The Department of Education is requesting feedback on the creation of a Postsecondary Student Success Award Program to recognize institutions of higher education that provide “access to an affordable education, including to underserved populations, support students through to completion of credentials of value, and help students navigate to career pathways that improve their lives through economic opportunity and mobility.”

The 30-day comment period allows institutions to submit comments on four broad areas:

1. The metrics and measures of performance that should be used to determine institutional eligibility and recognition;
2. How institutions should demonstrate the data they use to drive success for all students;
3. How institutions should demonstrate an institutional leadership commitment to support economic mobility via campus-wide student success efforts; and
4. How institutions should demonstrate the effectiveness of these efforts.

In announcing the initiative during the Attaining College Excellence and Equity Summit, the most recent Raise the Bar summit hosted by the Department, Secretary Miguel Cardona stressed the importance of institutions “raising the bar for access and equity becoming household names. This award seeks to make that world possible.”