Colleges have plenty of data but what does that data mean when it comes to improving completion rates, access, and equity? Mamie Voight, president and CEO of the Institution for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), joins the podcast and talks with Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer about IHEP’s work on Capitol Hill in support of students, including through the College Transparency Act, and offers suggestions for colleges looking to avoid the dreaded “data dump.” Before that, Jon and Sarah discuss how Congress is wrapping things up before their summer break.

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EPISODE NOTES Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

Introduction:

Senate Passes Bill to Subsidize U.S.-Made Semiconductor Chips The Washington Post | July 27, 2022

Bill Aimed at Lowering Medicare Drug Prices Faces Next Test in the Senate CNN | July 21, 2022

Student Loan Servicers Told to Hold Off on Sending Billing Statements The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | July 25, 2022

Conversation with Mamie Voight:

Institute for Higher Education

College Scorecard U.S. Department of Education

Three Metrics I Didn’t Have During My College Search, But I’m Glad Students Now Do Data at Work (IHEP Blog)

Research Center National Student Clearinghouse

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System National Center for Education Statistics

House Approves College Transparency Act Inside Higher Ed | February 7, 2022

Value Data Collaborative Institute for Higher Education

Shifting Focus from Access to Completion Inside Higher Ed | May 3, 2021

Postsecondary Value Commission—Reports

Postsecondary Value Commission—Equitable Value Explorer tool

One year in, momentum builds from the Postsecondary Value Commission’s work Higher Ed Dive | May 12, 2022

The 101 on the College Completion Fund College Completion Fund IHEP’s May 2022 report from Degrees When Due