In his book The Uses of the University, Clark Kerr, former president of the University of California, reminds us that “as society goes, so goes the university.” It is true that as the nation changes, so must higher education, and America is undergoing rapid demographic transformation. The students coming up the educational pipeline are the most diverse in American history, creating tremendous opportunity for colleges and universities to train and support these students — the future leaders of our nation.
While higher education is abuzz with goals of cultivating greater access and success for historically underrepresented groups, many institutions still engage in practices that work against these goals. If we are truly going to open our doors wider, we can’t do so without transforming our own policies and practices. Here are a few ways to move the needle:
Decrease Your Dependency on Testing:
While research studies continue to prove that standardized testing is not the best predictor of success in college, institutions continue to place heavy emphasis on them during evaluation. There is a direct correlation between success on the exam and wealth, and therefore low-income students are at a significant disadvantage. At my own institution, we dropped the testing requirement in 2015 and since then have found that there is no statistical difference between the first-year GPA of students who submitted test scores and those who did not. Our applicant pool is more diverse, and we have enrolled the highest number of low-income, first-generation students in school history. I have met many students on my campus who said they would not have applied if it were not for the test-optional policy. There are now more than 1,000 test-optional institutions in the nation, and I’ve yet to meet an official who regrets adopting this policy. Decrease your dependency on testing, and you will notice a difference in your enrollment pipeline.
Simplify Your Financial Aid Process:
The complexity and bureaucratic nature of our financial aid process in America reminds low-income families that they are poor — over and over again. These students and their families face significant hurdles when applying for aid. They must answer more than 100 questions on the FAFSA (and many more if a college requires the CSSProfile) and submit many forms of verification. All of this is enough to discourage even the most patient from completing the process. In states including California, New York, and Connecticut, the FAFSA completion rate is in the low 30s. Colleges can simplify this process for families. Even if you are a private college, require only the federal form for your lowest income students, collect their tax return, and create four-year financial aid awards that show them what the estimated total cost of attendance will be by the time they graduate. In my experience, there is very little fluctuation in income for the lowest income families at my institution. Why make them jump through so many hoops? Require the minimum to meet federal standards, and simplify the process. We have recently done this at my institution, and our low-income students have enrolled and retained at higher rates. Financial aid offices are quite formulaic and like to function with the tone of the IRS, but with a little extra effort, creativity, and student-centeredness, you can set students up for incredible success.
Stop the Bait and Switch:
