John Paculdo Koenigshofer on LinkedIn: #corgiforucsd #corgicares (2024)

Recently I had the wonderful opportunity to speak as a panellist at the Office for Students away day panel on student interest (please don’t be put off by my resting face, I really had a great time!).Chaired by John Blake, student representatives including myself, and HE senior management from an array of institutions discussed what student interest means to us, what does a 2024 student expect from HE, and importantly what are universities responsiblities in meeting these expectations. It was great to see how although coming from a variety of institution types we all shared common interests such as:✏️ Use of inaccessible language amongst both institutions and regulators create large barriers to student-led advocacy and acknowledgment of student rights, as seen when trying to Google the definition of ‘student interest’💭 There isn’t THE student interest. Our students are diverse, and not only do student demographics and lived experience differ according to the institution, they differ within institutions themselves. The growth in widening access to underrepresented students, internationalisation of HE, alongside the added pressures of the cost of living crisis now means that students can no longer be tarred with the same brush. We need to seek out these students and assess their individual student interest in both a institutional and national level. 🔊 Universities need to act with honesty and integrity. Institutions have a responsibility to act in the best interest of their students, and sometimes that means making hard decisions that students won’t always like. While students may not like these decisions, universities owe students transparency in why the hard decisions are made. HE is a high stakes market for students in todays climate, they deserve to be kept in the loop. I’d like to say a huge thankyou to the Office for Students for their hospitality and Alastair Wilson for inviting me to give my thoughts. Finally a big thankyou to the rest of the panel for giving me such food for thought!

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In 2012 Chase Sackett and I were graduate students. I was at Brown and he was at Yale. We were both working on advocacy issues related to socioeconomic diversity in higher education. I was in the beginning stages of developing the inaugural First Gen Summit focused on students' internal understanding of their first-gen and or low-income FLI identity because I was not seeing the support I wanted and needed at Brown.Chase was the founder of UFUSED United for Undergraduate Socio-Economic Diversity. The group was created in 2010 after the New York Times had named Wash U, Chase's undergrad alma mater, the least socioeconomically diverse school in the country based on its Pell Grant recipient numbers... just 6%! I invited Chase and his UFUSED affiliate chapters to the First Gen Summit in those early years to share their amazing knowledge and policy manual. Their work informed the Summit's focus to be not only on building student identity development but also on policy advocacy to ensure that FLI first-gen low-income students receive the support they need to thrive in college.Today's New York Times article reminded me of this moment way back when and also informed me that my own alma mater Brown University is still struggling with its commitment to this work as demonstrated in the NYT's graphic which shows Brown's Pell Grant recipient numbers have actually declined over the last 10 years from 17% to 14%. I grew up in and around Providence, the community that surrounds Brown, there is no shortage of eligible students. As the article points out the decline is an institutional choice. The First Gen Summit's work now in year 11 will become more and more important as the first-gen and low-income identity continues to be elevated in the wake of race-conscious admissions elimination.https://lnkd.in/ge64Nwem#ClassEquity #RacialEquity #PellGrants #FirstGen

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In 2011, I had the privilege of working in the impactful affirmative action program, Proyecto Pa'lante. The focus of this program was to recruit talented students from Chicago Public Schools and alternative high schools, with a particular emphasis on reaching out to the Latinx community.During my time with Proyecto Pa'lante, I dedicated myself to building strong relationships with college advisors and community leaders. I understood the importance of these connections in supporting the students' educational journeys. To ensure a seamless application process, I personally collected the applications and made it a priority to admit qualified students within a week.My commitment to the students did not end with their acceptance. I followed up with them almost daily, because I understood the significance of providing ongoing support. When I encountered unresponsive individuals, I would go the extra mile by visiting their schools in person. It was crucial to me that no student was left behind, and by going above and beyond, I aimed to ensure that every opportunity was fully explored.Over its remarkable 50-year history, Proyecto Pa'lante has opened doors for thousands of students of color, enabling them to achieve their dreams. The success stories abound, with former Congressman Luis Gutiérrez being just one prominent example of the program's influence. Countless other individuals have achieved tremendous success because they were given the chance to thrive.At Proyecto Pa'lante, we never gave up on our students. Instead, we dedicated ourselves to recruiting, mentoring, and empowering them. We firmly believed in expanding opportunities and breaking down barriers to success. This philosophy has become embedded in me, shaping my approach wherever I go.My personal goal is to eliminate the obstacles that hinder individuals from reaching their full potential, rather than creating additional barriers. I carry this belief with me, knowing that by cultivating inclusivity and empowering others, we can create a world where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.

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Great –and gut punching – report by Caitlin Power and Mike Abrahamson from Partnership for College Completion where students shared what they see as barriers to #studentsuccess in #highered. Here are my five takeaways and you can find a link to it in the comments.❓ Students don’t know about support resources and opportunities – and when they do know, the office hours might be limited or times may change, or they may have a negative experience getting help. Colleges and universities must end what one student captured as the “oh, I didn't know we had that” problem.🛣 Students need mentors and advisers with shared life experience and identity to help; for example, one student mentioned “I would have loved an understanding, a deep understanding, in terms of being a first-generation Latina student and all these difficulties that I have been going through at home.” They also need guidance from people with recent, relevant experiences in their career fields of interest.💵 Student peers can connect students to resources and each other through formal mentoring/support programs. These can fill communication gaps in a more equitable way than relying on informal, unpaid labor within historically disadvantaged communities. One student noted “Bridging that gap between students and the university, and multiple capacities and lenses is what we try to do and that is a lot of work for undergraduates who are trying to get a degree themselves.”⚙ Rethink governance so that students can inform decisions about programs, policies, and processes to better enable their success. This means institutions “must listen to them and give them control over how their voices are heard.” They can find more substantive ways to engage, for example, “participatory budgeting where students have a direct say in how campus funds are spent.”🗣 Create opportunities for intentional community- and relationship-building, particularly among students of color, first gen students, and low income students. Then allocate resources like support services and staffing by working with these communities. Institutions can adopt a “participatory action framework” where the goal is to “conduct inquiry with a community rather than about a community”#highereducation #collegesanduniversities #completion #studentvoice #studentexperience #retention #graduation #community #belonging #studentaffairs #academicaffairs

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Check out my first blog post on NCAN’s site about the importance of student advocacy! It’s a quick 5 minute read and highlights two incredible students from Howard University that took part of NCAN’s Hill Day last month.

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Dear Network, As a passionate advocate for student voices, I’ve had the privilege of being part of my college's student government. Specifically, in one of my roles I’ve been actively involved in the legislative branch where my responsibilities have been both exhilarating and impactful.Here’s a glimpse into my role in the SUUSA Student Senate:Writing, Reviewing, and Coordinating Legislation: Crafting meaningful policies and resolutions has been at the focus of my work. Whether it’s addressing internal governance, recognizing student organizations for their achievements, or enhancing student services, I’ve collaborated with my peers to draft and review legislation and that directly impacts our student community.Championing Student Interests: As a part of the Student Senate, I’ve had the honor of representing my peers. We’ve tackled issues ranging from student event promotion and support to equitable access to resources that students rely on for their educational experience. This is all part of the ongoing mission of my organization to ensure that every student’s voice is heard and considered.Leadership within the Student Senate: Serving as Parliamentarian of the Student Senate's leadership team has been both rewarding and challenging. From moderating debates to strategizing on effective advocacy, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of collective action.🌟 Why It Matters:Impact: Legislation we’ve championed has led to improvements on campus and in the lives of students.Collaboration: Working alongside passionate individuals has broadened my perspective.Get Involved: If you’re a student, consider joining your school's student government/association. Whether you’re passionate about policy, leadership, or community engagement, there’s a place for you.Grateful for the Journey: My time in my school's student government has been transformative. It has developed my skills as a leader as well as fine tuned my skills related to the legislative process.#studentgovernment #suu #studentleadership #campusadvocacy

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Friends, The Lafayette Company is hosting "The Unsocial Network: How Administrators Hijack the College Experience" on Monday morning at the National Press Club. Representatives from Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, American Council of Trustees and Alumni and Leadership Institute's Campus Reform, as well as two spectacular young journalists, will discuss how in recent years, higher education bureaucrats have spent precious little time focused on academics and admissions standards. Instead, they've taken aim at the very adulthood and autonomy of college students, hoping to strip from them their basic rights, like free speech, due process, and free association. "The Unsocial Network: How Administrators Hijack the College Experience" will examine how these actions have made students feel less safe and have less fun, greatly diminishing their quality of life and well-being.There's been an incredible response to this event, and there are only a few seats left. Click below to register (or, if you're so inclined, please forward to anyone in your life who might care about this issue!). #event #highered #highereducation

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today's Noah Smith newsletter is a really good read if you are interested in higher education and social mobility. we, the public, spend far far too much time and energy focus on Ivy League schools. we should just accept they educate a minuscule amount of young people and, generally speaking, are social stratification institutions (rich stay rich). the larger opportunity for social mobility (from trade to future critical thinkers) resides in the state education systems. they are, generally speaking, social mobility institutions (that overall framing is how i say it when i am in an education discussion). the Georgia States, the CUNYs, the California and Texas state systems. https://lnkd.in/gP63jxqN

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So, here's something worth your attention. The recent SCOTUS decision on affirmative action in college admissions is a game-changer, especially for minority students aiming to create generational wealth.Imagine being a high-achieving student of color with dreams of attending Harvard University or University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These institutions are not just educational powerhouses but launching pads into high-income careers and elite networks - crucial for shaping your economic and social narrative.However, there's a catch. Way back in '96, California decided to ban affirmative action in college admissions. Fast forward to '98, the impact was stark: a shocking 40% drop in Black and Latino enrollment at University of California, Berkeley and UCLA (source:https://lnkd.in/eFridp7d). What's clear is when you eliminate affirmative action in college admissions, you undermine the progress of communities of color and amplify the opportunity gap for these students.And that's why platforms like Gravy are so essential. They're not just wealth-building platforms but lifelines for all communities, particularly communities of color. Gravy is offering access, sharing financial wisdom, and providing opportunities for everyone to build generational wealth. Relying on the government alone to level the playing field is a tall order. It's time for the private sector to step up, innovate, and ensure everyone has a fair shot at climbing the economic ladder. And guess what? That's exactly what they're doing.Image (Source:https://lnkd.in/emaWPNGv)#Gravy #FinancialEducation #Access #GenerationalWealth #AffirmativeAction #SCOTUS #SupremeCourt #CollegeAdmissions #Harvard #UNC

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https://lnkd.in/g6X3Sv9yI was teaching in London and learned more about social class in America than I ever learned in the United States. We are in complete denial about the fact that we are a social class society. We have this fundamental belief that everyone starts the same and everyone has the same opportunities. Neither are true. It's refreshing to see a focus on social class in this article.

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