Here Is What We Learned:

Institutions are actively working to find new ways to learn about students’ experiences and engage students directly in education reform. The AAC&U event was well attended and reflected a strong commitment to this critical work. If you’re looking for peers in your state engaged in this work, we encourage you to connect with the Student Success Center Network.

This is especially true when it comes to acknowledging and acting on the needs of students underrepresented in higher education. Not every state affords education partners the ability to boldly envision a system that advances racial, social, and economic justice by achieving equitable student aspiration, access, economic progress, and educational career attainment. But we can drive progress by bringing students to the table. Take advantage of opportunities to elevate student voices to legislators and other partners. Create platforms for students to share in their own words. Cultivate students as leaders. Use data to show that many student experiences are shared and make the case for system change. While legislative change is slow, it isn’t impossible. For inspiration, check out this resource to find out how JFF’s Building Equitable Pathways team is keeping equity at the center of policy work.

The Kentucky Student Success Collaborative is instituting a structured, hands-on internship model to engage students in understanding student needs. The Texas Student Success Center is collaborating with nationally recognized research organizations to create structured student focus groups designed to gather and intentionally act on student feedback. The Washington Student Success Center is growing an innovative student opportunity through the Diversity, Equity, and Anti-racism Leadership (IDEAL) Fellowship encouraging students to advocate for justice in and out of the classroom.

Many thanks to Christine Bailie of the Texas Success Center, Phyllis L. Clark of the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative, Monica Wilson of the Washington Student Success Center, and Kelley Evans of Jobs for the Future for representing the Student Success Center Network and contributing to this session.