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Good morning!
Did you attend college? Are you attending now?
Tell me— during that time, ever encounter an expense you struggled to afford? Short on money for rent? Books?
#RealCollege
Did you attend college? Are you attending now?
Tell me— during that time, ever encounter an expense you struggled to afford? Short on money for rent? Books?
#RealCollege
How did you handle it?
Who did you turn to? Did they help?
Did you seek emergency aid from your college? What was the response?
How long did you wait for money?
How did you feel?
Who did you turn to? Did they help?
Did you seek emergency aid from your college? What was the response?
How long did you wait for money?
How did you feel?
For 20 years I’ve studied, taught, and been friends with people facing financial shortfalls.
There is nothing wrong with them. The shortfall isn’t a moral failure. It’s a structural one.
The higher ed ecosystem lacks an effective safety net, just like the rest of America.
There is nothing wrong with them. The shortfall isn’t a moral failure. It’s a structural one.
The higher ed ecosystem lacks an effective safety net, just like the rest of America.
The federal financial aid system is full of holes and bad calls. Social policies like SNAP often exclude students.
The result?
Lower completion rates
More student loan debt & higher delinquency & default
Basic needs insecurity
Massive racial inequality
The result?
Lower completion ratesMore student loan debt & higher delinquency & defaultBasic needs insecurity Massive racial inequality
The status quo approach isn’t up to the task of creating an innovative, inclusive democracy.
It leaves people who pursue education often feeling broken— punished for just having tried.
Welcome to my TED talk. Naw, I’m not kidding
https://www.ted.com/talks/sara_goldrick_rab_college_is_creating_poverty
It leaves people who pursue education often feeling broken— punished for just having tried.
Welcome to my TED talk. Naw, I’m not kidding
https://www.ted.com/talks/sara_goldrick_rab_college_is_creating_poverty
So: it’s 2021. Can we do better?
I’m here this morning, asking the question, with some new evidence that leads me to say
YES. YES WE CAN.
And I’m going to show you a promising way forward.
I’m here this morning, asking the question, with some new evidence that leads me to say
YES. YES WE CAN.
And I’m going to show you a promising way forward.
First things first: We need structural change. I write on that all the time @hope4college - so please go over there and check it all out.
No question- we must address the root causes of the emergencies students are facing over and over again.
But in the meantime...
No question- we must address the root causes of the emergencies students are facing over and over again.
But in the meantime...
The answer is simple:
Recognize that Maslow must be addressed before students can Bloom.
Cut the administrative crap and treat students like dignified human beings and JUST GIVE THEM MONEY.
In other words, recognize and address #CREAM
Recognize that Maslow must be addressed before students can Bloom.
Cut the administrative crap and treat students like dignified human beings and JUST GIVE THEM MONEY.
In other words, recognize and address #CREAM
A couple years ago I decided I couldn’t just study this problem anymore. I had a concrete solution in mind. Government wasn’t building it. Colleges weren’t either.
I tried to act on it with a nonprofit, that didn’t work, and then I found @edquityapp https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/college-student-poverty-hunger-cash-assistance-20191121.html
I tried to act on it with a nonprofit, that didn’t work, and then I found @edquityapp https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/college-student-poverty-hunger-cash-assistance-20191121.html
Here’s what genuine, no-loans emergency aid delivered to students like they are humans looks like:
Students are twice as likely to graduate
New evidence from @compton_college & @edquityapp during the pandemic.
https://www.edquity.co/compton-college-edquity
Students are twice as likely to graduate
New evidence from @compton_college & @edquityapp during the pandemic.https://www.edquity.co/compton-college-edquity
This is not rocket science.
It seems to mean that the design & delivery of emergency aid matters. And so does the money.
Unconditional cash transfers are a proven strategy. But higher ed has been reluctant to adopt it.
So look again at that chart.
Emergency aid is often done badly— in ways that increase inequality. Read the comments earlier and you’ll see all of this and more.
Students are asked to perform their poverty, wait up to 2 weeks for support, and subjected to red tape you wouldn’t believe.
We solve all that.
Students are asked to perform their poverty, wait up to 2 weeks for support, and subjected to red tape you wouldn’t believe.
We solve all that.
Last spring, @Iamkeithcurry saw his students struggling @compton_college -
85% of students there are Black or Latinx. Almost all qualify for aid.
He wanted to get them support, fast, without overburdening his staff. They need to focus on advising, case management, etc.
85% of students there are Black or Latinx. Almost all qualify for aid.
He wanted to get them support, fast, without overburdening his staff. They need to focus on advising, case management, etc.
With @edquityapp ‘s support @compton_college reached out to its students.
They applied on our app.
It took an average of just 7 minutes!!!
Most got help THE SAME DAY.
24/7, not just “business hours”
They applied on our app.
It took an average of just 7 minutes!!!
Most got help THE SAME DAY.
24/7, not just “business hours”
Months passed. Did that support - $250 delivered fast and with care- help students?
Here is @edquityapp ‘s first ever preliminary evaluation. It was conducted by @DrewMAnderson
https://www.edquity.co/compton-college-edquity
Here is @edquityapp ‘s first ever preliminary evaluation. It was conducted by @DrewMAnderson
https://www.edquity.co/compton-college-edquity
Now, I’m a researcher so I can caveat all the things...
Yada yada yada yada...
Done.
Folks, TLDR: There is genuine reason for optimism.
It seems like colleges *could* shift practice in ways that better support students.
What better time than NOW?
Yada yada yada yada...
Done.
Folks, TLDR: There is genuine reason for optimism.
It seems like colleges *could* shift practice in ways that better support students.
What better time than NOW?
For every student out there who has suffered, there is a college leader or a policy maker who needs to start LISTENING to evidence.
Tag them. Share your story. There are tens of billions in emergency aid coming from the feds. They need to cut the red tape and get this right.
Tag them. Share your story. There are tens of billions in emergency aid coming from the feds. They need to cut the red tape and get this right.
