[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9531 of October 28, 2016

National College Application Month, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

In America, all people deserve an equal chance to succeed, and expanding
access to affordable higher education is necessary for bringing us
closer to fulfilling this ideal. Over the past several generations, our
country built a strong middle class through a commitment to keeping a
high-quality education within reach for all those willing to work for
it, and now more than ever, a college degree is the surest path to the
middle class. During National College Application Month, we encourage
Americans to apply for a higher education, and we strive to ensure every
student--no matter who they are or where they come from--has a chance at
the opportunities they need to thrive.

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My Administration is committed to giving students and their families
important information on college admissions, value, and costs so they
can make decisions that are right for them. Last year, we redesigned a
new College Scorecard with direct input from students, families, and
advisers to provide clear and accessible national data on college cost,
graduation rates, debt, and post-college earnings. By visiting
CollegeScorecard.Ed.gov, more Americans can evaluate college choices
based on the factors that matter most to them. Through First Lady
Michelle Obama's Reach Higher initiative, we are inspiring more students
to pursue a higher education, ensuring they have what they need to
complete their college education, and helping them understand their
financial aid eligibility. And we are working to reduce barriers to
educational opportunity through the Fair Chance Higher Education
Pledge--an effort in which public and private colleges and universities
are helping provide individuals with criminal records who have already
paid their debt to society a fair chance to seek a higher education. To
learn more about ways we are helping more Americans pursue a higher
education, visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/ReachHigher.
Although earning a college degree is one of the most important
investments individuals can make for themselves and for our country,
it still feels out of reach for too many American families. That is why
we have taken many steps to make college more affordable, including
doubling investments in grant and scholarship aid through Pell Grants
and tax credits, keeping interest rates low on Federal student loans,
and helping borrowers manage debt after college through programs like
the Pay as You Earn plan. This year, we launched the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid--which is available at www.FAFSA.gov--3 months
earlier than usual so that students can access financial aid sooner and
receive better information as they search for and apply to colleges. And
because every American at any age and from any walk of life should be
able to earn the skills necessary to compete in the 21st-century
economy, I have proposed making community college free for students with
the drive and discipline to work for it.
This month, we recognize the limitless potential in every student and
reaffirm our commitment to offering them the resources they need to
succeed. We thank not only the teachers, counselors, and parents who
support students throughout the college application process, but also
the organizations and institutions partnering with us to eliminate
unnecessary barriers to higher education. Let us celebrate the progress
we have made as more historically underserved students are enrolling in
college for the first time, more students are graduating from college
than ever before, and new student loan defaults are on the decline. And
together, let us forge a future where every student has the opportunity
to go as far as their dreams and hard work will take them.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2016 as
National College Application Month. I call upon public officials,
educators, parents, students, and all Americans to observe this month
with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs designed to
encourage students to make plans for and apply to college.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day
of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen,

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and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred
and forty-first.
BARACK OBAMA