As an advocate for a more just and equitable system of higher education for all of Massachusetts, I ask that you please co-sponsor An Act Ensuring Students' Access to Academic Transcripts (H.4552​/S.2746). Please know that I write this letter as an activist in your district acting in solidarity with the organizations Zero Debt Massachusetts, uAspire, Boston Intercollegiate Government, and many more who believe the withholding of academic transcripts is a backwards and unjust practice.

If passed, this law would ensure that students can access their academic transcripts, even if they owe small fees to their school. At present, this unfair practice, sometimes termed “transcript withholding,” has impacted over six million students nationwide, some of whom had unpaid balances as small as $25. Moreover, low-income students, who already face many barriers to success in college, have been particularly impacted by this harmful practice.

The withholding of students’ transcripts makes academic and career advancement extremely difficult, especially during times of financial hardship. Because students without access to their transcripts have greater difficulty obtaining jobs and other post-graduation opportunities, they often have a more difficult time making payments on outstanding debts.

As such, the withholding of students’ transcripts only makes it less likely that students will have the opportunities necessary to repay outstanding debts.
Not only would the passage of this legislation put Massachusetts on par with California, Maryland, Washington, and other states, but it would also ensure that the Commonwealth remains a leader in higher education policy, a position commensurate with the great wealth of human capital that is brought to the Commonwealth by virtue of its many leading institutions of higher education.

The passage of this legislation would not prevent colleges and universities in the Commonwealth from collecting debts they are legally owed. It would, however, ensure that students seeking post-graduation opportunities are not stymied in their searches by the arbitrary withholding of transcripts.

I look forward to hearing more about your stance on this important policy!


In Solidarity,