Five New Partners Recruit First Posses
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2016 Presidents Convene to Discuss Merit in Higher Ed. In October 2015, The Posse “We really can only justify operating Foundation’s biennial Presidents these selective [colleges] if in the end Conference on Higher Education they wind up benefiting those who assembled presidents and chancellors don’t get to go to those places, if they from some of the nation’s top colleges contribute to making the whole society and universities. The conference, better, and if the people who are the titled “Thinking about Merit and Who most disadvantaged actually have better Deserves To Be on Our Campuses,” lives because of the way these selective explored conceptions of merit and their places do their work.” said McPherson. impact on diversity, inclusion and equity In a conversation moderated by at the most selective institutes of higher University of Richmond President education. Ronald Crutcher, Williams College President Adam Falk and Harvard Law THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE AWAY School Professor Lani Guinier, author FROM COMPETITIVE INDIVIDUALISM of Tyranny of the Meritocracy, discussed the role colleges play in assessing merit, TOWARD COOPERATIVE COMMITMENT creating inclusive campus communities, and developing diverse leaders. These 10 Posse Scholars are among thousands whose potential and accomplishments are helping Posse’s Hosted by The New York Public “This is an opportunity to move away college and university partners redefine conceptions of merit in higher education. Library (NYPL) and Deloitte, the from competitive individualism to a kind conference opened with remarks from of cooperative commitment to challenge As-School High School, and Brett Roer institutions, have a responsibility to Dr. Anthony W. Marx, the NYPL problems, to really work through of Queens Metropolitan High School. play a better role in reopening the doors president and former president of problems with a group of people who are Each shared their perspectives on the and bolstering the legitimacy of our Amherst College, and David Williams, each bringing something different but characteristics and accomplishments, institutions,” said Cantor. “Cross-sector, the managing principal in public policy, nevertheless useful to the conversation,” beyond test scores, that best demonstrate cross-institutional, educational pathway government affairs and corporate said Guinier. student potential. partnerships not only work to increase citizenship at Deloitte. In addition, Posse President and Nancy Cantor, the chancellor of high school graduation and post- The Spencer Foundation President Founder Deborah Bial moderated a Rutgers University–Newark, delivered secondary attainment rates, they also, as Michael McPherson, co-author of panel discussion among four high school a powerful closing keynote address importantly, build faith among otherwise Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College administrators: Rosanna Almanzar of stressing the responsibility of universities marginalized and forgotten communities at America’s Public Universities, spoke City College Academy of the Arts High to be institutions that equitably serve in the legitimacy of our institutions. [We about the challenges of addressing School, Lillian de Jesus-Martinez of individuals, communities, society and need] to retake the progressive mantel unequal opportunity in higher education, University Heights High School, Posse the world. of higher education, to right the course especially at selective institutions. alumna Veronica Rivera Savage of City- “All of us, whether leading highly of educational opportunity, societal selective or more broadly inclusive property and democratic inclusion.” * Five New Partners Recruit First Posses Dartmouth, GWU, Notre Dame, Puget Sound, UMich Become Newest Schools to Partner with Posse In 2015, five new college and university partners of The Posse Foundation recruited their first classes of Scholars. Dartmouth College, The George Washington University, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame and University of Puget Sound will welcome their inaugural Posses to campus this fall. “Posse is very excited to have these prestigious institutions join the program,” says Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial. “We have a shared goal to connect outstanding students who have drive, passion and intelligence with the best schools in the Dartmouth College President Philip J. Hanlon. The George Washington University President University of Michigan President Mark S. Schlissel. Steven Knapp. country where they can become our next Michigan selected Scholars from generation of leaders.” Chicago who will major in science, In response to a challenge from technology, engineering and math President Obama and the First Lady, (STEM) fields. The 10th Posse STEM The Posse Foundation will expand its Program partner, Michigan has more Veterans Program to include a total than 28,000 undergraduates, world- of 12 top colleges and universities as renown faculty, hundreds of clubs and partners over the next five years. As organizations, and is located in the part of this expansion commitment, thriving city of Ann Arbor. Dartmouth joined Vassar College Notre Dame joins Grinnell College and Wesleyan University in the Posse and Tulane University in recruiting Veterans Program. A member of the Scholars from Posse’s New Orleans Ivy League, Dartmouth is a private, chapter, which was established in liberal arts institution with more than 40 2011. The university offers its more departments and programs for its 4,200 than 12,000 students, including 8,745 undergraduates. undergraduates, rigorous academic George Washington is the sixth University of Notre Dame President Rev. John I. University of Puget Sound President Ronald R. programs while also highly valuing the recruiting partner for Posse Atlanta. Jenkins. Thomas. importance of community involvement The university serves approximately and service. 10,000 undergraduate students, who can chapter. Puget Sound’s approximately Nationally recognized liberal arts access hands-on learning experiences 2,600 students enrolled each year have institution Puget Sound recruited the in government, policy, law, science, access to more than 50 academic degree first Scholars from Posse Bay Area, technology, media and the arts that are fields and more than 100 student-run the Foundation’s newly launched 10th uniquely available in the nation’s capital. organizations on campus. * Highlights from The Posse Foundation Presidents Conference on Higher Education Excerpted Remarks from Featured Speakers We then asked, how many black and neighborhoods, police, et cetera Latino students scored 1200 or above they experience. We are in what the on the math and reading sections of philosopher John Rawls called, rather the SAT? We didn’t pick a super high antiseptically, a non-ideal situation. number, but we picked a respectable number. The College Board gave us WE CAN ONLY JUSTIFY THESE SELECTIVE this data: In 2014, only 9,700 black students scored 1200 or above. Yet, INSTITUTIONS IF IN THE END THEY BENEFIT we need 50,000. In the case of Latino THOSE WHO DON’T GET TO GO TO THEM students, only 22,000 scored 1200 or above—but we need almost 60,000. What do you do, what’s the right I think the point is clear: if we thing to do, in an unjust situation? I continue to rely too heavily on test think that’s a profound question for scores, we will have a difficult time us to ask ourselves. In this non-ideal, getting representational diversity on unjust situation, how can we make OPENING REMARKS our campuses. MUSINGS ON MERIT & the case for selective colleges and A degree from your institution, I DIVERSITY IN HIGHER universities? DEBORAH BIAL think we would all agree, is like a EDUCATION Now, what I would argue—and President + Founder golden ticket to opportunity. Yours are I have really adopted this argument The Posse Foundation amazing institutions. MICHAEL MCPHERSON from Harry Brighouse, who is a Today is about who we should be Today, in 2015, the U.S. Senate President wonderful philosopher of education at The Spencer Foundation thinking about most when we are is 93 percent white. The CEOs of the University of Wisconsin—is that we admitting students, who deserves to the Fortune 500 companies are also Who should we think about when really can only justify operating these be on our college campuses in general, overwhelmingly white. We did a study we’re thinking about admitting selective places if in the end they wind and, as we get to the elite schools, who looking at the Section 16 executives of students to highly selective colleges? up benefiting those who don’t get to deserves to be there. these companies as well. We thought, The answer I want to give to that go to those places. If they contribute We all know the current maybe there is more diversity among question is, we should be thinking to making the whole society better, demographics of the United States. the C-level executives. Sadly, we found about the people who don’t get in. and if the people who are the most We know that by 2050, they’re going that there was not much difference We spend more money on and give disadvantaged actually have better to change a lot; they’re already there either: 91 percent are white. more support in other ways to people lives because of the way these selective changing. In most of our major cities, who are better prepared, even though places do their work; if, for example, non-Hispanic whites are no longer IF WE CONTINUE TO RELY TOO HEAVILY we know that the chance to become they get much better at putting persons the majority. When you look at who’s better prepared is highly unequally who are more broadly representative graduating from the top four-year ON TEST SCORES, WE WILL STRUGGLE TO distributed in this country. What of our society into leadership positions colleges, it’s still mostly white kids. ACHIEVE REPRESENTATIONAL DIVERSITY can possibly justify us doing that, in business, and in government, and in Black and Latino students are still particularly when we know that much the legal system, to take one example, going to college at lower rates than ON OUR CAMPUSES of the burden of restricted opportunity that may offer some justification.