HOW USDE PARENT BULLETIN HELPS TO ADVANCE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN HIGHER EDUCATION (1851 hits)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!: USDE PARENT BULLETIN: Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education
The U.S. Department of Education today released a report, “Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education,” building on the Administration’s efforts to expand college opportunity for all. It presents key data that show the continuing educational inequities and opportunity gaps for students of color and low-income students and highlights promising practices that many colleges are taking to advance success for students of all backgrounds.
Diversity benefits communities, schools, and students from all backgrounds, and research has shown that more diverse organizations make better decisions with better results.
In conjunction with this report, King released a Dear Colleague letter (http://www2.ed.gov/pol…/highered/guid/secletter/161118.html…) calling on institutions to do all they can to eliminate harassment and discrimination to ensure a positive environment for all students.
Key findings of the report include:
•Higher education is a key pathway for social mobility in the United States. •However, over the past 50 years, racial and ethnic disparities in higher education enrollment and attainment, as well as gaps in earnings, employment, and other related outcomes, has increasingly contributed to gaps in opportunities for students of colors. •Underrepresented students of color are disproportionately affected by decreases in participation at multiple points across the higher education pipeline including at application, admission, enrollment, persistence, and completion.
The report includes other areas on which campuses can help advance diversity and inclusion and provide support to students of color, low-income students, and other underrepresented populations to drive success for all students. The report also recommends areas for further study that can help shape a path toward college opportunity and completion for all students.
Announcing A Joint Commitment for Better College Access
Many Americans face critical barriers in accessing the knowledge and skills needed to get a well-paying job, support their families, and contribute to the community. One study shows that coordinating available public federal benefits for students can help close the gap on unmet financial need, support students’ college completion, and lead to success in the workforce. To align federal supports and program delivery to promote college access and completion the Department of Education joined five additional federal agencies— the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of the Treasury (Treasury).
Better alignment of existing federal resources can make a substantial difference for college access and completion.
