The study also includes a report card that grades each university’s commitment to access for low-income and minority students. The University of Georgia, for example, received an “F” for minority access. Though Black, Hispanic and American Indian students make up
more than 35 percent of Georgia’s high school graduates, they represented less than 7 percent of UGA’s entering 2004 freshmen class.
The report recommends that flagship institutions examine graduation rate gaps among different student demographics. It also suggests reallocating funds so the bulk of tuition assistance goes to students who wouldn’t be able to afford college without it.
“The flagships occupy a special place in cultivating the next generation of leaders in their states. With their special status comes a special responsibility to combine excellence with equity,” Haycock says. “The flagships need to reaffirm their historic commitment to opportunity and set a new course.”
— By Shilpa Banerji
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
