Lisa Vollendorf on Higher Education Access and Reform

Why it matters

President Vollendorf’s insights look to shape future higher education policies, especially regarding access and affordability.

Key takeaways

• Empire State University focuses on accessibility and serving learners of all ages.
• Current incentive structures in higher education need reform to prioritize student success over institutional metrics.
• Pell Grant program requires updates to better serve non-traditional students.
• State reciprocity is crucial for serving diverse populations, including military personnel and Puerto Rican students.

What’s next

President Vollendorf calls for the Department of Education to:

• Rethink Pell eligibility and consider a Pell completion program.
• Incentivize collaboration across institutions.
• Focus on serving learners of all ages and backgrounds.

The bottom line

Higher education institutions need support to serve a diverse student population, focusing on student success rather than institutional success.