From Panel to Practice: Insights from Varying Degrees 2024 on Higher Education Challenges and Solutions

Earlier this month I had the chance to sit in a panel at the launch event for Varying Degrees 2024, New America’s annual nationally representative survey that looks into how Americans perceive higher education. The panel included Brian Bridges, the secretary of higher education for New Jersey; Patricia McGuire, the president of Trinity Washington University; and CJ Powell, the director of advocacy for the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, New America's investigations manager who is also a former journalist, moderated the panel. As a student who just graduated from California Polytechnic State University, I found the conversation to be insightful as the panelists discussed the key barriers for students to get to and through college.

Brian centered the conversation on the economic pressures influencing college access and revealed it as a significant challenge for underrepresented students. The rising costs of tuition and related expenses have become increasingly expensive and pose accessibility barriers, particularly for those from low-income backgrounds. College affordability is an issue that Varying Degrees focuses on this year, showing that four in five Americans believe that cost is the biggest barrier for enrolling in college. The long-standing issue of high cost and high debt certainly plays a role in the declining confidence in colleges and universities. But at the same time, the survey also shows that a majority of Americans still believe in the value of higher education and see the benefits that it brings to individuals with postsecondary credentials and the communities they live in.

CJ offered a more optimistic view, emphasizing the role of educators and the potential for systemic solutions to help students mitigate these financial challenges. He explained how programs such as college promise initiatives, dual enrollment, and increased state aid can be game-changers for underrepresented students. Dual enrollment, for instance, allows students to earn college credits while still in high school, shortening their time to degree completion and reducing overall costs. Similarly, state aid can bridge the gap between what students and families can afford and what is required. CJ emphasized the importance of effectively communicating about these programs, as educators can demystify the college financing process and make higher education a more attainable goal for underrepresented students.

As a college leader, Patricia retold the story of how she was able to transform Trinity Washington University, from an all-women Catholic institution to the minority-serving institution it is today. She underscored the essential role of higher education in building a skilled workforce, and the importance of philanthropic support to address the needs of low-income and undocumented students. The connection between higher education and a well-prepared workforce is undeniable; without it, many professions and industries would lack the trained individuals necessary for their success. She makes sure her institution can respond to what the local community needs and that’s how she believes higher education can improve public trust.

As the only student on the panel, I brought attention to basic needs, an often-overlooked aspect of student support services. My college experience, like my peers who are part of class of 2024, is definitely unusual. We started college completely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, there was a period of uncertainty, financial strain, limited resources, and grief as we navigated the challenges of remote learning and the broader impacts of the pandemic on our lives. I vividly remember my peers expressing their frustration and fear with not having meals to eat for certain nights, having to pick up additional hours at work to financially support their families, or their feelings of having to grieve the death of a loved one while the pace of the world did not slow down. Issues such as food insecurity, inadequate housing, and lack of access to physical and mental healthcare can severely hinder students' ability to focus on their studies and perform well academically, and they were exacerbated during the pandemic. Students are still feeling the effects of it today and colleges must take steps to ensure students the opportunity to thrive.

Serving on a panel with practitioners offers me an opportunity to bridge the gap between lived experience and professional expertise. As a student hearing the perspectives of higher education leaders and experts, I gained invaluable insights into the systemic challenges and potential solutions to improve student outcomes and regain public trust in higher education. As a first-generation Latino student, I found this experience both empowering and enlightening. It affirms the unique challenges that I and many students faced, such as navigating academic and financial barriers with limited guidance, while also highlighting how these issues are understood and addressed by professionals in the field. Engaging in this conversation, I was not only able to amplify my voice and those of students with similar experiences, but also fostered a deeper understanding of the intersection between personal struggles and institutional practices.

For myself, the panel was transformative, and offered a platform to influence policy and practice. I hope that higher education leaders and experts continue to include and amplify the voices of students in more policy conversations in the future. Conversations like these are just the first steps, but I hope they can influence college leaders and policymakers to take actions to address the most critical issues facing students today, such as college affordability and accessibility, student basic needs, and academic support services.