Many community colleges provide high-quality programs and supports that help underrepresented students obtain economic success—but some community colleges have gone above and beyond by engaging their ecosystems in creating pipelines to lift students out of poverty.
This report from the Aspen Institute demonstrates how four community colleges are helping to create a more equitable society by partnering with high schools and universities in their communities and by creating seamless pathways from high school to the workforce. In addition to sharing examples from colleges that have improved outcomes for underserved students, the report offers three strategies for community colleges to build structural equity:
- Think big picture to redefine student success and set equity goals
- Work externally to change the student experience
- Work internally to build urgency and commitment to equity goals
