This timely book demonstrates why there needs to be a more thoughtful and collaborative effort on the part of K–12 schools, as well as institutions of higher education, to provide better college access to students from low-income communities. Building on a 10-year case study of a successful school-university partnership, the authors examine the supports, mentoring, and resources needed to transform the college opportunities and life chances for under-represented urban youth. Featuring first-hand accounts from student participants, the book documents how the model provided college access to some of the most selective and prestigious universities across the nation. Because this partnership situates college access within a social justice framework, it is one of the more unique programs in the country. “Few social problems are of more pressing importance than the challenge of increasing access to higher education. Howard, Tunstall, and Flennaugh carefully outline those problems and give us our marching orders. Historical. Empirical. Well-written. Thoughtful. Provocative. This book is useful for all of us concerned about access and equity in education.” —William G. Tierney, professor & co-director, Pullias Center for Higher Education, University of Southern California “This book represents a moral and ethical call to any of us who believe in an educational pipeline for liberty, humanity, possibility, and justice for all—everyday!” —H. Richard Milner IV, Helen Faison Professor of Urban Education, University of Pittsburgh Contributors: Irene Atkins, Bree Blades, Jon Carroll, Whitney Gouche, Tr’Vel Lyons, Justyn Patterson, Jerry Morrison, Michelle Smith, Ashley V. Williams

Analyzes and defines the parameters of effective college outreach programs.

Although economic inequality provokes widespread disquiet, its supposed necessity is rarely questioned. At best, a basic level of inequality is seen as a necessary evil. At worst, it is seen as insufficient to encourage aspiration, hard work and investment – a refrain sometimes used to advocate ever greater inequality. In this original new book, Danny Dorling critically analyses historical trends and contemporary assumptions in order to question the idea that inequality is an inevitability. What if, he asks, widespread economic inequality is actually just a passing phase, a feature of the capitalist transition from a settled rural way of life to our next highly urban steady-state? Is it really likely that we face a Blade Runner-style dystopian future divided between a tiny elite and an impoverished mass? Dorling shows how, amongst much else, a stabilizing population, changing gender relations and rising access to education make a more egalitarian alternative to this nightmare vision not only preferable, but realistic. This bold contribution to one of the most significant debates of our time will be essential reading for anyone interested in our economic, social and political destiny.

College Counseling for Admissions Professionals is a much-needed resource to guide college admissions professionals in helping students navigate the college choice process. This research-based book prepares college admissions professionals to not only be marketers of their institution, but also disseminators of knowledge about the college choice process. Arguing that the most effective retention tool for an institution is to provide prospective students with the best possible information to choose the right institution, College Counseling for Admissions Professionals provides the full set of tools that every college admission professional needs today to ensure students applying to their institutions are making informed choices and will more likely achieve success while in college. Coverage Includes: The role of college access professionals—including school counselors, pre-college outreach providers, and independent consultants—and how to effectively work with these groups The shifts in financial aid at the federal, state, and institutional levels and the implications of these trends for students’ and families’ ability and willingness to pay for college The abundance of college access tools on the Internet and those that are most useful for students and families This volume empowers admissions counselors with the knowledge, insights, best practices, and resources to understand their role more broadly in order to better serve the needs of students, providing a solid foundation upon which to build their professional admissions career.

At a time when college enrollment rates for low income and under-represented students are far below those of non-minority students, policies and practices designed to increase access should be a priority for colleges, universities, high schools, and community agencies. Increasing Access to College examines pre-college enrichment programs that offer a specific and immediate remedy.

Closing the achievement gap depends on highly effective public schools, strong community support, and family involvement. Raising the overall rates of achievement in Minnesota is a vital part of this goal. Research has shown that pre-college outreach programs improve college access for underrepresented groups, including low-income, first-generation, and minority students. The most effective programs do this by promoting college awareness and attendance, improving academic skills, building student self-esteem, and providing role models. One study found that such programs can nearly double the odds of college enrollment for moderate- to high-risk students. Key features of an effective outreach program are discussed in this paper. [This briefing paper presents highlights of the report "Increasing postsecondary enrollment: A literature review of the effectiveness of outreach programs" with additional information from Perna's "Improving the transition from high school to college in Minnesota".].