Dear Colleagues:
Each year the college dreams of millions of students are affected by the work of admissions and financial aid officers and school counselors. This is a tremendous responsibility — and a great opportunity. Making the benefits of college available to all students helps improve individual lives and strengthens our nation as a whole. Yet it is clear that the transition from high school to college has become an increasingly complicated and confusing process, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds and for first-generation college students. How can we make sure that all students have a clear picture of the college options and opportunities available to them so that they and their families understand that college is within their reach?
Two years ago, the College Board convened the Task Force on Admissions in the 21st Century, a group of leaders of the admissions, financial aid, enrollment management and school counseling communities, to address the growing complexity of the admissions process in light of changing demographics. The overarching goal of the task force was to address the broad challenges that face the admissions profession and higher education to create greater educational opportunities for all students.
Under the leadership of Jerry Lucido, vice provost for enrollment policy and management at the University of Southern California, the task force examined a broad range of issues and looked for ways in which the College Board, in collaboration with its members, could contribute to solutions that would best serve students as they prepare for, apply to and enroll in postsecondary education. In its report, “Preserving the Dream of America: An Open Letter to the Professionals in Admissions, Financial Aid and Counseling,” the task force begins by articulating the values that underlie the profession and then proposes a set of actions to support these values and guide the profession into the 21st century.
I would like to thank each of the members of the Task Force on Admissions in the 21st Century for their dedication to their profession and for their commitment to increasing college access and success for all students. Please join me in congratulating the task force on its excellent work.
Sincerely,
Gaston Caperton
President, The College Board
Each year the college dreams of millions of students are affected by the work of admissions and financial aid officers and school counselors. This is a tremendous responsibility — and a great opportunity. Making the benefits of college available to all students helps improve individual lives and strengthens our nation as a whole. Yet it is clear that the transition from high school to college has become an increasingly complicated and confusing process, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds and for first-generation college students. How can we make sure that all students have a clear picture of the college options and opportunities available to them so that they and their families understand that college is within their reach?
Two years ago, the College Board convened the Task Force on Admissions in the 21st Century, a group of leaders of the admissions, financial aid, enrollment management and school counseling communities, to address the growing complexity of the admissions process in light of changing demographics. The overarching goal of the task force was to address the broad challenges that face the admissions profession and higher education to create greater educational opportunities for all students.
Under the leadership of Jerry Lucido, vice provost for enrollment policy and management at the University of Southern California, the task force examined a broad range of issues and looked for ways in which the College Board, in collaboration with its members, could contribute to solutions that would best serve students as they prepare for, apply to and enroll in postsecondary education. In its report, “Preserving the Dream of America: An Open Letter to the Professionals in Admissions, Financial Aid and Counseling,” the task force begins by articulating the values that underlie the profession and then proposes a set of actions to support these values and guide the profession into the 21st century.
I would like to thank each of the members of the Task Force on Admissions in the 21st Century for their dedication to their profession and for their commitment to increasing college access and success for all students. Please join me in congratulating the task force on its excellent work.
Sincerely,
Gaston Caperton
President, The College Board
