What It Takes to Achieve Equity in Higher Ed
The mission of the National College Access Network is to build, strengthen, and empower communities and stakeholders to close equity gaps in postsecondary attainment for all students. As NCAN embarks on a new strategic plan, and we celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2020, we asked leaders from the college access and success field what they…
Read MoreGuiding Today’s Students with Equity in Mind
Successfully navigating the college experience is not easy, particularly for today’s students. Knowing where and from whom to get help can mean the difference between success or failure for students of color and those with low incomes who are opportunity youth, adults, parents, immigrants, first-generation college attendees, or justice-impacted individuals. Students find that pursuing a postsecondary credential…
Read MoreThree Lessons Higher Ed Can Learn From Charter Schools
While various aspects of the charter school model remain at the center of hot-button political debates, there are many lessons that can be learned from their successes and failures. A more nuanced look reveals that, when done well, charter schools can provide a high-quality—and greatly personalized—educational experience to students. The stories found at successful charter…
Read MoreEquity: Everything and the Kitchen Sink
Equity seems to be the “it” term of the day when it comes to student success and college completion. You’d be hard pressed to find an institutional strategic plan or statewide task force report focused on increasing postsecondary attainment that doesn’t reference a commitment to equity, or its oft used counterparts, diversity and inclusion. Everyone’s…
Read MoreIncentivizing Equity: A Q&A with University of Northern Colorado Professor Amy Li
Insights & Outlooks: Your work centers on the topic of state higher education accountability policies and their impact on educational equity. In a few sentences, what are the key findings of your research? Dr. Amy Li: My work on accountability has focused on state performance funding policies. Key findings about performance funding are that these…
Read MoreAffordable Higher Education is Essential to Preserving the Black Middle Class
Higher education has long been touted as a gateway to the middle class. This is especially critical for black Americans, as blacks still face economic adversity in not only achieving middle-income status, but also maintaining this status for future generations. In 2017, about 40 percent of black households qualify as middle class, with household incomes…
Read MoreToday’s Students and the Evolving Equity Movement in Higher Education
The march toward equity has been, for nearly a century, a hallmark in the history of American education. The movement gained nationwide momentum with the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision at the Supreme Court, which found school segregation unconstitutional and established full and equal access to public education as protected under the Constitution.…
Read MoreWhatever It Takes: The Student Success Renaissance at Paul Quinn College
For most college presidents, converting the school’s football field into an organic farm would be a career-ending move. For Michael Sorrell, it was just the beginning of a historic turnaround that’s occurred at the 146-year-old institution where he serves as president. Facing sagging enrollment, financial challenges and growing questions about the relevance of its mission,…
Read MoreMichele Siqueiros: A Leading Voice for Affordability, Access, Success and Equity in Higher Education
Policy matters, and it played an important role in Michele Siqueiros’ life. Effective college affordability policies provided her with an opportunity to go to college and ultimately get her master’s degree. This kickstarted a series of life-altering experiences that led her down a career dedicated toward improving policy and social mobility through higher education. “I…
Read More