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The Access Imperative
By Freeman A. Hrabowski, III
Understandably, current discussions about access that
take place in higher education circles often focus on the
underrepresentation of students from low-income families. At the same
time, recent events in Michigan have refocused attention on questions of
race- and gender-based affirmative action. But we must ask ourselves a
broader question: How do we make sure that students from different
backgrounds not only enter college, but also excel? Finding
answers—indeed creating answers—to this question, especially
in the light of transforming demographic shifts in America, is clearly
in the nation’s interest. Our primary challenge is to recruit and
support students from all backgrounds. We also want to prepare some of
these students to become members of the professoriate and senior
administrators so that our campuses will reflect the face of
America.
I am convinced that, more than ever, when the popular
culture suggests that it is not "cool" to be smart, American society
needs to increase substantially the numbers of students of all types who
excel academically. Those of us in leadership roles have a special
responsibility in this regard. . . .
Excerpted from the spring 2007 issue of The
Presidency. To subscribe to the magazine, please call (301) 632-6757,
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