With the establishment of the “Moon Shot for Equity” initiative, EAB, a higher education consulting firm, will partner with four-year universities and community colleges to close equity gaps by 2030.
As part of the first cohort committed to the initiative, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), Milwaukee Area Technical College, Carthage College and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside will work toward improving graduation and enrollment rates of underrepresented students.
“This is work we have been doing, but now we are going to double down and we are going to be holding not only ourselves accountable but our region accountable,” said Dr. Phyllis King, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at UWM. “It is a collaborative effort and it’s a support network. We are working together to really grow more graduates, which will ultimately lead to a better quality of life and outcomes for our community and our region.”
Over the years, the city of Milwaukee has faced equity challenges as many of its high schools are considered the most segregated in the United States, according to Tom Sugar, vice president of partnerships at EAB.
“We saw through the pandemic that the outcomes on health are very inequitable as well,” he added. “Even though [those leaders] may face the same kind of budget cuts and concerns around enrollment, they decided … to charge forward.”
Around half of Black and Latinx students earn their degrees within six years compared to 70% of White students, according to LaToya White, senior director with EAB’s Student Success Collaborative.
While earning a postsecondary degree, the overall financial cost can create barriers for many students. Beyond tuition and housing, students may accumulate fees during the semester such as parking or additional course fees.
