Access Culture: Student-Centricity and Supporting Underserved Populations

UNCG Now

To meet the 60-percent attainment goal, institutions must look beyond their traditional audiences and find ways to adequately serve demographics not traditionally focused on by colleges and universities—but it takes more than just opening the door to helping these learners succeed.Increasing numbers of institutions are searching for ways to serve broader demographics. After all, the target date for 60-percent attainment is looming larger and, given the importance of a postsecondary education to a successful career, institutional leaders are recognizing the critical role they need to play in supporting the economy. This requires institutions to look to populations they have not traditionally served—students who may be visible minorities, low-income, out of school for an extended period of time, parents, working and more. Groups traditionally labelled “high-risk.” Supporting the success of these learners requires an evolved institutional ethos, and in this interview Dana Dunn shares her thoughts on the work colleges and universities turning their focus to these populations need to do.The EvoLLLution (Evo): Why is it important for postsecondary institutions today to be student-centric, especially when they serve traditionally underserved populations?
Dana Dunn (DD): As one of the nation’s leading student-centric postsecondary institutions, at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) we know that obtaining a college degree is the key to transforming the lives of students from traditionally underserved populations. There is ample evidence that well developed student support infrastructure contributes to enhanced student success for all students, in terms of retention, time to graduation and graduation rates. For students from traditionally underserved populations, this is particularly important. In many cases, they are the first in their families to obtain a degree, may be far from home and find the campus environment like nothing they have experienced before. In addition, they may be struggling with economic challenges and working more to afford their education. ...

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