Under the guidance of a leading Washington-based higher education policy organization, the National Coalition for College Completion (NCCC), which is made up of civil rights organizations, businesses and student advocacy groups, was launched Thursday. A news media conference call announced the launch and it included higher education experts expressing concern about the challenges low-income students face as they try to complete their college education.

The coalition was convened by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) and is meant to give a voice to organizations outside of education.

The coalition’s formation comes at a time when a growing consensus of higher education policy research suggests that lower-income students are finding it more difficult to stay in college because of work or family obligations, as well as lack of financial support.

Call participants stressed that the coalition’s work will focus on two key areas: college affordability (including financial aid) and workforce alignment or ensuring that credentialed programs keep up with the demands of a rapidly changing workforce.

“We are here because we want to make sure that we, as a country, do not regress,” said Dr. Michelle Cooper, president of IHEP, who opened the conference call and delivered a grim assessment of the state of the American workforce.

Although 97 million jobs will require high-level skills, only 45 million Americans qualify. Should this pattern continue, Cooper said, this generation could be less educated—and less skilled—than the generation before it.

Coalition organizers expect that its diverse array of member organizations will nudge policymakers into finding workable solutions. Members currently include the Boys and Girls Club of America, CEOs for Cities, Campus Progress, The South East Asia Resource Action Center, and Student Veterans of America.

During the conference call, Bridget Marquis, program officer at CEOs for Cities, mentioned an example of how organizations can develop social and political incentives to increase college completion.