Oglethorpe University continued to expand its commitment to creating access to higher education by joining the Coalition for College, a diverse group of public and private colleges and universities across the U.S. working to improve college access.
“As Oglethorpe grows, we are increasing the ways potential students can find us, learn about us and apply to attend,” said President Nick Ladany. “By joining with these exemplary peer institutions, we are letting students know that they are welcome here to further their education and reap the benefits of studying on an intimate campus in the heart of a city full of opportunity.”
The Coalition welcomed 27 new members for the 2022-23 academic year, including Oglethorpe. These institutions join a distinguished membership of more than 170 colleges and universities with a demonstrated commitment to supporting low-income, under-resourced and first-generation students.
“Membership in the Coalition provides colleges and universities the opportunity to collaborate in unique and meaningful ways to expand access to higher education,” says Stacey Kostell, CEO of the Coalition. “We’re thrilled to welcome so many great schools at this pivotal time for our organization, and we look forward to their partnership on a variety of college access initiatives planned in the year ahead.”
Beyond its shared application for member schools, which features an easy-to-use fee waiver that students can learn about and secure early in their college-planning process, the Coalition also brings its membership together in a variety of ways to help expand college access.
Members participate in free college-planning workshops for students and their supporters; coordinate visits to schools where 40% or more of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch; share information and advice in articles and videos on the web and social media; and help build a national registry of organizations that provide free college counseling.
Graduating students on time, and with low or no debt, is the basis for membership in the Coalition. Averaged together, Coalition schools outperform national graduation rates by 17 percent.
