ERIC ED481885: Restricted Access: The Doors to Higher Education Remain Closed to Many Deserving Students. Lumina Foundation Focus, Summer 2003.

26 Pages·2003·1.3 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
HE 036 286
ED 481 885
Sanoff, Alvin P.; Powell, David S.
AUTHOR
Restricted Access: The Doors to Higher Education Remain
TITLE
Closed to Many Deserving Students. Lumina Foundation Focus,
Summer 2003.
Lumina Foundation for Education, Indianapolis, IN.
INSTITUTION
2003-00-00
PUB DATE
NOTE
25p.
For full text: http://www.luminafoundation.org/
AVAILABLE FROM
publications/Focus03.pdf.
Descriptive (141)
Reports
PUB TYPE
EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage
EDRS PRICE
*Access to Education; *Disadvantaged Youth; Economically
DESCRIPTORS
Disadvantaged; Educationally Disadvantaged; *Higher
Education; *Minority Groups; Paying for College; *Student
Financial Aid
ABSTRACT
Tens of thousands of students, especially those from low-
income and minority groups, are unprepared academically for higher education,
come from backgrounds in which college aspirations are not the norm, or lack
the information they need to gain access. In addition, there is a growing
difference in the rate at which students from different income levels
complete college. The attainment gap persists after more than three decades
of providing federal grant and loan aid. The reasons are many and complex,
but can be summarized by saying that there is not enough money, and money is
not enough. There are many college preparation programs, but there is no
escaping the fact that money is a huge factor in determining whether students
go to college, where they go, and whether they stay. To minimize potential
loan burdens, many students from low-income families opt to attend less
expensive community colleges rather than 4-year institutions. Many students
at 4-year schools have unmet financial need. Many less well-endowed
institutions compete aggressively for good students and offer merit aid to
attract them. States have also entered the merit aid race, hoping to keep
good students at home. However, many such policies target the middle classes.
In an atmosphere in which access for the poor has taken a back seat to aiding
the middle and upper classes, supporters of increased financial aid for low-
income students face an uphill struggle. The reauthorization of the Higher
Education Act is an opportunity to recognize the importance of college access
for low-income students.
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OUR MISSION::
SIDE
umina Foundation for Education
is a private, independent founda-
tion dedicated to expandim access
and success in higher education. Specifically,
we support research, award grants for
Page 4
innovative programs and projects and
all in an
disseminate information
effort to encourage more Americans to
-
41,
attain an education beyond high school.
We address issues that affect access and
particularly
educational attainment
among underserved student groups,
including adult learners.
At Lumina Foundation, we firmly believe
education is the best way to help people
achieve their potential and impiove our
n a Iron's fu tug'
Lumina Foundation for Education
30 South Meridian Street, Suite 700
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All rights reserved.
Page 1 2
Photography.
Writing:
Shawn Spence Photography
Alvin P. Sanoff
(Photos on Pages 18,19,20
David S. Powell
and 22 courtesy of the
0
Editorial assistance
0
respective institutions.)
Ulotia Ackerson-Seats
+
Design and production
Teresa Detrich
V)
Huttine Design
Sara Murray
III
Printing:
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4
PRESIDENT S MESSAGE
Hollow, N.Y., a Dominican immigrant who is
Education beyond high school has never been
for individual
more important than it is today
preparing to enter college this fall; Roxanne
Godding, a talented urban teen who turned down
citizens and for American society as a whole.
Some type of postsecondary education will be
the chance to attend a prestigious private univer-
crucial for virtually every person who seeks mean-
sity in Massachusetts for fear of loan debt; and
ingful work, participatory citizenship and personal
Aaron Pennington of Indianapolis, an adult stu-
dent who holds down a full-time third-shift job
fulfillment in the 21st century.
while pursuing a full course load at a downtown
Yet many Americans face formidable barriers
to an education beyond high school. As the report
campus. The real-life stories of these students
on the following pages so aptly points out: There's
and the insights offered by many of the nation's
foremost experts in higher
not enough money, and money's
not enough. During the last
education access, success and
When it comes
highlight this
million
financial aid
decade, an estimated 1
low-income, academically qual-
first issue of Lumina Foundation
to increasing
ified students failed to attend
Focus. We hope this publication
access to higher
college due in some part to
deepens the understanding of
education, there's
the factors affecting postsec-
financial need. Additional barri-
ondary access and therefore aids
ers may include inadequate aca-
not enough money,
demic preparation, insufficient
efforts to help more underserved
and money's not
information
students obtain an education
about
available
beyond high school.
options in postsecondary educa-
enough.
Lumina Foundation joins other
tion, and a lack of personal aspi-
educational,
organizations
ration, encouragement or support.
The work of Lumina Foundation for Education
in supporting families
governmental and private
focuses on students who traditionally have been
and communities as they seek to raise aspirations,
underserved by higher education: students from
improve preparation and provide the encourage-
low-income families, first-generation college stu-
ment students need to enter and succeed in post-
dents, students of color and adult learners. Thus,
secondary education. By helping to remove the
barriers to postsecondary access and success, we
this inaugural issue of Lumina Foundation Focus tells
both to
hope to open doors of opportunity
the stories of students who face these challenges.
In this issue, which features the work of noted
benefit individual students such as Rosa, Roxanne
higher education writer Alvin P. Sanoff, you'll
and Aaron and to help build a society in which all
read about students such as Rosa Iona of Sleepy
people can reach their potential.
Martha D. Lamkin
President and CEO, Lumina Foundation for Education
4
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THE DOORS TO HIGHER EDUCHN.TION REMAIN
CLOSED TO MANY DESERVING, STUDENTS
By Alvin P. Sanoff
and he
the fortunate ones
ason Long is among
knows it. Jason grew up in an apartment complex in
of South Portland, Maine. His
a blue-collar section
parents hadn't gone to college, but they encouraged
him to get an education. He was near the top of his
class at South Portland High School and desperately
wanted to attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick,
Maine. But even if accepted by the highly selective
liberal arts college, he was uncertain that he would
be able to enroll because the cost was nearly $38,000
almost equal to his family's annual income
a year
of around $40,000. But Bowdoin offered him more
coupled with several
than $20,000 a year in grants. That money
other scholarships he had won (including an annually renewable four-
Maine-based Mitchell Institute), income
year scholarship from the
from a campus job, and his parents' willingness to borrow $3,000 per
made it possible for Jason to enroll.
year despite their modest means
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Bowdoin College student Jason Long, who is majoring in government, converses with Professor David J. Vail on a
favorite topic: how to bring prosperity to the rural regions of Maine. Vail, the Adams-Catlin Professor of
Economics at Bowdoin, is one of Jason's favorite instructors.
went right for Jason. The nonfinancial barriers that
Now entering his junior year, Jason says he
prevent so many students from attending college
"lucked out" because Bowdoin has such a good
inadequate preparation, the absence of college
program of financial aid. He was fortunate in many
aspirations, lack of encouragement or information
all of which helped him make
other ways as well
simply did not apply to him. He also was able to
that leap from working-class South Portland to the
clear the financial barrier, largely because of his
halls of academe. First of all, he was personally moti-
stellar academic record. Few of his high school
vated, and his aspirations were recognized and sup-
even those who did well
classmates were as lucky
ported by his parents and school officials. "I don't
academically but fell short of "star" status. Linda
think there was anybody at this school who wasn't
Sturm says that, although more than 80 percent of
impressed with Jason," recalls Linda Sturm, director
South Portland High's students are qualified for col-
of guidance at South Portland High. "He was a natu-
lege, less than 65 percent actually enroll. "I have a
just an outstanding kid." It's no surprise
ral leader
number of friends who elected not to go to college
then that, seeing his goal so clearly, Jason did what
because of the money," says Jason. Even more of
was necessary to reach it: He took
and excelled
them, he adds, did not attend their first-choice col-
the rigorous high school courses that prepared
in
often didn't even apply to those colleges
him for college. He got the information he needed
leges
"because they knew that the cost was impossible."
to successfully apply, enroll and obtain financial aid.
In America today, Jason Long is indeed fortunate.
The college he chose was among the few institutions
with the resources to meet the full need of students
Tens of thousands of his peers
especially low-
income and minority students are unprepared
who qualify for financial aid. In short, everything
7
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course load is a constant challenge, he says,
academically for higher education, come from
especially during the busy months that he and his
backgrounds in which college aspirations are not
fiancee, Jennifer Steele, were also planning their
the norm, and/or lack the information they need
June wedding. Through it all, though, Aaron is
to gain access. And those who are prepared, moti-
determined to keep up with his studies until
vated and encouraged confront huge financial
graduation in December 2004.
challenges. For every low- or moderate-income
student who ends up attending the college of his
or her choice without having to take on a huge
The acce.;
debt load, there are countless others like Jason's
here are no solid estimates on how many
friends: Facing high costs, they either do not go to
students find themselves in situations like
college or they attend an institution that is not
Aaron's or like those faced by Jason's
their first choice and may not best fit their inter-
friends. But the Advisory Committee on
ests. Others enroll in a school they want to attend,
Student Financial Assistance, the organization
but they may end up working long hours at one or
created by Congress to advise lawmakers on
more jobs to make ends meet or transfer out after
student aid policy, says the problem is critical.The
finding that the financial burden is too great.
committee's June 2002 report, Empty
says:
Aaron Pennington started college at Indiana
Promises,
'This year alone, due to record-high financial
State University in Terre Haute, but the
barriers, nearly one-half of all college-qualified
Indianapolis native found that room-and-board
low- and moderate-income high school graduates
charges made on-campus living too costly. "I sat
over 400,000 fully prepared to attend a four-year
down with my parents," he says, "and told them
will be unable to do so, and 170,000 of
that the best thing was for me to come back to
college
these students will attend no college at all."
Indianapolis, get back on my feet financially and
While a number of experts contend that these
go to school (near here)." He transferred to a
numbers are on the high side, others agree with
community college (Ivy Tech State College) to
Advisory Committee Staff Director Brian Fitzgerald
complete his general education credits and then to
that the estimates are "very conservative."
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Bridget Long, an assistant professor at the
(IUPUI). He's now a full-time IUPUI student,
Harvard Graduate School of Education, agrees.
working toward a bachelor's degree in marketing
She says: "It's most likely that any numbers you
while holding down a full-time, third-shift job at a
come up with understate the problem." Long
local warehouse. Juggling full-time work with a full
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Not a H.S. graduate: $16,121
H.S. graduate only: $24.572
Source, U.S. Census Bureau,1999
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a 21-year-old marketing major, epitomizes the peripateticlife that an increasing
number of American college students experience. He's transferred twice, attending a four-year
residential campus (Indiana State University), then a community college (Ivy Tech State College)
before enrolling at the urban baccalaureate institution he now attends Indiana University
Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). He's also worked during most of that time and now holds
down a full-time, third-shift warehouse job while taking a full load of courses, many of them online.
Oh, and he and his fiancee also have been busy planning their wedding.
-1
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$250 billion to the gross domestic product and
reasons that data about college-going patterns can-
$80 billion in taxes."
not take into account students who, in the sixth
Unfortunately, say experts, that gap has persisted
grade, "think they will never get into college so
for many years. In 1972, 45 percent of high school
they don't do a bunch of things to prepare." Says
graduates from families in the lowest income quar-
Long: "A person could make the decision that 'col-
tile and 74 percent in the highest quartile went on
lege is too expensive for me, so I won't try."
to college, according to data compiled by policy
According to Scott Gil lie, executive director of a
analyst Tom Mortenson. In 2000, the comparable
Bloomington, Indiana:based pre-college access pro-
numbers were 54 percent and 82 percent. 'The gap
gram called Encouragement Services Inc., there is a
in college participation by income is as great as it
real disconnection between what high school
was three decades ago," says Donald Heller, associ-
students say about going to college and what they
ate professor at Pennsylvania State University's
actually do when it's time to enroll. "We see in
Center for The Study of
Indiana very high rates of
aspiration in the ninth
Higher Education.
Thomas J. Kane, professor
grade for all races and
of policy studies and eco-
ethnicities." Gil lie says. "If
nomics at UCLA, offers an
participation were at the
even gloomier assessment,
level of ninth-grade aspira-
pointing to long-term stud-
tion, Indiana college-going
ies that show "a widening
would double."
of the gap" between the
When capable students
most and least affluent stu-
forgo college, the potential
dents in terms of college
losses are enormous
for
participation. Even among
individuals and for the
high school students who
nation as a whole.
-41110114p1"8"6.--
score highest on standard-
According to figures from
ized tests, there is a signifi-
the U.S. Census Bureau,
Ewa
cant and persistent gap in
the average income of
essi.
who goes to college. In
high school graduates 25
years or older and working
Access Denied, the Advisory
Aaron Pennington and Jennifer Steele share
Committee reports that 97
full time in 1999 was
an early-morning laugh while finalizing their
percent of the highest-
about $25,000. For those
wedding plans. These morning meetings are
achieving upper-income
with a four-year college
among the busy couple's few stolen moments
students go on to college.
degree, that figure was
together because both are college students
In the lowest income
much higher
around
with full-time jobs; Aaron works nights,
group, only 78 percent of
$46,000.
Jennifer during the day.
these high-achieving stu-
A well-educated work
dents enroll in postsec-
force is critical to the
ondary education. Socioeconomic status, says
nation's economic and social health, especially
the Advisory Committee, "remains a very power-
in today's global, information-based economy.
ful barrier to attending college at all, often
In an April 2002 Educational Testing Service
trumping academic preparation even for the
report titled The Missing Middle, researcher
Anthony Carnevale points out that, if U.S.
highest achievers."
workers' literacy levels matched those in
where the percentage of workers at
Sweden
The attain ent g
the lowest literacy level is one-third the U.S.
esearchers who have examined graduation
our gross domestic product would
percentage
rates discern another troubling trend. They
rise by $463 billion and our tax revenue by
see a growing difference in the rate at
$162 billion. Similarly, in a 2001 report titled
which students of different income levels
Access Denied, the Advisory Committee said that
if the gap in "the college-going rates of the
complete college. Sarah Turner, an assistant professor
of education and economics at the University of
highest- and lowest-income Americans were
Virginia, wrote in a recent paper that "the overall
narrowed significantly, we would add nearly
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