Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

DECEMBER 3, 2024

“When I first met with my advisor, I was excited to dive into my program,” says Maria, a first-generation community college student. As a college president, leading with this equity-focused lens means asking the hard questions: Are our most vulnerable students truly succeeding? I had always struggled with math.

Student success 274

Student success Success Compliance Students 274

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JUNE 17, 2025

Mary’s College of Maryland’s seventh president and the first Black woman to hold the title, is reflecting on 11 years of service, feeling pride in her commitment to equity and the college’s continued growth. One of Jordan’s proudest achievements: building a liberal arts education model that is innovative and accessible to all. “We

Equity 173

Equity Undergraduate education Curriculum First generation 173

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

APRIL 7, 2025

When Breeden first arrived on campus, she was searching for a sense of belonging and found that and more as she navigated toward a calling to transform student affairs, advance equity, and reimagine the relationship between universities and Black communities. Who has access to resources? Breedens research is personal.

Higher education 265

Higher education Education Student affairs Mentoring 265

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JANUARY 5, 2025

While a post-secondary degree, even a two-year degree, increases earning potential and social access, substantial benefits that lead to sustainable personal gains greatly depend on a variety of factors. Increasing options for obtaining education have not necessarily equated to increased access to education.

Higher education 313

Higher education Humanities Literacy Student success 313

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Incoming transfer students can enroll in courses early to guarantee that they have access to coursework. Necessary support is provided through GANAS (Gaining Access ’AND Academic Success), an innovative access and retention program that serves community college transfer students.

Retention 330

Retention Mentoring Financial aid Grant 330

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

I didn’t understand why everybody didn’t have access. And I was determined to have access,” says Williams. I made sure everyone had access, especially my Black classmates and friends,” says Williams. Tapping into access became a deliberate decision. He often found himself as the first and the only person in boardrooms.

Placement 279

Placement Inclusion Higher education Accessibility 279

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

APRIL 1, 2025

The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for the Durango, Colorado, college, which continues to grapple with its history as a former federal Indian boarding school while working to advance its commitment to student success, equity, and community engagement.

Student success 231

Student success First generation Higher education Leadership 231

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MARCH 12, 2025

These experiences have given me a unique lens through which I approach leadership, prioritizing equity, access, and the holistic well-being of our students. I began teaching College Success courses to first generation, low income, multicultural students. As leaders, we are constantly evolving, learning, and growing.

Mentoring 234

Mentoring Leadership Higher education Community college 234

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MARCH 6, 2025

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, CCA is a bold national advocate for dramatically increasing college completion rates and closing equity gaps by working with states, systems, institutions, and partners to scale highly effective structural reforms and promote policies that improve student success.

Low income student 254

Low income student First generation Scholarship Equity 254

Active Minds

JANUARY 29, 2025

As a first-generation undocumented immigrant and the president of the CCNY Dream Team, Juky is passionate about advocating for marginalized communities, particularly undocumented and BIPOC students. His lived experience has shaped his commitment to mental health equity and systemic change.

Mental health 130

Mental health Therapist Equity Literacy 130

Timely MD

DECEMBER 18, 2024

The barriersranging from cultural stigma and financial constraints to limited access to tailored supportare significant and deeply rooted. Hidden curriculum: This refers to institutional jargon, unspoken rules, and processes that are intimidating to first-generation students. Is your campus encouraging help-seeking behaviors?

Mental health 52

Mental health Financial aid First generation Students 52

Active Minds

DECEMBER 10, 2024

Of the many things I would change about the world, one of them would be to increase access for higher educational opportunities. Free university education for all would be a relief for generations to come. If you could change one thing about the world (and you had unlimited resources), what would you change?

Mental health 130

Mental health Communication Scheduling Accessibility 130

Active Minds

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

As a first-generation undocumented immigrant and the president of the CCNY Dream Team, Juky is passionate about advocating for marginalized communities, particularly undocumented and BIPOC students. His lived experience has shaped his commitment to mental health equity and systemic change.

Mental health 130

Mental health Therapist Equity Literacy 130

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

It was over 180 years ago that HBCUs were founded, at a time when Black Americans had little to no access to higher education. They have generated leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, groundbreaking artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and activists who shaped the Black experience and the fabric of American society.

Financial aid 203

Financial aid Higher education Mentoring First generation 203

COE

MAY 2, 2025

Hamm President Trumps newly released 2026 budget proposes the complete elimination of the Federal TRIO Programs, which have helped millions of low-income, first-generation students – including veterans, adult learners, and students with disabilities – succeed in higher education for over 60 years. WASHINGTON, D.C.

Education 130

Education First generation Leadership Grant 130

COE

JULY 24, 2025

TRIO Future Leaders Summit Ignites Passion and Purpose in First-Generation Students Nationwide July 24, 2025 — by Terrance L. Hamm As TRIO programs face mounting political threats, the stories and strength displayed at the Future Leaders Summit are a timely reminder: investment in potential pays dividends for generations.

First generation 89

First generation Students Leadership Nontraditional student 89

COE

JULY 9, 2025

The rain was incidental—it kind of added a little drama to it — but what really mattered was that a Member of Congress had chosen to champion first-generation, low-income students, and students with disabilities at a time when TRIO’s very existence was in question. this summer.

First generation 75

First generation Nontraditional student Leadership FAFSA 75

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Trump declared the countrys end to radical and wasteful government diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and Dr. Mordecai Brownlee preferencing through executive order. Equity should not be seen as a political agenda; it is a moral imperative educators provide to society. On January 20, 2025, President Donald J.

Higher education 288

Higher education Equity Education Compliance 288

COE

JUNE 3, 2025

The Trump Administrations claim that access is no longer an obstacle for low-income students is flatly contradicted by data and by the lived experience of more than 6 million TRIO alumni. More Than 10,000 TRIO Alumni Urge Congress to Protect Federal TRIO Programs June 3, 2025 by Terrance L. this summer.

First generation 98

First generation Leadership FAFSA Administration 98

COE

JUNE 11, 2025

Despite decades of proven success in expanding college access and economic mobility for low-income and first-generation students, the federal TRIO programs now face elimination in the President’s budget—prompting over 10,000 alumni to urge Congress to protect this vital engine of opportunity.

First generation 79

First generation Students Nontraditional student Leadership 79

COE

JULY 8, 2025

billion in federal TRIO funding—citing concerns over performance measures and accountability—even as TRIO programs currently serve roughly 870,000 low-income, first-generation, and disabled students nationwide (about 17,500 in Colorado). Hamm The Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 “skinny” budget proposes eliminating all $1.2

First generation 52

First generation Grant Leadership Nontraditional student 52

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MARCH 24, 2025

Casteen III, a transformative leader who dramatically expanded educational access and diversity during his 20-year tenure, died last week following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1943, Casteen's journey in higher education began as a first-generation college student at UVA.

Low income student 196

Low income student First generation University Financial aid 196

COE

JULY 10, 2025

They represent what’s possible when we give students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds a real opportunity to thrive.” Olaf College with preparing her to persevere as a first-generation college student and young mother. These exemplary leaders embody resilience, purpose, and commitment to giving back.

Education 96

Education First generation FAFSA Mentoring 96

COE

JULY 15, 2025

By honoring institutions that have made SSS practices a permanent, mission-aligned part of their work, we spotlight models that help low-income and first-generation students not only enroll but persist and graduate.” “Community colleges serve as the vital gateway to postsecondary opportunity for more than 4.5 A landmark 2019 U.S.

First generation 52

First generation Education Grant Students 52

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

These changes include discontinuing the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, ending programming under Student Life's Center for Belonging and Social Change, and renaming the Office of Institutional Equity to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance. These are difficult conversations, as we knew they would be.

Inclusion 278

Inclusion University Scholarship Compliance 278

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

APRIL 8, 2024

State financial aid programs across the country have varying levels of accessibility for students and plenty of room to improve, according to a recent report from The Education Trust. But these aid programs were found to have low-income requirements, meaning students from middle-income households are excluded.

Financial aid 312

Financial aid Accessibility Access Equity 312

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

When it comes to equity in higher education, Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson has been a leader. Her work around students’ basic needs, supporting undocumented and mixed-status students, and achieving social justice through focused racial equity efforts has made her a rising star in community college leadership.

Equity 333

Equity Community college Counseling Collaboration 333

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JANUARY 8, 2025

in educational leadership, enabling her to deepen her impact by developing innovative strategies to improve access, equity, and success in higher education. I was a first-generation college student, neither of my parents went to college, she says. This work inspired her to pursue a Ph.D.

Equity 290

Equity Education Student affairs Educational leadership 290

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JANUARY 29, 2024

Jennifer Collins “I am grateful to have the opportunity to engage with other colleges and universities dedicated to expanding access and opportunity,” said Rhodes College President Dr. Jennifer Collins. Rhodes College has announced its membership to the American Talent Initiative (ATI) collective.

Low income student 290

Low income student Accessibility Access Financial aid 290

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

APRIL 26, 2024

Acknowledging the deep divide regarding perspectives on freedom of expression and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across higher education, and the feelings of those who believe particular speech harms their personhood, we wholeheartedly reject the contention that these commitments must operate at cross-purposes.

Inclusion 321

Inclusion Equity Higher education First generation 321

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JULY 26, 2023

Mamie Voight Citing Chief Justice John Robert’s majority decision on the matter, EducationCounsel co-founder Art Coleman said that it was still possible to strategize and innovate to promote access, equity, and diversity in higher ed.

Equity 246

Equity Application Student affairs First generation 246

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

MAY 20, 2024

The nonprofit Common Application, which offers an online tool that many students use when looking to pursue an undergraduate education, is not being used by enough students who are from lower-income backgrounds, according to the organization’s inaugural Equity Innovations Guide. million students during the 2022-23 application cycle year.

Low income student 276

Low income student First generation Scholarship Financial aid 276

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

JANUARY 13, 2023

are the first in their family to attend an institution of higher learning. These first-generation students are likelier than their peers to be from minoritized backgrounds, to face economic challenges, and to juggle jobs and families in addition to school. We have a first-generation student center on campus.

First generation 312

First generation Students Instruction Mental health 312

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

And he is doing his part as director of policy and advocacy in California at The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS), an independent, nonprofit research and policy organization. He’s a great asset in California.” Initially, I aspired to be a lawyer.

Financial aid 331

Financial aid Low income student Student financial aid Equity 331

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

AUGUST 21, 2024

As a first-generation college student, a Black woman, and the child of immigrants, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education. Use your platform to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within your university.

Higher education 320

Higher education Education Inclusion Equity 320

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

OCTOBER 1, 2024

To truly achieve equity, we must actively invest in their education and building belonging for them in the workplace. Empowerment Through Education Education is the ticket to achieving the American dream for many immigrants and first-generation Americans. to achieve meaningful equity. When my family moved to the U.S.,

Education 306

Education Equity Leadership First generation 306

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

DECEMBER 11, 2024

These institutions are often gateways to upward mobility, offering access to quality education at a fraction of the cost of universities. Community colleges also serve a high number of first-generation students, adult learners, and veterans, broadening access to education for groups that otherwise might struggle to pursue higher education.

Higher education 246

Higher education Inclusion Community college Equity 246