What We Heard From Stakeholders

Respondents said that American students entering postsecondary education often are inadequately prepared to benefit fully from the experience. As one participant said, "Postsecondary education issues are intimately connected with K-12 education issues." Another added, "Most people have trouble thinking about them in isolation from one another." In other words, participants clearly indicated that postsecondary education and K-12 are inextricably linked. What happens in the early years is vitally important in determining future opportunities and choices in postsecondary education.

Respondents said there is still much to do to resolve longstanding inequities in opportunity for many groups of Americans—Native Americans, Hispanics, African Americans, and economically disadvantaged citizens. Respondents felt that too many students have low expectations because they are unaware of available opportunities. Adequately publicizing these opportunities—so that every American knows that if she or he works hard, postsecondary education is possible-has proven to be difficult, but absolutely necessary.

Through the Agenda Project, we also heard much about the challenges students with disabilities face in postsecondary education, including problems of preparation, perception, technology, and capacity and resources.

NATIONAL AGENDA OPPORTUNITIES

Participants in our dialogue sessions identified a number of problems—and policy responses. They said that:

1. As the "Baby Boom Echo" matures and lifelong learning becomes increasingly common, we can expect a massive influx of students into postsecondary education. Increasing access for a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse population will tax the capacity of our education system. Not increasing access would have even more serious social and economic consequences.

2. Too many students reach college ill-prepared to succeed there. Opening up access to quality postsecondary education for all Americans requires a continued and intensified emphasis on preparation for college and stronger relationships between colleges and universities and K-12 schools.

3. Access to graduate and professional education is now the new frontier in American higher education. Although many graduate students are supported by federal research funding, the U.S. Department of Education's present investment in graduate education is only 5 percent of its total investment in postsecondary education: $100 million in program dollars out of a $17 billion budget for postsecondary education and $2.5 billion in graduate student loans out of a total loan volume of over $40 billion.

4. The digital divide, the gap in technology access along economic and ethnic lines, is a reality not only in American homes but also in American postsecondary institutions. The Administration's work to address the disparity at the elementary and secondary level through initiatives like the E-rate needs to be extended to the postsecondary level.

5. Increased opportunities for students with disabilities means they are participating in postsecondary education in rapidly increasing numbers. But too many faculty lack the knowledge, understanding, and instructional strategies, and institutions lack the resources, to serve these students effectively.

6. Campuses still lag far behind in the use of technology that meets the requirements of universal design, and we know too little about effective software for students with disabilities, especially students with learning disabilities.

^