September 24, 2012
Contact:
Rae Roca
Rae.Roca@younginvincibles.org
202.378.3526

Young Invincibles To Mobilize Student Voice For Comprehensive Financial Aid Reform to Develop Policy Recommendations

 YI Joins Gates Foundation Initiative to support “RADD”

[WASHINGTON, DC] –Young Invincibles will engage students and recent graduates this fall to help amplify the youth perspective on the federal financial aid system and the need for reform.  YI has received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support that work, as part of the Gates Foundation “RADD” initiative that was announced earlier today (“Reimagining Aid Design and Delivery”).

“The rising cost of college is quickly becoming one of the defining challenges of our time – for students, families, and the nation,” said Aaron Smith, Executive Director of Young Invincibles. “Students and graduates understand that a postsecondary degree or certificate is more important than ever.  But even with existing aid, school is too expensive, loan debt is too high, and the outcomes in terms of graduating and getting a job simply are not good enough.  Young Invincibles is excited to amplify the voices of our generation to not only identify the issues with our financial aid system, but offer specific policy solutions from a student perspective that can improve the system and increase access to higher education, bring down costs, and prepare us for economic success.”

Young Invincibles will be releasing a survey of students and recent graduates and a survey of campus leaders in the next few weeks that will help inform our policy recommendations.  We are organizing, along with our student group partners, a National College Affordability week starting October 8 to highlight the challenges and need for reform.  The week will include panels, rallies, and press conferences across the country.  In mid-October, Young Invincibles will release a white paper outlining a number of potential policy reforms for the federal financial aid system designed to address both the cost of college and outcomes.

The “Reimagining Aid Design and Delivery” Project is part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s work to dramatically increase the number of young people who graduate high school ready for college and career and who go on to complete a postsecondary degree or credential.

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Young Invincibles is a national organization committed to mobilizing and expanding opportunities for all young Americans between 18 and 34 years of age.