The Invisible Workload of Grief: Student Bereavement Administrative Burdens

This policy brief examines the “invisible workload of grief” faced by college students after the sudden loss of a parent, focusing on the administrative and academic burdens that arise alongside emotional distress. Bereaved students often must navigate financial aid changes, housing adjustments, documentation requirements, and academic deadlines during periods of acute grief, creating barriers to academic success.

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Elizabeth Wang

April 14, 2026

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Inquiry-driven, this project may reflect personal views, aiming to enrich problem-related discourse.

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Elizabeth Wang

2026 Winter Fellow

Elizabeth Wang is a student at the University of Georgia with interests in public policy, institutional systems, and student wellbeing. Her work explores how administrative structures and policy design affect students’ access to resources and academic success. She is particularly interested in developing practical policy solutions that improve equity and support within higher education institutions.

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Kayla Johnson

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America’s Financial Literacy Problem: Why it Needs to Be Taught Early and Everywhere

Capstones Summer 2025

Luke Meggers

Despite living in one of the world’s largest existing economies, millions of students all over America graduate from high school without understanding the basics of financial literacy. This unbelievable fact contributes to real consequences such as life long financial insecurity and long term debt. Although there exists some recognition of the importance of financial literacy, strong and consistent instruction is still not present in most middle schools and high schools. This brief discusses current gaps in financial literacy education, explains why early and comprehensive instruction is critical, and outlines crucial policy options to integrate financial literacy requirements and curriculum into schools across the United States.

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Elizabeth Wang

Other Fellowship Capstones

Artificial Intelligence Applications in Humanitarian Crises

Chemo On Time: Patient Navigation for India’s Public Insurance

America’s Financial Literacy Problem: Why it Needs to Be Taught Early and Everywhere