,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #gia ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #c1 #bjbj,mr4 ,coons 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,scott of ,south ,carolina1 ,mr4 ,carper1 and ,ms4 ,ernst7 submitted the following resolution2 which was considered and agreed to ,,resolution ,designating ,november #bjbj as ,national ,college ,application ,month4 ,whereas equality of opportunity for all people is one of the noblest aspirations of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas data on the benefits of higher education demonstrate that1 in spite of ongoing barriers to access and student success1 colleges and universities can still provide pathways to economic opportunity2 ,whereas the ,united ,states built a thriving middle class by funding colleges and universities to provide avenues to individual economic opportunity and shared economic growth2 ,whereas higher education enhances the economic mobility of individuals1 which is evidenced by-- 7#a7 a finding by the ,brookings ,institute that the median lifetime earnings of holders of an associate degree are uniformly greater than the median lifetime earnings of holders of solely a high school diploma2 and 7#b7 a finding by the ,pew ,economic ,mobility ,project that1 for an individual born in the lowest income quintile1 obtaining a #d-year degree or a higher degree is associated with-- 7,a7 an approximately #gj percent difference in the probability of that individual earning an income outside the lowest income quintile2 and 7,b7 a threefold difference in the probability of that individual going on to earn an income in the highest income quintile2 ,whereas the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics reports that-- 7#a7 the unemployment rate of high school graduates in #bjai who did not immediately matriculate to an institution of higher education the following fall semester was #ah4b percent1 which is significantly higher than the overall unemployment rate of the ,united ,states2 7#b7 approximately #cd percent of high school graduates in #bjai did not immediately matriculate to an institution of higher education the following fall semester1 which represents a decline from the prior year in the rate of immediate matriculation of new high school graduates to an institution of higher education2 7#c7 the decline described in paragraph 7#b7 was most notable among ,african ,american high school graduates1 who faced a #bj percent decline from the prior year in immediate matriculation to an institution of higher education2 and 7#d7 the unemployment rate of adults with a bachelor's degree and the unemployment rate of adults whose highest credential is a high school diploma differ by #bj percentage points1 a gap that has grown larger as a result of ,,covid-#ai2 ,whereas the ,national ,student ,clearinghouse reports that undergraduate enrollment in colleges and universities is declining precipitously in the midst of the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 particularly for nontraditional students2 ,whereas the complexity of financial aid systems and rising college costs can serve as additional deterrents or barriers for students and families as they assess the viability of higher education programs as a postsecondary option2 ,whereas many students struggle to identify and compare postsecondary options due to-- 7#a7 difficulties accessing school counseling services1 which is evidenced by an estimation of the ,american ,school ,counselor ,association that the student-to-counselor ratio in the ,united ,states is #dcj to #a2 7#b7 an absence of reliable programmatic and institutional outcome data2 and 7#c7 a lack of comparable and understandable college financial aid offers2 ,whereas1 in addition to expanding outreach and support to recent high school graduates1 colleges and universities must also expand outreach and support to all undergraduate students2 ,whereas the ,digest of ,education ,statistics for #bjai of the ,national ,center for ,education ,statistics and the #bjae-af ,national ,postsecondary ,student ,aid ,survey found that1 of undergraduate students in the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 approximately #bg percent are older than #be years of age2 7#b7 #ch percent are enrolled part-time2 7#c7 #bd percent are parents2 and 7#d7 #hf percent live off-campus2 ,whereas the ,national ,center for ,education ,statistics highlights that completion of the ,free ,application for ,federal ,student ,aid is one of the best predictors of immediate college enrollment1 as high school seniors who complete the form are #hd percent more likely to begin postsecondary education in the fall following high school graduation2 ,whereas applications for ,state-based financial aid are available in many ,states for students who do not qualify for ,federal student aid2 and ,whereas the ongoing impact of the ,,covid-#ai pandemic on communities1 families1 and educational systems across the ,united ,states underscores and reinforces the value of ensuring that all individuals1 including students enrolled in high school and working adults-- 7#a7 understand their postsecondary options2 7#b7 understand college financing opportunities2 and 7#c7 have support to navigate the college application and financial aid processes3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 designates ,november #bjbj as ,national ,college ,application ,month2 7#b7 encourages the people of the ,united ,states to-- 7,a7 evaluate options for pursuing higher education2 7,b7 submit a ,free ,application for ,federal ,student ,aid or an appropriate application for ,state-based financial aid in order to receive college financing opportunities2 and 7,c7 support every student1 regardless of the background1 age1 or resources of the student1 in obtaining the skills and knowledge needed to thrive2 7#c7 supports efforts to better assist low-income and first-generation college students throughout the financial aid and college application process2 7#d7 urges public officials1 educators1 parents1 students1 and communities in the ,united ,states to observe ,national ,college ,application ,month with appropriate activities and programs designed to encourage students to consider1 research1 and apply to college and for financial aid2 and 7#e7 commends teachers1 counselors1 mentors1 and parents who support students throughout the college application process1 as well as the organizations and institutions partnering to eliminate barriers to higher education4