,,iii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ddi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #af1 #bjba,mr4 ,coons 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,scott of ,south ,carolina1 ,ms4 ,ernst1 ,mr4 ,grassley1 ,mr4 ,carper1 ,mr4 ,casey1 and ,mr4 ,van ,hollen7 submitted the following resolution2 which was considered and agreed to ,,resolution ,designating ,november #bjba as ,national ,college ,application ,month4 ,whereas equality of opportunity for all people is one of the noblest aspirations of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the ,united ,states has created shared economic growth and strengthened civic engagement through making higher education widely available2 ,whereas higher education enhances the economic mobility of individual students and their families1 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 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 7#c7 the unemployment rate of high school graduates in #bjbj who did not immediately matriculate to an institution of higher education the following fall semester was #ai4e percent1 which has increased during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic and was almost #c times higher than the overall unemployment rate of the ,united ,states2 and 7#d7 the unemployment rate of adults whose highest credential is a high school diploma is almost double that of those with a bachelor's degree2 ,whereas the ,national ,student ,clearinghouse reports that undergraduate enrollment in higher education has declined precipitously since the beginning of the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 particularly for students in poverty and students of color1 as evidenced by-- 7#a7 #f4h percent less high school graduates immediately matriculated to an institution of higher education the following fall semester in #bjbj1 which represents a decline #d4e times greater than the decline from the prior year2 7#b7 the decline described in paragraph 7#a7 was most notable among graduates at high poverty high schools1 who faced an #aa4d percent decline from #bjai in immediate matriculation to an institution of higher education2 and 7#c7 the decline described in paragraph 7#a7 also disproportionately affected high school graduates at high minority population schools where college enrollment declined by #i4d percent from #bjai1 which represents a decline #aj times greater than the decline from the prior year2 ,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 and their families struggle to identify and compare postsecondary options due to-- 7#a7 difficulties accessing school counseling services in high school1 which is evidenced by an estimation of the ,american ,school ,counselor ,association that the student-to-counselor ratio in the ,united ,states is #dbd 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 adults without a postsecondary degree or credential2 ,whereas the most recent data available from the ,national ,postsecondary ,student ,aid ,study commissioned by the ,national ,center for ,education ,statistics 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 application 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 #bjba 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 and increase opportunities for low-income1 first-generation college students1 and students of color1 throughout the financial aid process1 college application process1 and beyond2 7#d7 urges public officials1 educators1 families1 students1 and communities in the ,united ,states to observe ,national ,college ,application ,month with appropriate activities and programs designed to encourage students and families to consider1 research1 and apply to college and for financial aid2 and 7#e7 commends teachers1 school counselors1 mentors1 and families who support students throughout the college application process1 as well as the organizations and institutions partnering to eliminate barriers to higher education4