From national trends to the groundbreaking work taking place right here on Georgetown’s campus, THE FEED’s 2018 stories captured critical developments shaping access and affordability in higher education.
See below for the most popular stories of 2018—and help guide our 2019 coverage by taking our 60-second survey or emailing us at feedmail@georgetown.edu.
Top stories of 2018
Georgetown course helps first-gen students master ‘the hidden curriculum’
Recognizing that many first-generation students enter college with little grounding in academe’s unspoken expectations, Georgetown University has created a course to ease that transition. Here’s a closer look—and six must-reads from the class syllabus. More >
Three questions Bloomberg’s $1.8B gift to Hopkins raises about college access and affordability
Michael Bloomberg’s gift, which brings his lifetime giving to Hopkins to $3.3 billion, will allow the school to establish need-blind admissions and eliminate loans from financial aid packages. But it also raises questions about the role of private philanthropy in addressing college access and affordability. More >
Community Scholars Program celebrates 50th anniversary; Georgetown program boasts 91 percent graduation rate for first-gen students
In October 2018, Georgetown celebrated 50 years of support for for first-generation students through the Community Scholars Program. More >
Hundreds of alumni return to campus to celebrate 50 years of Community Scholars
The anniversary event brought more than two hundred CSP alumni and friends of the program to campus for events and historical reflection. More >
Georgetown University launches on-campus food pantry
The new Hoya Hub provides access to free non-perishable food items for members of the Georgetown University community experiencing food insecurity. More >
Prison-based educational programs creating degree pathways for incarcerated people
College and correctional facility partnerships around the nation are working to build incarcerated individuals’ job skills and set them on the path to a degree. More >
UVA to go tuition-free for Virginia families earning less than $80K
University of Virginia President James Ryan made the announcement during his inaugural address, adding that in-state students from families earning less than $30,000 annually will receive free room and board, too. More >
Will U. of Chicago’s new test-optional policy spur peers to do the same?
The University of Chicago has announced it will no longer require undergraduate applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, becoming the first of the nation’s top-tier universities to adopt that policy. More >
Report highlights strain on undocumented students, opportunities for colleges to boost support
A new study indicates that the vast majority of undocumented students work while attending college, sheds light on other quality-of-life factors, and outlines opportunities to better support that population. More >
Should college be free? Panelists consider pros and cons.
Georgetown University think tank FutureEd convened a panel of experts to explore the merits of college promise programs. More >