ERIC Number: ED515657
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Jan-20
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Which Students to Serve? Universal or Targeted Eligibility for Postsecondary Opportunity Programs. WISCAPE Policy Brief
Vaade, Elizabeth; McCready, Bo
Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education (NJ1)
Dramatic changes in the higher education landscape and the recent recession have intensified the challenges students face in postsecondary enrollment and completion. In response, some states, communities, and institutions have developed "postsecondary opportunity programs (POPs)"--comprehensive college access and success programs offering a combination of funding and support services. POPs have the potential to transform students' educational careers as well as enhance their future success; therefore, the decision of who will be eligible to access these programs is extremely important and often highly contentious. The debate over eligibility has influenced education policies and programs for pre-K, school choice, financial aid, and college admissions. But while public policy literature has much to say about the theoretical implications of universal and targeted eligibility, less research exists on how these classic debates play out in policymaking and practice. This brief examines how the designers of POPs determine eligibility for their programs, focusing on their decision either to employ universal eligibility or target students who are underrepresented in postsecondary education. The authors explore the factors that influence the eligibility decision for 10 programs, including how closely the identified aspects align with those cited in the existing literature. To conclude, the brief offers lessons for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers and recommendations for POPs stakeholders moving forward. The appendix contains: Advantages and Disadvantages of Universal and Targeted Eligibility Cited in Public Policy Research (Modified for POPs). (Contains 1 table, 1 figure and 11 notes.)
Descriptors: College Preparation, Eligibility, School Choice, Public Policy, College Admission, Higher Education, Access to Education, Educational Policy, Equal Education, Educational Research, Policy Analysis, Student Financial Aid, Academic Support Services, Program Descriptions, Disproportionate Representation, Role of Education, Guidelines, Program Effectiveness, Social Justice
Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 326 Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706-1386. Tel: 608-265-6342; Fax: 608-262-4881; e-mail: wiscape-info@education.wisc.edu; Web site: http://www.wiscape.wisc.edu
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: Practitioners; Researchers; Policymakers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education
Identifiers - Location: Arkansas; California; Colorado; Michigan; New York; Oklahoma; Oregon; Tennessee; Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A