Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Post

The discussion about changing enrollment in colleges benefits from a little nuance. Instead of just talking about the increase or decrease in college enrolment, consider the change in the number of full-time versus part-time college students. Even that simple distinction paints a different picture of higher education from 1954 to the present than many seem to represent in their discussions.

A big milestone for Bates. 40 years ago, Bates College unveiled a whole new way to look at college admission. On Oct. 1, 1984, the Bates faculty made a bold decision that echoed across the nation, voting to make SAT scores optional for admission. Becoming one of the very few test-optional colleges, Bates positioned itself as a leader in rethinking standardized testing and making the college-admission process more equitable. “Standardized tests and a student’s subsequent scores are rooted in inequity," says Leigh Weisenburger, vice president for enrollment and dean of admission and financial aid. "Our test-optional admission policy removes a barrier for many talented students." Relentless followup research has supported what Bates believed to be true in 1984: Standardized tests are no better than a high school transcript as a measure of academic potential. Worse, they can filter out and discourage talented students who are already underserved by U.S. higher education. Entering our fifth decade as a test-optional pioneer, Bates is proud to be leading the way in how we think about promise, access, and academic ability in American higher education. #MoreThanYourScore #collegeadmission #testoptional

Emerson College Polling and the Boston Globe partnered to survey 6,000 adults across all six states in the New England region. As shown below, less than 50% of New Englanders believe a four-year college is the best path after high school. As New England faces a birth rate drop and higher education enrollment declines, what can small private and public regional colleges do to convince high school graduates that a four-year degree is the best next step for them? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ePascyd3

All students should have an equal opportunity to attend and succeed in higher education affordably. Our latest brief with the Campaign for College Opportunity, Equitable College Affordability Policies and Practices, examines how college affordability policies and practices can work to improve access to public colleges and universities and close racial equity gaps. Read more: bit.ly/3wEEhqp

Join us Tuesday, April 9th at 6pm in the Greenspun Hall Auditorium for our last Brookings Scholar Lecture of the semester, "Making College Worth It: Inequalities In Higher Education and How to Solve Them" with Brookings fellow in governance studies, Katharine Meyer. Most students who graduate from college go on to earn higher wages, have more employment stability, and enjoy better health. While posted tuitions are high, a “high price, high aid” approach to college pricing means that the average cost of college has actually declined in recent years. Yet, public confidence in higher education is at an all-time low. What explains this tension? Who gains from going to college and who does not? What can colleges do to change perceptions about the value of a college education? This lecture will highlight trends in college enrollment and completion and offer solutions for how states can hold colleges accountable and align student support with the needs of the 21st century learner. As always, our lectures are free and open to the public. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gjh3sB9M

2024 Legislative College Affordability Day January 23, 2024: A pivotal day where student and college alumni presented personal remarks of their higher educational aspirations and efforts, President and CEO of Collegiate Directions, Amma Felix spoke of legislative achievements and fiscal year 2024 priorities, and CEO and Founder, Joe Fisher underscoring the importance of students accessing public and private higher education resources on “Legislative College Affordability Day” at Governor Calvert House in Annapolis, Maryland. Members of the General Assembly learned about the significance of making higher education more affordable and the impact it has on the lives of students across the state. #CollegeAccess #FirstGeneration #FirstGenerationCollegeBound

This fall, the final headcount at BGSU includes 19,703 students, up 3.9 percent compared to 18,966 students in fall of 2023. Cecilia Castellano, vice president for enrollment management at BGSU said this year’s freshman class is the largest and highest achieving freshman class in University history, with first-time student enrollment up 14 percent over fall 2023 and up 22 percent compared to fall 2022. “The BGSU class of 2028 includes nearly 3,950 students,” Ms. Castellano said. “The class also has the highest grade point average in BGSU history at 3.69 with a median ACT score of 25.1.” https://lnkd.in/g_qwvwS7

ICYMI | The Biden administration wants to recognize colleges that help students complete affordable credentials and increase their economic mobility, and it’s starting with a list of 200 institutions. Colleges on the list, which was released earlier this month, are eligible to apply for the department’s new Postsecondary Success Recognition Program, which is aimed at identifying and celebrating the best practices to help more students, particularly those from low-income families, get to and through college. “Imagine a world where schools with the most Pell Grant recipients are ranked highest in U.S. News & World Report, where ‘prestige’ is defined by preparing graduates well to enter the workforce and lead fulfilling lives and careers—sometimes right in their own communities,” U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in an April statement announcing the program. Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/40f5InD

🤔 Dartmouth College's decision to reinstate SAT/ACT requirements challenges the prevailing trend of test-optional admissions. The move is backed by recent research emphasizing the predictive power of standardized test scores for first-year college success. It prompts reflection on the ongoing debate over the role of standardized testing in admissions and whether other colleges will follow suit. The complexities of balancing inclusivity and predictability in the admissions process remain a central concern. #collegeadmissions #college

It is important to guide students as they are navigating their educational journey. This fits a fixed path that could be an option for some out there. The Transfer Success Pathway (TSP) program is designed to increase access to any of the CSU’s 23 universities. Calstate https://lnkd.in/g-PBTt-G