College students facing many different burdens

In light of the college admissions scandal embroiling Hollywood celebrities and CEOS, there has been renewed attention on the college admissions process. This highlights the double-standard that lowincome and students of color face throughout college. Students of color and low-income students whose readiness and aptitude is often the most in question by both professors and peers have done the work. They belong in college. The barriers to a college education for these students are numerous; and getting in is only the beginning.

Once on campus, the challenges persist. As recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center indicates, only 58 percent of students who began college in 2012 had earned any degree six years later. Completion statistics are worse for low-income students.

All too often, students cannot complete degrees because they are working multiple jobs, caring for family members and dealing with additional burdens. In many cases, their studies are derailed because of an unpaid bill, family emergency or an unforeseen expense. In fact, longitudinal studies starkly highlight this: when a low income student with top math scores has the same chance (41 percent) of completing a bachelor’s degree as an affluent student with mediocre scores.

We should not see these two stories as divergent narratives in the bigger picture about higher education. They are part of a more complex problem. Until we can grapple with both of these issues, and offer more support to the students who need it most, we will not be able to truly address the achievement gap.

Laura Marx Albany Executive Director, Capital Region Sponsor-a-scholar