Equitable Outcomes
In most U.S. colleges and universities, students of color and those from low-income backgrounds experience outcomes lower than the average for all students, including graduation rates and rates of bachelor’s degree attainment after transfer from community colleges. These and other disparities in higher education outcomes prevent colleges from fully developing the talent of every student in ways that benefit every U.S. community. The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program encourages institutions to aim to improve outcomes for all groups of students. By regularly assessing disparities in student outcomes (including learning, completion, transfer, and workforce), institutions can identify opportunities to improve outcomes at scale.
The collection of assessment tools allows colleges and their leaders to see how their practices align with the strong institutional practices our research shows lead to high and equitable levels of student success. The results will allow colleges to see big-picture areas where they may need to invest additional strategic effort, in addition to identifying strengths and weaknesses in particular practices. See below for a full list of our assessment tools, including those that are available for open access use.
