Advocacy
APWA advocates at the federal level for regulatory and legislative solutions that expand access to graduate education.
Federal Policy Advocacy
Advancing Graduate Education Through Federal Policy
APWA is focused on federal policies that directly impact access to graduate education and the ability to sustain a highly skilled, licensed workforce across critical sectors.
Coalition
APWA brings together higher education, professional associations, and advocacy organizations to represent voices across disciplines and workforce sectors.
Access
APWA leverages bipartisan engagement strategies to connect members with Congressional leaders and federal agencies.
Our Mission Statement
A Coalition Focused on Workforce Impact
The Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance was formed to advocate for professions that require graduate and postsecondary education and training.
Recent federal policy changes, including new student loan caps and the elimination of the Graduate PLUS loan program, are reshaping access to graduate education. These changes have significant implications for workforce development across fields such as architecture, behavioral health, social work, health administration, occupational and physical therapy, naturopathic medicine, athletic training, and counseling.
The Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA) is a coalition-based advocacy organization dedicated to maximizing the federal investment in graduate education. APWA convenes higher education organizations, professional associations, and graduate education advocates to advance policy on degree designation, federal funding, and workforce development.
A National Coalition Representing Critical Professions
APWA represents a diverse coalition of organizations spanning healthcare, education, infrastructure, and public service.
Our members include higher education organizations, professional associations, and advocacy groups working together to ensure federal policy reflects the realities of graduate education and workforce demand.
Through coordinated advocacy and strategic engagement, APWA amplifies the collective voice of professions that depend on advanced education to serve communities nationwide.
Steering Committee
Voting Members
Non-Voting Members
Policy Issues
APWA is focused on federal policies that directly impact access to graduate education and the ability to sustain a highly skilled workforce across critical sectors.
1
Access to Graduate Education Financing
Recent federal changes, including new student loan caps and the elimination of the Graduate PLUS loan program, are limiting access to graduate education for many students. These changes disproportionately impact programs in critical sectors.
2
Definition of “Professional Degrees”
Current and proposed federal definitions exclude many programs that meet the functional criteria of professional degrees. This limits access to financial aid and creates barriers for students entering professions critical to public health, education, and infrastructure.
3
Workforce Pipeline Stability
Restrictions on graduate education access create downstream workforce shortages across high-need sectors. Sustaining these workforce pipelines is essential to meeting national demand and supporting community-level services.
4
Federal Implementation & Timeline Considerations
Accelerated implementation of federal policy changes can disrupt institutional planning, financial aid systems, and student access. APWA supports policy timelines that allow institutions and students to adapt while maintaining stability across the higher education system.
Resources
Reports, Testimony, and Advocacy Materials
See what APWA submitted to the Department of Education’s Proposed Student Loan Rule.
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See the testimony APWA submitted to the House Appropriations Committee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.
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See APWA’s one-pager, used to promote awareness on our issues to policymakers.
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