The dream of public higher education in America is to provide opportunity for many and to offer transformative help to American communities and the economy. Expanding Opportunity in Higher Education explores the massive challenges facing California and the nation in realizing this goal during a time of enormous demographic change. The immediate focus on California is particularly appropriate given the size of the state—it educates one out of every nine students in the country—and its checkered political record with respect to civil rights and educational inequities. The book includes essays not only by academics looking at the state's educational system as a whole, but also by those within the policy system who are trying to keep it going in difficult times. The contributors show that the destiny of California, and the nation, rests on the courage of policymakers, both within the universities and within the government, to move aggressively to reclaim the hope of millions of students who can make enormous contributions to this society if only given the chance.

2017 Texas Association for Gifted and Talented Legacy Scholar Book Award 2017 National Association of Gifted Children Scholar Book of the Year Award In Excellence Gaps in Education, Jonathan A. Plucker and Scott J. Peters shine a spotlight on “excellence gaps”—the achievement gaps among subgroups of students performing at the highest levels of achievement. Much of the focus of recent education reform has been on closing gaps in achievement between students from different racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic backgrounds by bringing all students up to minimum levels of proficiency. Yet issues related to excellence gaps have been largely absent from discussions about how to improve our schools and communities. Plucker and Peters argue that these significant gaps reflect the existence of a persistent talent underclass in the United States among African American, Hispanic, Native American, and poor students, resulting in an incalculable loss of potential among our fastest growing populations. Drawing on the latest research and a wide range of national and international data, the authors outline the scope of the problem and make the case that excellence gaps should be targeted for elimination. They identify promising interventions for talent development already underway in schools and provide a detailed review of potential strategies, including universal screening, flexible grouping, targeted programs, and psychosocial interventions. Excellence Gaps in Education has the potential for changing our national conversation about equity and excellence and bringing fresh attention to the needs of high-potential students from underrepresented backgrounds.

This publication¿the latest report from AAC&U¿s Liberal Education and America¿s Promise (LEAP) initiative¿defines a set of educational practices that research has demonstrated have a significant impact on student success. Author George Kuh presents data from the National Survey of Student Engagement about these practices and explains why they benefit all students, but also seem to benefit underserved students even more than their more advantaged peers. The report also presents data that show definitively that underserved students are the least likely students, on average, to have access to these practices.

This edited collection addresses the crucial issues emerging from the ongoing expansion of higher education, focusing on how national systems of higher education can respond further expand when traditional routes to have been largely exhausted.

Winner of the Association of Fundraising Professionals 2014 Skystone Partners Research Prize in Philanthropy and Fundraising Traditionally, institutions have relied on wealthy White men to reach their fundraising goals. But as state investment in public higher education lessens and institutions look to philanthropy to move from excellence to eminence, advancement officers continually need to engage all populations, including many that have historically been excluded from fundraising strategies. Based on theory, research, and past practice, Expanding the Donor Base in Higher Education explores how colleges and universities can build culturally sensitive fundraising and engagement strategies. This edited book presents emerging research on different communities that have not traditionally been approached for fundraising—including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) alumni, African Americans, Latinos, graduate students, young alumni, women, and faculty donors. Chapters discuss and analyze successful programs and provide practical suggestions and strategies to create and implement fundraising programs that engage these new donor populations. Expanding the Donor Base in Higher Education is an essential resource for any institution looking to expand their pool of donors and cultivate a more philanthropic mindset among alumni and students.