A new age of college admissions is about to begin in our country, one in which institutions are not allowed to apply racial admissions practices that have opened the doors to a college education for some kids of color.
The forthcoming judgment by the U.S. Supreme Court comes as governors and state politicians are vehemently criticizing diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives that have made formerly segregated American colleges and institutions more open and welcoming to students of all backgrounds.
Despite some progress, those of us who work in higher education are aware that White students continue to be far more likely than Black and Hispanic learners to start and finish a postsecondary degree. We haven’t done nearly enough to alter higher education such that minority and low-income students succeed at rates comparable to those of their White peers. Any court decision that outlaws affirmative action, a valuable and crucial remedy for past and present college admissions prejudice, will lessen the possibilities of achieving more fair outcomes for students of color.
There has never been a more pressing need for schools and universities to rethink how they engage with and support students of color than now, with diversity and equity efforts squarely and unfairly in the sights of state legislatures and the courts. Federal and state authorities, as well as postsecondary institutions, must come up with fresh approaches to guarantee that their campuses are inclusive and welcoming settings for students of color, regardless of what decision the Supreme Court makes or what new laws governors sign.
More need-based financial aid should be funded in the beginning by policymakers and postsecondary institutions, particularly at public universities. Due to the prevalence of poverty among students of color, they are less likely to enroll in college and stay there without adequate financial aid.
According to data by the National College Attainment Network, the average Pell Grant recipient’s annual unmet financial need at four-year universities increased by about 60% in just five years, to more than $2,600. For instance, in Texas, even though a low-income student of color is guaranteed admission to a public university under the state’s Top 10% Rule, attendance is still not possible if the student’s financial assistance package has a sizable deficit once all grants and loans have been applied. This affordability disparity is in opposition to institutions’ enrollment management tactics, which reward higher-income students with tiny merit scholarships, so maintaining enrollment patterns that favor White kids from wealthier families.
The funding for need-based financial assistance can be increased by state governments to help close these gaps. In order to give more financial aid to more students who really need it, Congress should double the maximum number of Pell Grants and restructure the Federal Work-Study Program.
Students of color may feel that higher education is not for them as the political and cultural pushback against diversity and inclusion persists. Because of this feeling of exclusion, institutions, especially those that cater to primarily White students, must affirmatively demonstrate that students of color are welcome there and have the opportunity to achieve. The inclusion and support of students of color should be made unambiguously clear to prospective and current students by institutions with strong outcomes for these students. Strong links between student outcomes and belonging are still being found in research.
Institutions should revamp their undergraduate recruitment strategies to reach more students of color. Institutions ought to go out to areas where they haven’t previously done so. Colleges may need to double or even triple their recruiting budgets in order to connect with high schools from which they receive few or no applications as well as with communities where there is not a strong tradition of college attendance, as institutions in California have discovered over the past nearly three decades since the state’s voters outlawed the use of race in college admissions.
Finally, organizations can work more closely with nonprofit groups that have a track record of helping students of color and those from low-income families enroll, persist, and graduate from higher education. The achievement of students has been greatly impacted by several of these organizations, including Beyond 12, Bottom Line, College Advising Corps, College Possible, and OneGoal, to name just a few.
These organizations, together with other initiatives that are compatible with their evidence-based strategies, can create a pool of diverse students and families that are knowledgeable about applying to colleges and receiving financial aid. These organizations can track students’ academic achievement since they develop long-lasting ties with them. They can also offer assistance when “life happens” and guide students as they look into internship and employment options. It can be extremely helpful for students to receive timely advice from a reliable source to help them stay in school and on track to graduate.
Institutions are not helpless in the face of new legal and legislative obstacles, even if they are deprive of the current tools they employ to admit diverse student populations. Institutions should devote funding to tested initiatives and look for innovative ways to serve students of color and create a diverse and equitable atmosphere. To assure that every American can earn a college degree, there is still far too much work to be done.
The National College Attainment Network’s CEO is Kim Cook.
