Our Work - Current Projects
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The Project on Student Debt
The Project on Student Debt works to increase public understanding of rising student debt and the implications for our families, economy, and society. Through research, policy development, and advocacy, the Project’s goal is to identify cost-effective solutions that expand educational opportunity, protect family financial security, and advance economic competitiveness
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Keeping California's Promise
California’s Master Plan for higher education, adopted in 1960, guarantees a place in college for every state resident who can benefit. In the face of today’s challenges, the state needs to find new ways to keep that promise. The Institute is starting this work with a focus on the role of financial aid in serving the 2.5 million students at California’s community colleges.
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Simplifying the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a lengthy and intimidating form that is widely considered more of a barrier to college access than a gateway. The Institute is developing a way, with the applicant's simple persmission, to answer the income questions on the FAFSA with information the government already has. This option would make application for federal aid a much simpler, more accurate process.
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Economic Diversity
This web site provides institution-level data for over 3,000 colleges and universities, including information on loan and grant usage, family income, race and ethnicity, and over 200 other variables. The site features an easy-to-use interface allowing users to create data tables for selected variables and institutions. The goal is to improve public understanding and research on diversity and affordability at American colleges and universities.
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Difficult Dialogues Initiative
The Difficult Dialogues Initiative is a program designed to promote academic freedom and religious, cultural, and political pluralism on college and university campuses in the United States. Supported by the Ford Foundation, 43 institutions are implementing projects that address a wide range of topics. Through the Assessment and Evaluation Development Team (AEDT), the Institute has worked with the Difficult Dialogues Initiative providing technical assistance and support in the areas of assessment and evaluation to grantee institutions. Currently the AEDT is conducting a review of the DDI.
Our Work - Past Projects
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College Access Marketing
Working for the Pathways to College Network, the Institute developed a web site to assist agencies and organizations that want to use marketing techniques to help increase college participation. The site allows college access professionals the ability to share effective strategies and materials, avoid common mistakes, and find creative ideas.
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Student Loan Watch
Early on, the Institute studied ways to make the federal student loan programs more cost-efficient, freeing up funds to help more families afford college. That work, previously known as Student Loan Watch, is now part of Higher Ed Watch, a project of the New America Foundation’s Education Policy Program.
