Dive Brief:
- Grinnell College in Iowa announced last week it has discontinued its relationship with the Posse Foundation, which identifies and supports cohorts of underrepresented students in high school and then helps them through elite colleges.
- Inside Higher Ed reports Grinnell has improved the diversity on campus, in part thanks to Posse, but it is looking for a more comprehensive approach than a model that sends significant resources to small groups of students.
- The decision drew criticism from students, faculty, and alumni — and hundreds of former students signed onto a letter saying the program should remain an important piece of Grinnell’s comprehensive approach to diversity and success.
Dive Insight:
The Posse Foundation has found success with the idea that underrepresented students are more likely to graduate from selective colleges if they arrive with a group of students who are like them. Many colleges have turned to the foundation as a way to diversify their campuses with high-performing students who get additional support outside of the school’s standard services.
Colby College President David Greene oversaw a spike in applications from black and Latino students soon after taking over, in part thanks to his insistence on more diverse recruiting methods. Yield among admitted students from these groups has proven to be more stubborn. That’s why Greene identifies the Posse partnership as a positive one for his campus — the students are guaranteed. Grinnell will be facing pressure to make sure whatever program it comes up with next gets similar results on campus.