Students, advocates applaud new law that bans withholding transcripts over debt

The Maine Center for Economic Policy, which advocated for the law, said that nearly 10,000 students in the University of Maine system and attending Maine’s community colleges will benefit from the policy change.

MECEP economic policy analyst Arthur Phillips explained that without transcripts, students cannot re-enroll or bring credits they’ve earned and paid for to another school. Without a diploma, students face greater obstacles in the job market and difficulty paying off debts, which they must do to receive their diploma.

“College education is a critical tool for Mainers to boost their income and for all of us to build a stronger economy,” Phillips said in a statement. “The passage of this bill is a victory for all students, and especially people with lower incomes, who can now more easily finish their degrees and bring their skills to the labor force.”

Click here to read the full story, first published April 5, 2022, in Beacon.