The Obama administration is once again gathering hundreds of college presidents here today for a second White House-run summit that will promote new commitments to help low-income students.
Administration officials said they had won some 500 promises from college leaders, states, higher education associations, nonprofit organizations and other entities.
Like the January event, the college leaders and other organizations had to make new commitments in order to participate. The commitments for today's summit were aimed at producing more college graduates, helping prepare more low-income students for college, and improving college advising for underserved students. Dozens of commitments were also focused on getting more underrepresented students to complete science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees.
Administration officials said they wanted to especially promote partnerships among and between colleges as well as with K-12 school districts.
The commitments also include new philanthropic pledges. The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation is committing $30 million over the next six years to boost college graduation rates for low-income students. And the Helmsley Charitable Trust plans to spend $10 million to scale programs that promote underserved students in STEM fields.
Read more at Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/12/04/ahead-2nd-higher-ed-summit-white-house-announces-new-commitments-low-income-students