Transcript
RUSS WHITEHURST: President Obama has committed his administration to the challenging goal to ensure that America will "have the highest proportion of students graduating from college in the world by 2020." In 2005, our tertiary graduation rates, 34 percent, were well below average of developed countries, and almost half the rate of the leading countries. We can't expect other countries to stand still between now and 2020, so conservatively we have to at least double our college graduation rates in the next 10 years to have a chance of gaining the lead. The President has identified the restructuring and dramatic expansion of student financial aid as key to achieving his goal.
Our discussions today will focus on recommendations for the reform of student financial aid. We will also try to address where financial aid sits in the broader context of the factors that limit college access and attainment from low-income and minority backgrounds.
View Full Transcript »