Across New York State, and across the country, higher educational institutions have recognized that so-called "non-traditional" college students – those who do not matriculate immediately after high school, attend full-time, or participate in the residential school model – constitute a significant proportion of students pursuing a two- and four-year degree. This population, who may be single parents; in their late 20s, 30s or 40s; attending school part-time; working full-time; and/or struggling to afford tuition and basic needs, are the core constituency of many campuses and the potential skilled future workforce New York State requires.
This panel will feature leaders of three organizations dedicated to college completion for such students, sharing their recommendations for philanthropies committed to supporting educational equity and college completion. The panelists will contextualize their comments in this historical moment of an enduring pandemic, rapid inflation, and declining enrollments at two-year and four-year institutions.
What will you learn?
- Who “non-traditional” college students are, where they attend school, and what are the most salient challenges they face, especially in the wake of Covid-19 and in the midst of high inflation.
- How different types of organizations, including higher educational institutions, and research, advocacy, and direct service organizations, are addressing the needs of these students, and where gaps in support and services remain.
- The strategic grantmaking opportunities to best support this population of students and the institutions that serve them.
Speaker
- Dara N. Byrne, Dean, Macaulay Honors College, CUNY
- Shauwea Hamilton, Executive Director, Bottom Line New York
- Nicole Lynn Lewis, Founder and CEO, Generation Hope
- Rona Sheramy (Moderator), Executive Director, Jewish Foundation for Education of Women
Who should attend?
All interested funders in grantmaking roles. This session will be of particular interest to staff and board members of and advisors to philanthropies committed to fighting intergenerational poverty, advancing educational equity, college access, persistence and completion, and economic mobility.
What to expect: panel discussion followed by Q&A.