Strengthening Women’s Colleges

The Situation

The 37 women’s only colleges that make up the Women’s College Coalition (WCC) in the U.S. have faced unique financial pressures, forcing mergers and closures that impact their positive impact that they had within the higher education system. COVID-19 and its impacts have only exacerbated this ever-increasing dire situation.

The Strategy

  • Devised a legislative strategy for the WCC so that Congress, for the first time ever, acknowledges women’s colleges and sets aside potential funding for them–like other minority-serving institutions.

  • Strategically approached House and Senate supporters of the WCC, focusing on appropriators and committee leadership, throughout the FY 2022 appropriations process.

  • Drafted legislative language, House and Senate testimonies, and op-eds in support.

The Result

The House Appropriations Committee included the first-ever language in a bill recognizing the role that the nation’s women’s colleges and universities play in advancing postsecondary diversity and inclusion for underserved populations.

The language calls for the Department of Education to come up with funding to help women’s colleges, establishing a consistent federal funding stream — similar to other minority-serving institutions.