Peter Salovey, president of Yale University, and Gregory L. Fenves, president of the University of Texas at Austin, argued that the nation must do more to help promising students from low-income families attend America’s best colleges and universities.
"When these students miss out on a tremendous education, the nation misses out on their untapped potential as inventors, entrepreneurs, and leaders," they wrote in a commentary published by The Hill. "This is why our universities have joined the American Talent Initiative, along with 86 other top public and private colleges and universities, to recruit, enroll, and graduate 50,000 additional talented, low- and moderate-income students by 2025."
Salovey and Fenves added that "simply getting students to college is not enough."
"Many students, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college or who come from low-income households, face additional obstacles once they arrive on our campuses," they wrote. "So, we are making sure these students have the resources and support they need to succeed and graduate once they are admitted."
"Regardless of our differences, Americans share a belief in the promise of equal opportunity and upward mobility," they concluded. "Education has long helped lift generations of young people, helping them achieve more than their parents could have ever imagined.
"By removing obstacles in the paths of low-income students, we can do our part to keep that promise alive."