Good stuff! I have great respect for the initiatives described by Dr. Porterfield, however, it is wishful thinking to imagine that the formula for success can be easily replicated at other institutions. Assuming static enrollments, any meaningful change to the socio-economic composition of a student body in one direction will result in an equal change in the opposite direction thereby disenfranchising a traditional component of that student body. Frankly, this is something few schools can and will do. This is especially true of top colleges where such subtractions would be noticeable. F&M is uniquely positioned pull this off given its recent enrollment history. A nearly 30% planned increase in the size of the student body during the 2000s (different administration, different agenda), along with successful fundraising for financial aid, has subsequently enabled the College to be intentional about how it re-configures its enrollment. With little prospect for growth in the college-age population on the immediate horizon, however, few colleges, including those of considerable means, will be inclined to choose this direction. I, too, am an optimist. However, the realist in me says that substantive change with regard to access and completion is a matter of institutional will. Unfortunately, the current federal initiatives with regard to ratings are inviting more high-minded (and self-serving) rhetoric from educational leaders that is not likely to be supported by meaningful action. Short of planned enrollment increases, top colleges--places that are already highly selective--will not take on many more students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. That said, real access will continue to be found at the many fine institutions that are not bound up in the politics of selectivity. And the completion stats for any college will improve when its administrators begin to fully embrace cultures of assimilation and success such as those described by Porterfield. Kudos to F&M for seizing the opportunity it had to forge ahead with a truly transformative approach! bit.ly/1xdIkV2
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 15:41:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015