Charting a Path Forward for Equity in Higher Education

This week, I was honored to speak at the U.S. Department of Education’s National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. The day served as a moment for reflection on how well colleges and universities are living up to their promise as engines of social and economic mobility. It also served as a call for renewed urgency in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling on affirmative action. The decision has far-reaching implications for underrepresented students, and it will create new and complex hurdles for colleges, universities, and employers working to promote equity.?

In my remarks, I encouraged us to bring more nuance to the conversation around where we go from here. I am concerned by the affirmative action ruling and the conversation has understandably focused on selective four-year institutions. Yet, we cannot forget the critical role community colleges and other open-access institutions play. Just seven percent of Black students enroll at selective institutions. Black enrollment at most state flagship universities remains staggeringly disproportionate. It’s a different story at community colleges. More than one-third of Black undergraduate students attend two-year colleges, as well as more than half of Latino students. Likewise, 53 percent of first-generation students are enrolled in two-year colleges.

For nearly two decades, One Million Degrees has supported thousands of students from historically underserved communities access and complete community college. We have seen first-hand how community college serves as the entry point to postsecondary learning and the workforce for millions of learners. With affirmative action no longer available as a tool, we see a few opportunities to double-down in the work ahead:

1. Invest resources into evidence-based initiatives serving community college students to improve graduation rates. As cited above, the majority of Black, Latino, Indigenous, first-generation, and low-income students begin their post-secondary journey at two-year institutions. Yet, two-year institutions are often viewed as an afterthought in our conversations. Evidence-based programs like ours at One Million Degrees show that students will be successful when given access to the right support.
2. Strengthen transfer policies and practices to increase the number of students who transfer from community college to four-year institutions. While eighty percent of two-year students say they plan on earning a bachelor’s degree, just one-quarter go on to enroll in a four-year program. Community college transfers account for only 5 percent of undergraduate students at elite colleges and universities. Elite colleges and other four-year universities can greatly strengthen and diversify their student populations by reimagining their transfer policies and practices to better support students from open-access institutions.
3. Create work-based learning opportunities for community college students and look to community college graduates as a source for talent. A surprising number of roles can be filled by widening the talent search to include the driven and prepared students graduating from less-selective colleges and universities. By expanding their understanding of who is qualified for a role and investing in work-based learning opportunities to help those workers gain the skills they need to advance in their careers, employers can create a more equitable workforce while addressing some of their most pressing talent needs.?

At this week’s summit, I was encouraged to see so many leaders thinking deeply about new ways to create a more equitable and inclusive system of higher education that works for every student—regardless of race, ethnicity, or income. In that conversation, we should recognize that we have an underutilized tool already at our disposal. Community colleges have always been a largely untapped resource for driving social and economic mobility. It’s never been more important that we invest in the success of these institutions and their students. It’s a principle that will continue to guide One Million Degrees as we recommit to this important work with a heightened sense of urgency and determination.