Higher Education And The Color Line: College Access, Racial Equity, And Social Change

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision upholding affirmative action, this comprehensive and timely book outlines the agenda for achieving racial justice in higher education in the next generation. Weaving together current research and a discussion of overarching demographic, legal, and political issues, the book focuses on the racial transformation of higher education and the structural barriers that perpetuate racial stratification at the postsecondary level. Higher Education and the Color Line includes chapters that outline the demographic changes in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary school enrollment; the evolving role of law and policy; the barriers faced by minority college students; and the kinds of programs that best serve them. Topics addressed include financial aid; the role of community colleges; nontraditional paths to postsecondary education; and the role of higher education in social and economic mobility. In addition to providing a thorough and up-to-date assessment of the state of racial integration in higher education, the book goes beyond the usual black-and-white analysis to provide a multiethnic perspective supported by extensive new data. Taken together, these discussions examine the role of higher education in opening up equal opportunity for mobility in American society--or in reinforcing the segregation between white and nonwhite America. It provides insight for how institutions, states, and the country should be thinking about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's hope that affirmative action will no longer be needed in 25 years.

“"Today more than ever, higher education stands as the gateway to the kind of society we will become. Higher Education and the Color Line is a major contribution to contemporary debates about how that gateway should be constructed against the backdrop of race, gender, and class in American society." -- Lee C. Bollinger , President, Columbia University”

This outstanding book presents leading-edge research on racial inequality in higher education and specific policy recommendations to improve minority access and success. It is unique in that it pays equal attention to African American and Latino issues. Anyone who is concerned with equal opportunity in higher education will find it indispensable. Jorge Chapa, Director of Latino Studies Program, Indiana University, Bloomington"

Patricia Marin is a researcher and lecturer at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her work focuses on issues of inclusion and equity in higher education, with a particular emphasis on policy. Catherine L. Horn is an assistant professor at the University of Houston. Her work addresses issues related to high-stakes testing, higher education access, affirmative action, and diversity

This timely and comprehensive book outlines the agenda for achieving racial justice in higher education in the next generation. Higher Education and the Color Line focuses on the racial transformation of higher education and the structural barriers that perpetuate racial stratification in colleges and universities--and beyond. Taking on topical issues such as shifting patterns of financial aid, the growing importance of community colleges, and identifying model programs for retaining and supporting minority students, it lays the groundwork for realizing U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's goal of eliminating the need for affirmative action within 25 years. "Today more than ever, higher education stands as the gateway to the kind of society we will become. Higher Education and the Color Line is a major contribution to contemporary debates about how that gateway should be constructed against the backdrop of race, gender, and class in American society." -- Lee C. Bollinger , President, Columbia University "Inclusion is the single greatest challenge facing colleges and universities in the United States. This is especially true in states like California, where the so-called minority will soon be the majority. This book is an incredible resource for those of us on the front lines who are trying to ensure that our institutions serve the entire population, not just those who by virtue of an accident of birth are among the privileged classes." -- Robert J. Birgeneau , Chancellor, University of California, Berkeley "This outstanding book presents leading-edge research on racial inequality in higher education and specific policy recommendations to improve minority access and success. It is unique in that it pays equal attention to African American and Latino issues. Anyone who is concerned with equal opportunity in higher education will find it indispensable." -- Jorge Chapa , Director of Latino Studies Program, Indiana University, Bloomington Gary Orfield is a professor of education and social policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is also cofounder and director of The Civil Rights Project at Harvard University. Patricia Marin is a higher education research associate at The Civil Rights Project at Harvard University. Catherine L. Horn is an assistant professor in the College of Education at the University of Houston.

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