Who is Responsible? Varying Solutions for Improving Equity of College Access in an Era of Rising Costs

Abstract

Researchers interviewed higher education professionals, asking: How do professionals working in higher education equity and access sectors, both public and private, assign responsibility for improving access, and what solutions do they propose? Informed by Kingdon’s multiple streams framework and Guajardo et al.’s theory of change in action, researchers spoke with professionals to analyze inequities in college access. Respondents disagreed on responsibility for improving access, with solutions varying based on vantage points, values, and privilege.