Inadequate Student Support a Major Educational Barrier, Say Industry Leaders
Seattle, Washington (PRWEB) November 01, 2017 -- BestColleges.com, a leading provider of college planning resources and higher education research, announced today the release of its newest publication: “Barriers: How Lack of Student Support Limits Higher Education.” The first in a five part series explores the cross demographic roadblocks keeping students from college and why support is such a crucial part of any student’s academic aspirations. It addresses what role families, colleges, and communities have in better serving their students, and advice for those lacking this support system.
“While evaluating issues in college accessibility, we identified lack of support, whether emotional, physical, academic, or financial, as one of the largest academic deterrents for all students. It is truly shocking how many students do not have a stable support system and of those, how many do not make it to college,” said Stephanie Snider, general manager of BestColleges.com.
BestColleges.com invited a diverse panel of individuals from colleges, non-profit organizations, and those with personal experience to discuss the role they see support playing in the college application process. The seven-person panel was interviewed for their unique perspectives on education, with several participants being first-generation students themselves. The interviews cover the changes high schools and universities should make to better serve students and how community attitude towards education can play a role in college achievement. They also provide information on what to do if you are afraid to ask for help or are concerned about discussing your college plans with family and friends.
“With our new panel, we wanted to highlight a topic that doesn’t get discussed enough in higher education, and hopefully foster a dialogue that can one day lead to the development of better systems and networks for student support,” added Snider.
To view the complete publication, please visit:
http://www.bestcolleges.com/perspectives/college-barriers-support/
Meet the panel:
Ethan Zagore, Director of TRiO Programs, University of Notre Dame
“Receiving support from parents, other relatives, friends, and school representatives such as teachers, counselors, coaches, and high-level administrators are all critical in the ultimate success of students as they begin to enter the initial stages of considering college, complete applications, and ultimately transition to college.”
Kendrick Kenney, Professor, Bowie State University and First-Generation College Student
“As a first-generation student, you must realize an education is a step ladder to your ultimate career goals. And a career will allow you to better the world and most importantly, the communities we come from.”
Jose Villar, Associate Director of College Enrichment and Outreach Programs, University of New Mexico
“One student may be a first-generation student who needs help applying to college, while another student may be a third-generation college student who is homesick. There is no ‘one size fits all’, but creating an environment to support all students with whatever they need is critical.”
Tajiana Ellis, Senior Education Specialist, Treehouse
“Support is important for all students because of where they are developmentally -- discovering who they are and becoming confident in that person. Students need that support to know they can be themselves, they have room to grow, and they don't need to have all the answers. Support is a way for them to know they don’t have to go through this alone and there are people out there who are willing to help them.”
Greg Kaplan, Founder, College PATH
“Many students do not know where to begin when it comes to applying to college or how to turn the college admissions process into the springboard for long-term success. Support is critical to ensure that students make progress and use the college admissions process to develop into the passionate leaders of tomorrow.”
Jannette Artea, First-Generation College Student, Baylor University
“There are so many resources out there now that weren’t in the past. Any first-generation college student dealing with the college application process has so much information they can tap into to help guide them in the right direction.”
Nijinsky Dix, Assistant Director of TRiO Programs, University of Notre Dame
“If a community fails to highlight the importance of pursuing higher education, it leaves the student and the community in a space of complacency, unused knowledge and talents, and a lack of exposure allowing the cycle of limitations to permeate. On the other hand, when the community highlights the significance of the pursuit of higher education, it collectively champions the student’s intellectual abilities and talents; it emphasizes how their decision-making and progression will not only change their family’s trajectory, but that of the community; it removes limitations.”
About BestColleges.com
BestColleges.com helps prospective students find the school that best meets their needs through proprietary research, user-friendly guides, and hundreds of unique college rankings. They also provide a wide array of college planning, financial aid, and career resources to help all students get the most from their education and prepare them for the world after college.
Quinn Tomlin, BestColleges.com, http://www.bestcolleges.com, +1 206-240-8970, [email protected]
Share this article