Elise Stefanik - CICC Member Spotlight

As a proud graduate of an independent college, the caucus allows me to be a leading voice in Congress on the issues impacting nonprofit colleges and universities.  I continue to see the impact independent colleges make on the lives of students, and in the communities across my district and throughout the nation. A strength of our higher education system is the variety that exists across the sector, in which private colleges have an important place in providing students with distinct learning opportunities to foster their individual growth and development. The caucus brings our bipartisan group of members together to advocate for these schools.

We are fortunate to have several private, nonprofit colleges in my district, providing a range of postsecondary opportunities for students in the North Country. From early college programs that allow high school students to get a jump on college coursework, to advanced degree programs for career professionals looking to elevate their skillset, our independent colleges support a culture of lifelong learning. The contributions these colleges make extend far beyond the classroom and reach all residents of our communities. Paul Smith's College operates a regional water quality monitoring and invasive species management program, which offers free boat inspection and decontamination across the Adirondack region. Through the North Country Innovation Hot Spot Program, Clarkson University supports local entrepreneurs with workshops and one-on-one consultations as they start or expand their business. Our independent colleges are embedded in the fabric of my district.

Some of the most exciting innovations I have seen are how the schools are adapting to meet the needs of students across the continuum of their academic careers. For example, Clarkson University has a residential early college program where high school aged students are able to enroll in a full slate of college courses, while receiving additional support and opportunities for growth. Additionally, many of our independent colleges offer online education or a hybrid approach that blends online coursework with face-to-face interaction with instructors. These innovative programs allow working professionals to continue their education in a way that suits the demands of their life.

I serve on the Education and Labor Committee, where we have been focused on updating the Higher Education Act to keep pace with the innovation occurring on campuses across the nation, while addressing some of the barriers students face in attaining a postsecondary degree. Pell Grants are the cornerstone of the federal government’s commitment to providing access and opportunity to all students, and I have been the leading advocate for modernizing Pell to meet the needs of the contemporary student, who are increasingly over the age of 25, engaged in the workforce, and with family. I led the push to provide students with year-round access to Pell Grants and supported increases in the size of the award to keep up with the rising cost of a degree.  I am also leading an effort to extend Pell eligibility to high school students who are dually enrolled in postsecondary coursework.

I am the first in my immediate family to graduate from college, and the education I received truly changed the trajectory of my life and opened the door to new opportunities. Having experienced the transformational power of postsecondary education, I know the importance of expanding access and increasing the affordability of a college degree. Equipping students with the skills to excel in today’s dynamic economy will increasingly require some level of postsecondary education. As I work with my colleagues to update the Higher Education Act, ensuring higher education remains a pathway to opportunity is a top priority.