This handbook is an invitation and a tool for action. It gives students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni, and community members concrete ways to organize around one simple demand: make college more affordable. We’ve included the one thing everyone should do: contact your member of Congress about Pell Grants. The rest are ideas—not a checklist. Choose what makes the most sense for your campus or organization.

Whether you’re sharing your story, organizing on campus, or engaging elected officials and candidates, there’s a role for you.

This guide was last updated September 1, 2026, and shared as part of the Raise Hell for Pell Virtual Town Hall, hosted by the Emergency Campaign to Support Higher Education.

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