Association of American Colleges & Universities

How can America achieve the democratic ideals afforded by access to a high-quality education if the very students who represent the changing face of our country are disenfranchised and underserved? The educational inequities that continue to persist for many students represent America’s unmet promise. Through a presentation of current educational statistics that illustrate the lack of progress made since the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the presenters will discuss guiding principles for reflective and transformational institutional and systemic changes that can start the process for closing these well-documented and inexcusable achievement gaps. The actionable institutional reforms and educational practices emerge from AAC&U’s Equity Working Group, as part of the General Education Maps and Markers Project sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Daniel Greenstein of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Susan Johnson of the Lumina Foundation will respond, providing a national perspective on the leverage points for change.