Addressing Barriers for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education
As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects, students are facing unprecedented challenges in their academic pursuits. As schools shift to online and hybrid learning models, the academic pipeline for many students has been disrupted, leaving some struggling to remain enrolled. However, these challenges are not affecting all students equally.
Historically underrepresented student groups, including low-income students, students of color, and first-generation students, were already facing significant barriers to their academic success long before the pandemic emerged. These students often do not have equitable access to resources, including technology, educational materials, and support systems, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Despite the many obstacles they face, students from underrepresented groups are fighting to stay enrolled and continue their academic journeys. However, it is important to recognize that they need more support than ever to do so. Educational institutions and policymakers must take action to ensure that these students receive the resources and support necessary to thrive in these difficult times. This includes providing access to technology and internet services, offering financial assistance, and prioritizing mental health resources to address the unique challenges that students are facing. Only by addressing these issues can we ensure that all students, regardless of their background or circumstance, have the opportunity to succeed.
The New Student Pandemic Reality by the Numbers
The data shows that a significant percentage of high school graduates get into college, but the journey toward graduation and degree attainment is not always smooth sailing. While the number of students enrolling in higher education has risen over the years, the challenges posed by COVID-19 further complicate the process.
Despite advancements in higher education access, disparities related to race, ethnicity, and income remain limiting factors and cause for concern. If educational equity is to be achieved, addressing these disparities and ensuring the success and retention of all students must be a top priority for colleges and universities.
The push for higher education institutions to evolve and adapt is not new, but the pandemic has accelerated this process. As we move forward, it is essential that educators and leaders acknowledge the weight of their responsibility and work to create new solutions to support students through these challenging times. Only then can we break down the barriers that keep students from realizing their full potential, and ensure that college success outcomes are achievable for everyone.
According to the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, college continuation rates for high school graduates vary significantly among different races and income quartiles. In 2017, Asian high school graduates had the highest continuation rate at 90%, followed by White and Hispanic graduates at 71%, and Black graduates at 64%. While progress has certainly been made, these disparities are still present and particularly significant for Black students.
Income disparities further exacerbate the gap in higher education success outcomes. High school graduates from the highest income quartile had a continuation rate of 87%, while only 63% of high school graduates from the lowest income quartile continued on to college in the same year. These discrepancies are significant and cannot be ignored, especially for students from low-income backgrounds.
Efforts must be made to address and eliminate these inequalities. Access to higher education should not be limited by one's race or income level. It is crucial to provide support and resources for students from underrepresented groups to ensure they have equal opportunities to succeed, both in high school and beyond. By working towards equity and closing the gap in college continuation rates, we can help create a more just and inclusive society.
The persistent shortfall in student persistence rates among underrepresented student groups is an ongoing issue in higher education
The data suggests that Black students and those from low-income backgrounds, particularly first-generation college students, experience the greatest challenges in completing their studies. The Center for First-Generation College Success reports that more than half of first-gen students had not earned any credentials six years after beginning their higher education journey.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this issue. Current projections predict that even fewer students will be able to persist in their enrollment due to the personal and global challenges that have arisen during this academic year.
As higher education leaders grapple with this challenge, it is crucial to address the systemic barriers that exist for underrepresented student groups. Providing additional support for academic, financial, and personal challenges facing these students could help improve their persistence rates. Institutions should consider creating targeted programs and support systems to help these students overcome the unique challenges they face and achieve their academic goals. By acknowledging and addressing this issue, we can support the success of all students in higher education.
Making a Case for Re-imagining Higher Ed During a Pandemic
As underrepresented students are fighting to remain enrolled during these unprecedented times, colleges and universities are also searching for avenues to provide resources and crucial support to their learners. This new normal we are experiencing has also increased some desperation for tuition revenue to avoid a budgetary collapse.
Still, we can make the case that the pandemic brings an opportunity to re-imagine higher education. Although economics is high among institutional concerns, we must not lose sight of the significance in our:
Supporting students with the greatest needs
Improving online learning
Employing research-informed strategies to maintain current students in the academic pipeline
With a "survival of the fittest" philosophy, we accept as truth that colleges and universities that elevate their work in these three vital areas are the best fit for the future of higher education. From an institutional perspective, the hurdles of meeting historically underrepresented student needs, delivering effective online learning, and overcoming student retention challenges are here to stay. Thus, it's time to invest in yourself as an agile and equity-driven educator – one that can and will transform from agonizing over challenges to successfully pivoting within our new reality.
The Transformational Guidance Your Institution Needs to Make High-Impact Change
Undoubtedly, the landscape of potential barriers faced by students, particularly from underrepresented groups, is complex. While the traditional metrics of student achievement like GPAs and test scores have defined academic success in higher education, many students from underrepresented backgrounds face unique obstacles that cannot be quantified by these conventional measures. Colleges and universities thus need a more reliable and comprehensive methodology that can better identify, measure, and structure student achievement in a practical way for these diverse learner populations.
To create an equitable learning experience that fosters successful college outcomes, it is essential to understand how historically underrepresented and underserved student groups find their motivation to continue college enrollment. This requires a deeper exploration of the critical influences on their educational decision-making, including personal, societal, and systemic factors that affect their academic progress. Such factors might include financial insecurity, mental health challenges, experiences of discrimination and bias, and limited access to resources like counseling, tutoring, or mentorship.
For many underrepresented students, the decision to enroll in college is not an easy one and comes with a range of competing priorities and obstacles. Universities must take steps to understand these unique challenges and develop targeted strategies to address them.
Through research-based and innovative practices, we can help more students from diverse backgrounds achieve their academic goals and get the support they need to succeed. By implementing and evaluating these practices in educational and community settings, we can make a significant impact on the lives of many students.
At Beyond College Access, we offer a range of services and resources designed to help you and your team meet this challenge head-on. We work closely with practitioners in higher education and partners in K-12 and non-profit sectors to provide evidence-based strategies that help students navigate the complexities of college life and provide the support they need to thrive. Learn more at https://www.beyondcollegeaccess.com.