Recent Higher Education Policies May Have Disproportionate Effects on Minorities

A recently released report from the Government Accountability Office detailing the findings of a two-year investigation shows that a multitude of factors lead to disproportionate outcomes for students of color in higher education. The report found that many students of color were underrepresented in advanced classes in high school, causing them to be less prepared for the difficulty of college-level courses. Moreover, many of these students were less likely to receive adequate advising and counseling services due to being disproportionately represented among part-time and community college students. Perhaps the most significant finding, however, was that the overwhelming burden of student debt incurred by many minority students has been a primary driver of the growing wealth gap between white and non-white families. While these findings are centered on American contexts, it's important to consider the global implications of these findings as well, especially considering similar trends and policies in other western nations.