In a recent episode of the EdUp Experience podcast, Dr. Joe Sallustio engaged in an enlightening conversation with two visionary leaders in education: Dr. Timothy Knowles, President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and Dr. Shirley Collado, President and CEO of College Track. Their discussion revealed innovative approaches to transforming higher education necessary to expand opportunities for underserved students.
As we enter a new era of higher education—one where the basic value of a degree is being questioned—it should not go unnoticed that key leaders in our industry are working to revise methodology and update communications to include more than we exclude.
The Carnegie Foundation: A History of Educational Innovation
During the podcast episode, Dr. Knowles provided a brief history of the Carnegie Foundation, established in 1906 as the first nonprofit organization in the United States. The foundation has been instrumental in shaping American education, from creating the TIAA-CREF retirement fund to establishing standards for various professional schools and introducing the concept of the credit hour.
Contrary to the perception that the Carnegie Foundation resists change, Dr. Knowles emphasized its commitment to transformation. He highlighted the foundation’s current focus on advancing social and economic mobility for young people, particularly first-generation and low-income students from underrepresented communities.
One of the CPC’s initiatives involves rethinking the classification of higher education institutions. Dr. Knowles announced plans to introduce a new classification system that will assess institutions’ contributions to social and economic mobility, potentially influencing the allocation of public funding.
On November 1, 2023, ACE and the Carnegie Foundation announced updates to the 2025 classifications, which will include a revised Basic Classification and new Social and Economic Mobility classification.
Additionally, the organizations announced updates to the research designations, which will be listed separately from the Basic Classification.
In 2025, The Carnegie Foundation will be releasing new classifications in addition to the basic classifications of the past.
College Track: A Comprehensive Approach to College Success
Dr. Collado shared insights about College Track, describing it as “the most comprehensive college completion program and movement in the country.” The organization dedicates ten years to supporting students and their families, providing resources typically available only to those with wealth and educational legacies. College Track’s position is that a bachelor’s degree remains the best predictor of economic mobility, civic engagement, lifelong wellness and self-agency.
Dr. Knowles and Dr. Collado, along with other innovative leaders across education, worked together to create the Carnegie Postsecondary Commission, with a mission to “identify the most power levers to propel missions more low-income, underrepresented, and first-generation students through postsecondary education into purposeful careers.”
Furthermore, the commission “will amplify the highest leverage methods: scalable, affordable, career-aligned postsecondary models; technology-powered teaching and learning modalities; pathways that disrupt the Carnegie unit and blur borders separating secondary, postsecondary and work; and essential public policy ideas to accelerate progress.”
A New Vision for Education
Both guests emphasized that higher education is entering a period of significant transformation. While acknowledging the challenges ahead, they expressed optimism about the opportunities to make education more relevant, accessible and effective at serving students.
Dr. Collado contextualized the need for change by referencing recent global events, including the pandemic, threats to democracy and the climate crisis. She argued that these challenges underscore the urgency of reimagining education to better prepare students for the complexities of the modern world.
A recurring theme throughout the conversation was the importance of collaboration across sectors. Dr. Collado highlighted a recent partnership among College Track, the Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank and Baltimore City Schools as an example of the integrated pathways needed to address educational challenges.
Looking to the Future
As the discussion concluded, both leaders expressed hope for the future of higher education. They acknowledged that, while change may be uncomfortable, it presents an opportunity to better serve students and adapt to the needs of the 21st century.
This conversation between Dr. Knowles and Dr. Collado offers a glimpse into the forward-thinking approaches being developed to address longstanding challenges in higher education. Their insights suggest that by embracing change, fostering collaboration and keeping students at the center of decision-making, the education sector can evolve to meet the demands of our rapidly changing world.
You Might Also Like
