Category: College Access

2011, College Access, Research/Policy

For Your Consideration: The College Access & Success Enterprise (CASE)

By Watson Scott Swail, President & CEO, Educational Policy Institute/EPI International In the mid-1960s, as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the creation of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the Federal TRIO programs were created, originally consisting of Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Student Support Services. Together, these three programs targeted low-income students, many of whom were and are minority students. … Continue reading For Your Consideration: The College Access & Success Enterprise (CASE)

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2011, College Access, College Affordability, Financial Aid, Research/Policy

The Pell Grant and College Costs: An Impossible Scenario

By Watson Scott Swail, President & CEO, Educational Policy Institute/EPI International There has been recent consternation on the proposed cuts to the Pell Grant program in the United States. For the uninformed, the Pell Grant is a means-tested grant program which targets low-income students. It is, to be sure, the foundation of the US student financial aid system. All other aid is applied after the … Continue reading The Pell Grant and College Costs: An Impossible Scenario

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2010, College Access, College Affordability, Financial Aid, Politics, Research/Policy

The DREAM Act and the Party of “No”

It is of better valor to stay outside of the political arguments, and I most often heed that advice. But events of last week are forcing me to reconsider said advice.

Last week, the DREAM Act was voted down in the Senate on a party-line vote. The DREAM Act allows students who are, by birth, illegal immigrants to gain access to in-state tuition and financial aid for college. As well, it allows them to fast-track for citizenship. Continue reading The DREAM Act and the Party of “No”

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2010, admissions, College Access, Student Success

Measuring Institutional Commitment to Serve Low-Income Families

Each year a growing level of national angst follows the publication of the USNWR rankings. Several other rankings also are published which attempt to measure various institutions, and not always in a positive light. In the future, as a result of federal legislation (HEOA 2008), there will be yet another ranking by sector referred to as “lists of shame,” which will depict the highest rankings by cost, net cost, and rate of increase in costs of postsecondary institutions. Continue reading Measuring Institutional Commitment to Serve Low-Income Families

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2010, College Access, Retention

The Winning Attitude

By Watson Scott Swail, President and CEO, Educational Policy Institute I write today’s commentary from Chicago, Illinois, where we are in the final day of our International Conference on Student Success, or RETENTION 2010. Thus, no more emails for another six months about this event. You must be relieved (Retention 101 coming up, though!). More significant, perhaps, is that our host city is in the midst … Continue reading The Winning Attitude

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