Empowerment WithoutBoundaries

Michelle Asha Cooper, PhDPresident

mcooper@ihep.org

PRESENTED BYThe Institute for Higher Education Policy

AAC&U Student Success ConferenceMarch 2012

About IHEP

Our Vision•The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) envisions a world where all people—particularly populations who have been underserved—have the opportunity to reach their full potential by participating and succeeding in higher education.

Our Mission•IHEP is committed to improving college access and success in higher education for all students—with a special focus on underserved populations—by providing timely research to inform public policy decisions.

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Pop QuizAccess• What percentage of all Americans enroll in

college?

• What percentage of low-income students enroll in college?

Success• What percentage of all Americans graduate

from college within 6 years?

• What percentage of low-income students graduate from college within 6 years?

Affordability• How much is the average student loan debt?

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The College Completion Agenda

Obama Administration’s Education Goal:• The President's Bold Goal: Have the highest

proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

The Lumina Foundation for Education: • Increase the percent of Americans with a two or

four year degree from 37.9% to 60% by 2025

The College Board:• At least 55 percent of the U.S. population holds

a college degree or certificate by 20254

Low-income children are less likely to enroll in college,

less likely to graduate

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Drivers of the College Completion Agenda

• Global Imperative• Globalized knowledge economy• 21st Century consciousness

• Economic Imperative• Current labor market signals• Future workforce readiness

• Equity Imperative• Fastest-population growth occurring among

racial/ethnic minorities • Growing need to reengage and retrain growing

number of adult learners• Stratification along socioeconomic status

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Building Blocks for College Success

• Academics

• Academic and SocialSupport Services

• FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

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Trends in College Affordability

• College costs have grown nearly 40 percent in the past 5 years

• 60 percent of all college graduates leave college with debt

• The average graduate leaves college with about $23,800 in debt

• Between 2001 and 2010, 2 million academically qualified students will not got to college because they cannot afford it

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Financial Need Contributes to Failure to Complete

Work/Loan Burden

Too much work

Failure to complete

Stress

Housing and food insecurity

Too little sleep

Part-time enrollment

Too little studying

Poor grades

Source: CLASP, 2011

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Discussion

What innovative ideas or strategies have themost potential to contribute to student retentionand completion at your institution? How do you measure and document the effectiveness of these strategies?

If you had the opportunity to highlight your strategies to a person of influence what would yousay?

What needs to occur for you to feel empowered to continue this dialogue when you return to work on Monday morning?

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