SHEEO (State Higher Education Executive Officers Association)

RELEASE: State operating support for public colleges and universities tops policy priorities for state higher education leaders in 2025: https://lnkd.in/d7Xsx_bz We recently surveyed state higher education leaders about their top policy priorities for 2025. Taking the number one spot is state operating support for public colleges and universities. Ranked second, and the top issue from 2023 and 2024, is workforce development. Rounding out the top five are (3) state funding for financial aid programs, (4) higher ed’s value proposition, and (5) college completion and student success. Read the report to see the full list of rankings and learn more about the top 10 policy priorities: https://lnkd.in/d82cuShV

We’re wishing you a safe and joyful holiday season. SHEEO offices will be closed for winter break through Jan. 1. See you in the new year!

🔎NEW REPORT: Using publicly available federal award data for Minority-Serving Institutions from the U.S. Department of Education, our latest report discusses trends in state and federal funding for MSIs. Find an overview of federal award changes since the 2008 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA), an analysis of trends observed from the data, and how the findings could inform future funding and support for MSIs. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/dSq3EBVN Jessica Colorado

💻NEW REPORT: Check our latest Quarterly Policy Review to see state highlights about economic and workforce development, access and enrollment, college affordability, value, ROI, student success and college completion, state budgets, etc., and a policy spotlight on Rhode Island Reconnect from the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner. https://lnkd.in/d7YPbCkN

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens doors to securing money for college. The #FAFSA is now open for students planning to attend college during the 2025-26 school year. https://lnkd.in/eenpmUck

📢It’s time for students to file their 2025-26 FAFSA! Help spread the word during the U.S. Department of Education's #FAFSA Week of Action, Dec. 9-13. First-time filers and their contributors need to create an FSA ID to get started. Check out fafsa.gov for resources - including links to helpful YouTube videos from Federal Student Aid an Office of the U.S. Department of Education.

If you’re in Chicago attending the National Association for College Admission Counseling's Elevating Equity in College Access and Admissions: Illinois Practice and Policy Convening today, stop by the Ensuring Direct Admissions Works panel to hear SHEEO Senior Policy Analyst Sakshee Chawla highlight how #directadmissions serves as a pivotal tool for advancing equity in higher education by addressing systemic barriers to access, viewed through a state policy lens. Across the nation, states have leveraged direct admissions to simplify college entry, particularly for students from underserved communities. Its success hinges on thoughtful policy design that aligns institutional participation with clear equity objectives, robust data systems that streamline the admissions process, and intentional engagement with counselors and communities to foster trust and buy-in.

SHEEO is always proud to provide a national look at state higher education issues, and it’s been a busy week as our team shares with a variety of groups. Senior Policy Analysts Rachel Burns and Jessica Colorado are speaking to the Equity & Adequacy Funding Partners Convening this afternoon about our recent SHEF expansion project and reports. Senior Policy Analyst Sean Baser spoke on a panel webinar with the Data Quality Campaign alongside a few of our members on Wednesday about our Strong Foundations survey and state postsecondary data systems. Associate Vice President Dustin Weeden spoke this morning on financial monitoring during the New England Commission of Higher Education’s Annual Meeting in Boston. We look forward to continuing to represent our state member perspectives!

We’ve had a great year serving our members and their staff! Wrapping up 2024 with a few more publications still to come this month. 🙌

It’s been an insightful and motivating week with 13 state teams in Washington, D.C. for a Communities of Practice focused on Supporting Student Loan Borrowers. Thank you to all of our speakers and attendees for your engagement as we navigate how best to support students through an often confusing topic. Thank you also to Lumina Foundation and Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program for your support in this work.