rebuilding America’s Middle Class (RAMC), a coalition of community colleges, and president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, issued the following statement on behalf of RAMC in support of the bipartisan Jumpstart Our Businesses By Supporting Students (JOBS) Act of 2023, that would allow students enrolled at public and nonprofit institutions of higher education (IHEs) to receive Pell grants to cover the cost of programs that are at least 150 clock hours and provide instruction over at least 8 weeks:

The expansion of eligibility for Pell Grants to short-term programs recognizes the shifting relationship between higher education and work in today’s economy. Short-term credentials allow for flexible “on- and off-ramps” so that students gain skills valued by employers and gain access to well-paying jobs in middle-skilled occupations.

While our colleges are working diligently and creatively to find new outlets to support students and their communities, additional aid from the Federal government is vital to our continued ability to help students and ensure community colleges across America can continue to respond to our nation’s changing education and workforce demands effectively and nimbly.

For many individuals, a short-term credential is the first step towards earning a long-term certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree. Federal support in such programs has the potential to yield substantial benefits to students and communities and ensures workers are not left behind. If students do not receive additional support from Congress for short-term courses, they will be cut off from quality opportunities, reducing access to postsecondary opportunities for our nation’s most vulnerable students.

To read the letter in full, click here..