In the early 1900s, sociologist and civil-rights activist W.E.B. DuBois advocated the teaching of African-American studies in American schools. The goal was to teach a history and heritage that was being ignored, not just so blacks would better understand their own past, but so white society would be more respectful. But by 1968, when students…

This article describes a private, open-enrollment school in Washington state's agricultural valley which typically serves first-generation college-goers who were actually discouraged from seeking higher education. Heritage University, a 1,346-student commuter university, serves a region and a population that other institutions have historically…

This article reports on a Texas charter school network which aims to expand the ranks of disadvantaged students who graduate, not just from high school, but from college as well. To earn a high school diploma, each student at YES (short for Youth Engaged in Service) Prep Public Schools, a growing Houston-area network of charters that predominantly…

Explains the City University of New York's reversal of its 1970 Open Admissions Policy and discusses the ramifications of that reversal. (NH)

The battle over open admissions and remedial education at the City University of New York (CUNY) in the 1990s garnered national attention and marked a shift towards greater selectivity in America's public, four-year higher education institutions. After launching open admissions in 1970, CUNY transformed from a majority-White system to one that had…

Discusses basic writing pioneer Mina Shaughnessy, who advocated for a humanistic approach to writing instruction for disadvantaged students, within the context of the City University of New York's policy of open admissions. (EV)

This report marks the conclusion of a special project supported by the Carnegie Corporation as an integral part of the Southern Regional Education Board's (SREB) commitment to provide full opportunity for blacks in postsecondary education. The summary report includes a brief account of a writing conference which dealt with seven questions: (1)…

Nothing is dearer to community colleges than the belief that they can and should serve all eligible people who seek admittance. For decades, the "open door" community college has been an often-used, much-revered metaphor for equal opportunity in higher education. In this article, the author emphasizes that open access to community colleges is…

Minority access to education is a critical problem in society today. Schools must evaluate their true accessibility to minority students and the level of teachers' inter-linguistic and inter-cultural skills must be raised. Pathways through schools must be created that meet the needs of the learners. (JD)

It was recognized during the early 1970's that colleges had a responsibility to the communities in which they existed and that more and more people who were not white, middle class, or 18 were demanding a college education. The career Opportunities Program (COP) was involved in getting colleges and universities to make several kinds of changes in…

Remediation programs have been successful in boosting poorly prepared minority undergraduates. Several different approaches are described that combine reconditioning, psychology, and simple faith. (JMF)

These five papers represent different aspects of John Jay College of Criminal Justice's efforts in the area of professional career development, with special attention given to the concerns of minority group students and young and mid-career professionals. The introductory paper summarizes the College's history in the area of career development.…