Malik Childs, 19, worked throughout high school to save as much money as he could for college.
Because he graduated in the top 10% of Mesquite High School’s graduating class in 2020, Childs was guaranteed automatic admission to nearly all state universities. But he still experienced a hesitation that many encounter when transitioning into college.
Too often, conversations about attracting diverse students don’t focus on what the universities lack, said Jerry Rosiek, an associate professor at the University of Oregon who researches patterns of racial and class inequality in schools. Higher education leaders need to reflect on how they can improve their own campuses, he stressed.