Blog
ATI aims to offer this blogspace as an opportunity to showcase its perspectives on various issues central to its mission; elevate the assorted voices from across the membership that are shaping and advancing equity-related priorities; and highlight the imperative to prioritize investments in expanded access, opportunity, and attainment. You can use the categories provided below as a guide to search for insights on the latest issues in higher education from leaders across the initiative, explore how our members are leading the way on revamping the transfer pipeline and promoting racial equity, and more.
- All
- Academic Equity
- Accelerator
- Admissions and Outreach
- Board Engagement
- Changemaker Profile
- Featured
- Financial Aid
- Meeting Recaps
- Member Spotlights
- News and Updates
- Partnerships
- Presidential Perspectives
- Racial Equity
- Rural Initiatives and Outreach
- Strategic Financing
- Student Supports
- Transfer
- Veterans
The Ohio State University President Kristina Johnson: Funding and Sustaining a No-Loan Approach to Increase Affordability
President Kristina Johnson highlights how she has been able to get the first debt-free program at scale for a public institution off the ground, ensuring affordability for all Ohio State students.
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Changemaker Profile: Whitney Soule, University of Pennsylvania
ATI interviewed Whitney Soule, Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, on multi-faceted strategies to support highly aided, first-generation students.
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Changemaker Profile: Jason Reinoehl, University of Dayton
ATI interviewed Jason Reinoehl, VP of Strategic Enrollment Management at the University of Dayton on efforts to meet foundational commitments to access, affordability, diversity, equity, and success.
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Changemaker Profile: Derek Kindle, University of Wisconsin-Madison
ATI interviewed Derek Kindle, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on financial aid strategies and research-based approaches to increasing access and success.
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Knox College President Andy McGadney: Introducing Price Transparency through a Pilot Promise Program
President Andy McGadney shares more about one of his early, signature initiatives to increase the affordability of a Knox education and attract more in-state students.
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Changemaker Profile: Shanna Jaggars, The Ohio State University
ATI interviewed Shanna Jaggars, Assistant Vice Provost of The Ohio State, for a "Changemaker Profile" on innovative approaches to bridging equity gaps in student success.
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Changemaker Profile: David Johnson, Indiana University Bloomington
ATI interviewed David Johnson, Vice Provost of Enrollment Management at IU Bloomington, for a "Changemaker Profile" on how to embed access, success, & equity into an overall enrollment strategy.
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An Interview on QuadEx, Duke University’s New Equity-based Residential and Learning Model
Senior leaders at Duke University share their insights on how to seize the moment to drive large-scale campus change and foster collaboration between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.
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The Show Goes On: Growing an Ecosystem Devoted to Academic Equity
From June 13-15, 2021, more than 400 representatives from 50 colleges and universities participated in the 2022 Virtual Summer Institute on Equity in the Academic Experience to tackle the most pressing equity challenges from the past year.
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Announcing a New Evaluation Partnership with the Kessler Scholars Collaborative
Over the next 5 years, Ithaka S+ R will manage a multi-level, multi-site formative assessment of the Kessler Scholars Program to support implementation and maximize impact.
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Centre College Bolsters First-Generation Student Success Through Cohort Scholarship Programs
Through initiatives like the Grissom Scholarship Program, Centre College has become a nationally recognized leader in supporting first-generation students.
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Hope College President Matt Scogin: A “Pay-It-Forward” Model for Funding Higher Education
President Matt Scogin provides an in-depth look at Hope Forward, a pay-it-forward approach to funding higher education.
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Interview with Dr. Jay Darr, Director of University Counseling Center at University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh's University Counseling Center director highlights the imperative to bolster students' mental well-being, which can help address inequities in the academic experience.
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Announcing a New Accelerator for College Access and Success
ATI launched the Promising Practice Accelerator to catalyze members' progress and fuel efforts to increase access and success.
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How to Be a Cornerman for Community College Transfer Students
Amherst College's associate dean of admission offers insights from a 10+ year focus on expanding the community college transfer pipeline.
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An Interview with Nyree Gray, Chief Civil Rights Officer at Claremont McKenna
Claremont McKenna College's chief civil rights officer sheds light on the campus climate survey as a key tool to help build a more equitable academic and social environment.
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Provocative, Productive, and Collaborative: The 2021 Academic Equity Summer Institute
From June 21-23, 2021, 150 representatives from 28 colleges and universities participated in the 2021 Virtual Summer Institute on Equity in the Academic Experience to tackle the most pressing equity challenges from the past year.
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Using Data to Advance Equity in the Academic Experience: A New ATI Case Study Series
We are excited to launch a case study series that spotlights how members use data to promote academic equity, starting with Virginia Tech's efforts to fuel inclusive excellence in STEM.
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Presidential Perspectives: Lorraine Sterritt, Saint Michael’s College
Under Pres. Sterritt's leadership. Saint Michael's College has doubled down on actions to promote a widespread sense of inclusion and belonging.
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Presidential Perspectives: Juan Sanchez Muñoz, University of California-Merced
With a majority-minority student body, UC Merced has been overwhelmingly impacted by the pandemic, prompting Chancellor Muñoz to make investments and commitments to maintain student success.
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Collaboratively Charting an Equitable Path for College Admissions
Amherst College, Bowdoin College, Carleton College, Pomona College, Williams College, and Swarthmore College formed the Six Colleges Initiative to provide dedicated support and guidance to more lower-income students than they could reach individually, more important than ever during the pandemic.
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Transforming Transfer Culture at Scale: Insights for Public Universities
Supporting transfer success at scale at public universities requires engagement from across the entire campus community; from presidents to faculty and advisors.
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Building Support for Student Veteran Enrollment
Today, we are excited to release Making the Case for Student Veterans: Building Support for Student Veteran Enrollment.
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How Private Four-Year Institutions Can Pave a Path for Community College Transfers to Postsecondary Success
Administrators, faculty, and staff at selective colleges and universities often assume that transfer students from community college won’t be able to make the grade.
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Announcing ATI’s Academic Equity Community of Practice
Recent months have highlighted long-standing inequities within our nation’s postsecondary education system.
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Prioritizing Transfer for Tomorrow’s Higher Education Landscape
As four-year colleges and universities make their way through an unprecedented semester, they are now taking stock of a fall enrollment landscape informed by the public health impact of COVID-19 and the accompanying economic recession.
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Incorporating Equity into Fall Reopening Plans
Earlier this summer, Ithaka S+R began aggregating colleges’ plans for re-opening campuses in Fall 2020...
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Presidential Perspectives: Joan Gabel, University of Minnesota
ATI's collective voice brings important visibility to issues of educational equity—and the commitment that leading institutions need to undertake to address them.
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Presidential Perspectives: Ronald Crutcher, University of Richmond
The tragic murder of George Floyd, and the activism of hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters thereafter, represents an inflection point in our history.
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Realizing the Promise of Mutually Beneficial Partnerships Between CBOs and Colleges
One day last summer, amid campus tours, academic enrichment programs, and preparations for the fall...
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Engaging and Supporting Prospective Students
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the typical college admissions experience.
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Addressing Challenges Faced by Institutions Supporting Student Veterans
College students across the country have experienced the financial, social, and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and...
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COVID-19: Incorporating the Student Perspective into Institutional Decision-Making
Over the past month, higher education has faced unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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How do Test-Optional or Test-Flexible Policies Affect Access and Opportunity?
A growing number of institutions have adopted or are considering test-optional or -flexible policies in recent years.
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The American Talent Initiative’s Inaugural Veterans Community of Practice Convening
US military veterans are underrepresented at high-graduation rate colleges and universities.
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Presidential Perspectives: Alison Byerly, Carleton College (and formerly Lafayette College)
Lafayette College is working to grow its financial aid budget to support increased socioeconomic diversity.
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Supporting Postsecondary Access and Success for Rural Students
The American Talent Initiative (ATI), a coalition of high-graduation-rate colleges and universities committed to enrolling and graduating...
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Presidential Perspectives: David Greene, Colby College
Over the last few years, Colby College has made a concerted effort to diversify its student body.
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Presidential Perspectives: Robert Jones, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has shown a commitment to lower-income students...
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Presidential Perspectives: Carol Folt, University of Southern California (and formerly University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has set a goal to double—from 100 to 200 students...
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Presidential Perspectives: Eric Spina, University of Dayton
The University of Dayton aims to increase Pell-eligible student enrollment in each entering cohort from 14% in Fall 2017...
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The American Talent Initiative’s Fall 2017 Data Working Group Meeting
In early October, the American Talent Initiative hosted main points of contact from member institutions in Washington, DC.
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The American Talent Initiative’s Fall 2017 Strategic Support Meeting
Earlier this month, more than 100 representatives from American Talent Initiative (ATI) member institutions and partner organizations convened...
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Growing the American Talent Initiative: Increasing Access and Opportunity for Lower-Income Students
In December 2016, Ithaka S+R, in collaboration with the Aspen Institute and with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies...
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Finding Funds to Support Student Access and Success: Ithaka S+R’s First Strategy Paper for the American Talent Initiative
There is ample evidence that low- and moderate-income students with the talent to earn admission thrive...
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Joining Together to Expand Access and Opportunity: Introducing the American Talent Initiative
Thirty of the nation’s most respected colleges and universities today announced a new venture to substantially expand...
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