More first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented minority students are applying to college, but uneven K-12 academic preparation remains a barrier to their enrollment in postsecondary institutions.
Topics: Student success
How ‘spaces of belonging’ can help first-gen students thrive
First-generation college students benefit significantly when institutions provide a dedicated campus center that supports their full participation in the college experience and signals their importance to the campus community.
Making dual credit programs accessible, equitable for underserved communities
As the popularity of dual credit courses rises, experts say these programs are largely excluding the students who need them the most.
Funding shortfalls, enrollment declines threaten rural college students’ access to a growing list of academic disciplines
U.S. colleges and universities in rural communities are cutting academic programs due to financial constraints, limiting areas of study and career opportunities for rural students.
Emergency grant programs help college students persist, graduate
Programs that provide financial assistance to low-income students struggling with unexpected expenses increase college persistence and students’ sense of belonging, according to a new report.
Report: College completion rate remains flat
A new report shows a six-year college completion rate of 62.3% for students who first enrolled in 2016.
Can flexibility in assignment deadlines promote equity?
Professors are re-examining their approach to deadlines and rigid late-work policies to meet the needs of students who are facing complex mental health, financial, and personal challenges.
Report: Students left stranded by college closures unlikely to complete their degree
A new report shows the lasting consequences of college closures, finding that most students whose institutions shut down had a difficult time re-enrolling at other institutions and earning their credentials.
HBCUs seek highest recognition for research and innovation
To date, no historically Black college or university has attained R1 status, the highest possible classification for research universities. After earning record levels of research funding, some HBCUs are poised to change that.
How pandemic disruptions have followed students to college and what educators are doing to help
Across the country, first-year students are feeling unprepared for college coursework and struggling to overcome mental health concerns. Colleges and universities are redoubling their efforts to meet students’ needs.
Advocates working to unlock internship, research opportunities for undocumented students
Student advocates and legal scholars are campaigning for the University of California system to hire undocumented students, as the number of immigrant students without DACA protections continues to rise.
‘Equity as a precondition of excellence’: Commission releases 2030 blueprint for undergraduate education
An influential group of university leaders, scholars, and advocates says U.S. research universities must prioritize equity to meet the needs of all students, prepare them for productive careers, and build a stronger society.