Eleven major public research universities have entered into a partnership in an effort to increase the number of students from low-income families who earn a college degree. The University Innovation Alliance says that it will test and disseminate proven innovations in education so college and universities across the country can be more successful in retaining and graduating all students.
Participating institutions are Arizona State University, Georgia State University, Iowa State University, Michigan State University, and Oregon State University. Other members of the alliance are Purdue University, Ohio State University, the University of California, Riverside, the University of Central Florida, the University of Kansas, and the University of Texas at Austin.
The participating universities all have programs to increase the retention and graduation rates of low-income students. Now they will share with each other – and the larger higher education community – strategies and programs that have been successful so that each institution will have the opportunity to adapt these programs to their campus.
Does the plan include education for financial, grant and student loan literacy? That does not mean providing a Pell Grant or expecting Financial Aid offices/staffs to educate. Potential students need comprehensive information on the impact of any debt incurred. There are no consumer protections, truth in lending or statue of limitations for students. The only debt that has no protections is Student Loans. That is the education students need before agreeing to anything.
More graduates and students is not the higher education answer when the outcome is a diminished life drowning in debt.