Giving Compass' Take:

• The Gates Foundation brings together a panel of experts to discuss innovative efforts to promote equity in higher education.  

• How can philanthropy help to develop new methods of promoting equity? How can philanthropy support and spread existing successful programs? 

• Learn about colleges trying to solve higher education's equity problem.

From the 2018 American Council on Education (ACE) meeting, “Achieving Equity in Higher Ed” explores the concept of equity in and beyond college. Guests Ruth Simmons, Joseph Castro, Lorelle Espinosa, and Freeman Hrabowski discuss what equity means for institutions, students, presidential leadership, and public policy.

Ruth Simmons, named president of Prairie View A&M University in December 2017, previously served as president of Brown University and Smith College, the largest women’s college in the country. Her tenure at Brown made her the first black president of an Ivy League institution.

Joseph Castro has served as president of California State University, Fresno since 2013. Previously, he was vice chancellor of Student Academic Affairs at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

Lorelle Espinosa serves as assistant vice president for ACE Center for Policy Research and Strategy. She is responsible for the co-development and management of research on issues of diversity and equity in 21st century higher education.

Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, has served as president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) since 1992. His research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance.

Casey Green, the moderator and co-producer of To A Degree, is the founding director of The Campus Computing Project, the largest continuing study of eLearning and information technology in American higher education.

Read the full article about equity in higher education at The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.