Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education

Posted by U.S. Department of Education on December 5, 2016

Encouraging Access and Success for Students From All Backgrounds

Over the last decade, a number of U.S. higher education institutions have made gains in attracting, admitting, and enrolling students from all backgrounds. At the same time, it is apparent that colleges and universities still have a great deal of work to do to ensure that diverse populations are appropriately supported until they reach degree completion. This isn’t a surprise to most NCAN member programs, many of whom have close partner relationships with college campuses aimed at getting more low-income, first generation, and students of color to obtain a bachelor’s degree.

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Education, “Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education,” highlights these issues and builds on the Obama Administration’s efforts to expand college opportunity. The publication details the needs that must be addressed to make progress toward educational equity. In a press conference announcing the report’s release, Education Secretary John B. King Jr. also emphasized the hope that institutions will step up efforts to resolve a variety of other serious issues facing college campuses, such as providing safe environments free of racism, sexism, and religious oppression. Solving some of these problems may contribute to higher levels of degree completion.

http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/advancing-diversity-inclusion.pdf