Success is what counts. Increasing Student Success: Why Equity Matters

Success is what counts. A Tale of Two Students

Success is what counts. A Tale of Two Students Cara and Anthony will be attending their local community colleges in the fall to pursue an associate’s degree. o Anthony – Attended a good high school o Chose a community college because his parents can afford the tuition and he can live at home to keep costs low o Will have to take some developmental courses o Works part-time to pay for his books

Success is what counts. A Tale of Two Students o Cara -- Attended an inner-city high school with inadequate funding o Single mother who works full-time as a waitress o Lives at home but parents cannot assist with her tuition, and they need her income to help pay rent and family expenses o Dependent upon public transportation for travel to work and school o Will be required to take several developmental courses for writing and math before she can begin taking for-credit courses o On the first day of school, her boss changes her schedule

Success is what counts. Who is more likely to graduate, Anthony or Cara?

Success is what counts. Equal Opportunity? Equal opportunity to succeed is a widely held and positive value in our society. Ensuring that everyone in America has an equal opportunity to succeed is in our national interest.

Success is what counts. Equal Opportunity? o Progress toward equal opportunity in our society is shaped by certain dominant cultural values and national beliefs, for example: Personal Responsibility: The belief that people control their own fates regardless of social position or economic advantage, and their rewards are commensurate with their efforts. The Belief that the Playing Field is Now Level: race, income, and gender are not the barriers they once were – discrimination and bias reside only in some individuals, not society as a whole.

Success is what counts. Equal Opportunity? o Cara and Anthony have equal access to a community college education, but do they have equal opportunity for success? o To what degree are their situations unique, and to what degree are they reflective of realities for particular groups of community college students?

Success is what counts. Presenting Symptom: Inequitable Outcomes as seen in Achievement Gaps Presenting Symptom: Inequitable Outcomes as seen in Achievement Gaps One Underlying Cause: Structural Inequities One Underlying Cause: Structural Inequities

Success is what counts. Structural Inequities Lack of equal opportunity for particular groups is the result of institutional and societal policies and practices that (intentionally or not) create greater advantage for some groups of people than others.

Success is what counts. Most structural inequities originate outside the college, but they affect large numbers of students, and we often see their impact in disaggregated student success data.

Success is what counts. Equity Is Not the Same as Equality Practicing equity does not mean treating all students the same.

Success is what counts. Equitable treatment provides each student the encouragement, opportunities, and support that he or she needs to succeed.

Success is what counts. Equity is at the heart of student success because different students have different needs for resources and support.

Success is what counts. What Does This Mean for ATD Colleges? Colleges cannot change national values and cultural beliefs on their own, and they cannot fix all the structural inequities inherent in society and their local communities. They can…..

Success is what counts. Closely examine their own policies and practices and change any that create barriers for particular groups of students.

Success is what counts. Implement policies, practices, and programs that help compensate for inequities that are beyond the college’s control and that place particular groups of students at a disadvantage.

Success is what counts. Exert their influence to bring about change in community systems— including the public schools—where structural inequities reside.

Success is what counts. For additional resources relating to equity and Achieving the Dream, visit the Equity Resource Center at the ATD website.Equity Resource Center For additional resources relating to equity and Achieving the Dream, visit the Equity Resource Center at the ATD website.Equity Resource Center “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” ~James Baldwin