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DANTE IS NOT AN OUTLIER. A first-generation college student, Dante has worked and contributed diligently to make the path to higher education easier for Chicanx students and himself. The present pandemic has disproportionately affected marginalized students' ability to pursue higher education. READ DANTE'S STORY Read Dante's Story 2013 A DIFFICULT TRANSITION At the age of 14, Dante and his family immigrated from Mexico to the United States in pursuit of better opportunities. Dante as a child, at his home in Mexico "COMING AT A LATER AGE, IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO ADAPT, ESPECIALLY WHEN LEARNING ENGLISH AND TAKING HIGHER EDUCATION COURSES." 2017 A MONUMENTAL MOMENT While a junior in high school, Dante attends the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA) high school conference, which is a high school conference that introduces first-generation and Chincanx students to the critical information and resources to help navigate higher education. ​ Inspired by what he's learned from MEChA, Dante’s decision to pursue a master’s degree helped him navigate college having additional support, guidance and mentorship. Students at MEChA's High School Conference gather for a group photo "IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS NOT ALONE. THERE IS SUPPORT AND HELP OUT THERE." 2018 TO BUILD A HOME Dante starts his freshmen year at the University of Utah majoring in Architecture with a minor in Urban Ecology. ​ He hopes to use his degree to be able to build a home for his family, contribute to affordable housing and green spaces for communities one day. Design Sketch by Dante Dante's Student I.D. "MY PARENTS HAVE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING THEY CAN. I WANT TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THEM." 2019 PAYING IT FORWARD As a sophomore, Dante joins MEChA's leadership team. He works hard to be able to provide high school students the same resources, guidance, and encouragement that inspired him to go to college when he was younger. He is enthusiastic to continue supporting future conferences. Dante volunteering at MEChA's High School Conference THEN COVID-19 HIT. MAR. 2020 AN UNEXPECTED ROADBLOCK As the Covid-19 pandemic hits, Dante and his team on MECHA scramble to adapt to sudden changes in their education, housing, finances, and health. Because the organizers cannot afford the time nor resources to the event, Dante's MEChA chapter will not be able to host their annual high school conference. REACHING MARGINALIZED GROUPS Without the MEChA high school conference, dozens of potential students that would have attended aren't able to access vital information and resources, negatively impacting and discouraging incoming students to pursue higher education. ​ Across the nation, high schoolers and recent graduates struggle with ineffective communication from their institutions. Dante poses with fellow volunteers at MEChA's High School Conference A SHARED CHALLENGE SEE THE DATA EXPLORE THE DATA DASHBOARD AUG. 2020 HOPING FOR THE BEST Dante starts the semester, worrying about his ability to afford housing, the quality of his classes, and the disconnection to the community he had gotten so close to on campus. TO BE CONTINUED EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS Returning to college right now is difficult enough for returning students, but for incoming and first-gen students in particular, this Fall semester includes even more hurdles and challenges. ​ Decisionmakers must ensure that adequate information, resources, and support is being given to high school graduates and incoming freshmen, with additional attention to first-generation and underrepresented students. ​ Making the right decisions to support students now can shape a more equitable higher landscape for years to come. READ MORE STUDENT STORIES

DIVYAM IS NOT AN OUTLIER. Determined to become a doctor, Divyam has pushed himself to become the best medical school applicant he can. As the pandemic has deprived many students from hands-on educational experiences, Divyam sees his dreams of becoming a well educated and confident doctor slipping out of his hands. READ DIVYAM'S STORY Read Divyam's Story Divyam at the awards for the 2019 Utah Science Fair 2014 FINDING A HOME IN SCIENCE As a middle schooler, Divyam grows a passion for microbiology and infectious diseases. He participates in science fairs, where he enjoys the company of like-minded peers. He continues his research into high school earning admission into university laboratories and competing internationally. "COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT WERE THE MAJOR FACTORS THAT DREW ME TO RESEARCH. I LOVED HOW THE SCIENCE I WAS DOING HAD THE POTENTIAL TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AROUND ME." AUG. 2019 AN EXCITING BEGINNING Divyam enters his freshman year interested in pursuing a career in research. He becomes heavily involved on campus through his university's student government, the community at his dorm, and an ultimate frisbee club. For him, these opportunities foster a sense of belonging as a student. Divyam finding plants for the community garden the temple he attends. A stethoscope Divyam found at a thrift store. DEC. 2019 A SINGLE HANDSHAKE Divyam falls heavily ill during winter break. With his family out of town, he realized he would need to take himself to the hospital alone, something he has never done. ​ Divyam drives himself to the local hospital, where he checks in at the front desk. He feels stressed, uneasy, and awkward. The doctor enters the room and greets Divyam with a warm handshake, which instantly communicates to Divyam that he will be taken care of, safe, and welcome. In that moment, Divyam decides he wants to change his goals in order to pursue medicine. "THE CONFIDENCE AND GRACE OF THAT HANDSHAKE WAS STARTLING. I WENT IN FEARFUL AND CAME OUT WITH A SMILE. AND THAT'S WHEN I KNEW, THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE. IF I CAN EASE SOMEONE'S ANXIETY AND PAIN LIKE THAT, THEN I'LL BE FULFILLED." THEN COVID-19 HIT. MAR. 2020 FORCED TO MAKE SACRIFICES The pandemic completely disrupts Divyam's plans and confidence as a pre-med student. He is forced to move back home from his dorm, which means all the actions he takes now potentially endangers the life of his immunocompromised father. ​ Divyam can no longer pursue any of his extracurricular activities, which were an integral part of his education as a pre-med student. He no longer is able to continue his position as a volunteer at a local clinic, nor shadow doctors. He loses all clinical exposure. Additionally, he's forced to sacrifice his job as a pharmacy technician, all in order to protect his father's health. Divyam's micropipette is a gift from his father, who used it in his own research. "I'VE REALIZED THAT THE PEOPLE AND CONNECTIONS WERE INTEGRAL TO THE SATISFACTION I ASSOCIATED WITH SCHOOL. WITHOUT THEM, STUFF FEELS LIKE A CHORE." EXPLORE THE DATA DASHBOARD Divyam with friends from his dorm AUG. 2020 THE REALITY SETS IN The pandemic disconnects Divyam from his labs, volunteer opportunities, campus organizations, and his friends on campus. He begins to recognize how instrumental everything outside of the classroom was to his college experience. "IT'S DIFFICULT TO GO BACK TO AN EDUCATIONS THAT'S BEEN WHITTLED DOWN TO THE BARE MINIMUM - AND THEN SOME." A SHARED CHALLENGE SEE THE DATA EXPLORE THE DATA DASHBOARD IS IT WORTH IT? With fall semesters stripped of many of the qualities that make up the "college experience" during the present pandemic, combined with decades long trends of declining affordability of tuition, students are questioning the value of their education. TO BE CONTINUED PREPARING THE DOCTORS OF TOMORROW Divyam and countless students like him have recognized how the activities and experiences outside of the classroom made their education unique and valuable. By pursuing a student-centric focus, schools can work towards providing students the multitude of opportunities that will give them the foundation to become confident leaders in their communities. READ MORE STUDENT STORIES

The MAPS Project is a student-centric initiative to chart the rapidly evolving higher education system and works to bring high-quality data and historically marginalized voices to higher ed decision-makers. The MAPS Project aims to Model, Analyze, Prototype, and Share innovative solutions to challenges in higher education. THE MAPS PROJECT Student Perspective Institutional Response Community Impact INSTITUTIONAL INSIGHT REAL STUDENTS. REAL STORIES. The higher education sector faces a crucial set of decisions that will shape its future for decades to come. While the current pandemic has amplified the strain on an already-vulnerable higher education sector, institutions have the opportunity to transform in proactive and student-centric ways. IMPACTS OF COVID-19 VIEW THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE COVID-19 DASHBOARD As institutions grapple with the challenges brought by Covid-19, data on student preferences, state policies, and institutional reactions are more important than ever to help drive decisions that are student-centric. Equitable outcomes for students rely on stable and resilient financial standing of institutions, informed by tools that provide sector-specific financial modeling and insightful peer-to-peer comparisons. FINANCIAL HEALTH DASHBOARD Student Perspective THE CRITICAL ROLE OF THE STUDENT VOICES ​ Millions of students across the nation have faced the difficulties of transitioning to online learning, increasing inability to afford tuition, and general feelings of being abandoned by their universities and colleges. As institutions of higher education form decisions, it is critical that higher-ed decision-makers prioritize students. STUDENT PERSPECTIVE With COVID-19 forcing the closure of campuses early this spring, colleges and universities moved classes online and closed housing facilities, separating students from their campus communities and resources. This disruption accelerated several trends that already existed in higher education, with a disproportionate impact on students from historically marginalized backgrounds. Given the rapid change brought on by COVID-19 and augmented by the United States’ accelerated fight for racial justice, it is more important than ever that students' voices and experiences are included in conversations on the future of higher education. To begin this work, the Sorenson Impact Center MAPS project convened students from across the nation to share experiences, perspectives, and needs from their institutions. In response to major interest from this event and in an effort to continue these conversations, the MAPS project has launched the inaugural Student Coalition on Higher Education. The Student Coalition will provide opportunities for young leaders from across the nation to discuss emerging trends, engage with industry practitioners and community leaders, and contribute to key conversations within higher education as we seek to make higher education more equitable and student-centric. Now more than ever, we know that it is essential to elevate student voices and encourage higher education leaders to consider student experiences as they seek to chart the future of their institutions. COALITION MEMBERS 2021-2022 Alex Rodriguez | He/Him Abhi Harikumar | He/Him Heidi Seabrooks-Smith | She/Her Catalyzing Student Equity In Higher Education Drawing from a months-long process speaking with students and administrators across the nation. The Student Coalition of 2020-21 on Higher Education designed a guidebook that dives into factors that emerged as important in catalyzing student-equity-centricity. Guidebook Executive Summary Full Student Guidebook BY STUDENTS. FOR INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. Community Impact COMMUNITY IMPACT THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF HIGHER ED DECISIONS The U.S. higher education sector, already in the process of disruption before COVID-19, remains one of the most sensitive spaces to the effects of the pandemic given the multifaceted roles these institutions play in the lives of students, staff, faculty, and communities. As McKinsey & Co and other leaders have noted, many traditional, place-based Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) are essentially micro cities, serving not just as schools, but as employers, primary residences, healthcare providers, civic institutions and more. Institutional Response INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INSTITUTIONS ​ As institutions grapple with the challenges brought by Covid-19, data on student preferences, state policies, and institutional reactions are more important than ever to help drive decisions that are student-centric. ​ This crisis raises new questions as we grapple with an uncertain future, but colleges and universities have an opportunity to help create a new system of higher education that is more equitable and improves outcomes for all students. Perspectives of Racial and Ethnic Inclusivity in Higher Education Higher education leadership need to actively engage with and listen to BIPOC students. Written by: Thea Louise Thomaseth Bugge February... Equity in Higher Education for International Students International students deserve better support in higher education. Written by: Thea Louise Thomaseth Bugge International students face... Why Higher-Ed Institutions Should Address Period Poverty Menstrual equity is a matter of human dignity, public health, and gender discrimination. Written By: Thea Louise Thomaseth Bugge Period... Student Blogs IN THEIR VOICE Students are often the last to have their voice heard. The MAPS project seeks to amplify the student voice within the higher education sector. ​

EXPLORE THE DATA DASHBOARD As institutions grapple with the challenges brought by Covid-19, data on student preferences, state policies, and institutional reactions are more important than ever to help drive decisions that are student-centric. VIEW THE MAPS DASHBOARD The Impact of Covid-19 on Higher Education

MAPS Financial Health Dashboard To achieve their missions, colleges and universities need appropriate resources - but right now, resources aren't equitably distributed across the postsecondary system. This has real consequences for equitable student success, particularly for historically marginalized students. ​ Leaders need tools that provide deeper insight and equitable foresight into how financial decision-making affects student outcomes historically and moving forward. ​ To support this need, the Financial Health Dashboard offers a first-of-its-kind visibility into the financial health of more than 3,000 colleges and universities* nationwide and the system as a whole. ​ Leveraging six years of data and sector-specific models, this interactive resource provides decision makers with a data-driven way to understand the current financial state, learn from peers, and together shape a system where every student can succeed. Explore the Dashboard What the dashboard is What the dashboard is not Uniquely comprehensive: Integrates financial data with student trend data for 3000+ colleges and universities Sector-specific: Outlines separate models for six different institutional sectors (2 and 4 year public, private, and proprietary) Interactive: Engage with data points to understand the "why" and "what" behind the scores ​ Condemning: Does not predict the future failure (or success) of any institution ​ Exhaustive: One resource to be used in conjunction with other tools for a robust and contextualized understanding ​ Static: Expect changes to the index over time as new data and feedback become available EXPLORE THE TOOL *The FHII will not include profiles for institutions who have not reported sufficient financial data to IPEDS via the IPEDS Finance Survey. These use cases provide fictional examples of higher education leaders, such as college presidents and governing board members, using the tools to gain insights into their institutions’ financial performance with an equity lens. Dashboard Use Cases READ ALL FOUR USE CASES HERE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY HBCU REGIONAL UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE METHODOLOGY GLOSSARY USER GUIDE Understand the Tool View institutional details The Dashboard at a Glance Additional resources Several leading organizations and individuals have made important contributions to increasing transparency around the costs, value, finances, and economic models of higher education. NACUBO Economic Models Project This effort seeks to help institutions pursue greater financial sustainability as higher education changes. It provides a framework for strategic decision making across four pillars: mission, structure, strengths, and resources. The website offers structured engagement ideas through strategic questions to help institutions understand their own standing and also provides examples and case studies of well-positioned institutions. This index is part of the MAPS Project, which is hosted and run by the Sorenson Impact Center. The MAPS project charts the shifting landscape of higher education to help create a more equitable future. This project is based on research funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. These materials do not necessarily reflect positions or policies of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MAPS PROJECT Get updates on MAPS Project data tools, industry insights, and peer discussions by joining our LinkedIn community. MAPS LINKEDIN COMMUNITY

Student Enrollment Trends and Projections Dashboard The Student Enrollment Trends and Projections Dashboard is a tool within the suite of The MAPS Project data products created to show higher education decision-makers the relationship between population data, enrollment data, and the potential impacts of trends like distance learning. The dashboard will help higher education leaders gain foresight into upcoming shifts in the industry that could impact their institutions. ​ The dashboard will provide users with an understanding of how and where undergraduate students are choosing to attend college, how that has changed over time, and what enrollment could look like in the future. This will help to inform recruitment efforts, strategic planning, resource allocation, as well as investment into programs and the infrastructure of online learning. Explore the Dashboard What the dashboard shows What the dashboard is not Student Enrollment Trends: including historical enrollment data, the ratio between the number of available students to predicted enrollment, and enrollment projections up to 2030. Student Migration Trends: showing how many first-year, first-time, full-time students are currently enrolled at institutions within their home states and the percentage enrolled in out-of-state schools. Distance Learning Trends: of exclusively remote undergraduate students, categorized by in-state vs. out-of-state status. ​ Condemning: Does not predict the future failure (or success) of any state ​ Exhaustive: One resource to be used in conjunction with other tools for a robust and contextualized understanding ​ Static: Expect changes to the dashboard over time as new data and feedback become available EXPLORE THE TOOL Methodology: Learn more about how weights are designated and assigned to categories ​ Glossary: Learn more about how terms are defined ​ User Guide: Learn how to navigate through the Landscape Model Dashboard METHODOLOGY GLOSSARY USER GUIDE Understand the Tool View national level data The Dashboard at a Glance Additional resources Several leading organizations and individuals have made important contributions to increasing transparency around the costs, value, finances, and economic models of higher education. MAPS RESOURCES View a collection of resources that cover Financial Health, Student Success, ans Student Equity. THE MAPS PROJECT NOT ONLY SEEKS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY DATA TO HIGHER ED LEADERS. WE ALSO LOOK TO INSTILL THOUGHT PROVOKING AND CONTEXT MATERIALS TO UNDERSTAND THE LANDSCAPE OF HIGHER ED. This index is part of the MAPS Project, which is hosted and run by the Sorenson Impact Center. The MAPS project charts the shifting landscape of higher education to help create a more equitable future. This project is based on research funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. These materials do not necessarily reflect positions or policies of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MAPS PROJECT Get updates on MAPS Project data tools, industry insights, and peer discussions by joining our LinkedIn community. MAPS LINKEDIN COMMUNITY

MAPS Institutional Equity Outcomes Dashboard Across the U.S. higher education industry, different colleges and universities produce uneven outcomes for students - placing them on a path to greater economic mobility or leaving them less well off. These gaps are especially pronounced for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and rural students, who face more hurdles even at well-resourced institutions. ​ To create a more equitable higher education system where every student is supported to succeed, leaders need to first examine the disparities within their own institutions. The Institutional Equity Outcomes Dashboard empowers leaders to see where their institutions stand and how they compare to peers and state and national benchmarks. The dashboard visualizes select IPEDS data, disaggregated where available, around key themes including enrollment, retention, graduation, and outcomes. This interactive tool allows leaders to visually understand their own institutions and peer and national data trends. Explore the Dashboard What the tool is What the tool is not Visual: A visual representation of IPEDS data points that relate to equity for students Interactive: A tool that allows comparison of retention, graduation, and outcomes data across types of institutions for greater context Curated: Focused on institutional climate factors and the outcomes institutions produce for different groups of students ​ Definitive: A definitive assessment of what makes up equity at a college or university ​ Exhaustive: An answer to the need for more student-centric postsecondary data systems ​ EXPLORE THE TOOL Understand the Tool Uses recent IPEDS data reported by more than 3,000 institutions across the U.S. ​ Displays data at the institutional level and disaggregates by race, gender, Pell status, or other factors when available ​ Includes variables related to equitable student access, experience, and outcomes VIEW OUR METHODOLOGY In Spring 2022, our team reviewed several leading data sources and interviewed more than 30 higher education leaders about how they measure and address equity at their institutions. While most leaders agree that addressing equity gaps is a priority, a lack of robust and consistent metrics makes it difficult to define and track equitable institutional achievement. We outline the challenges and opportunities for improving the measurement of equity and highlight several promising initiatives focused on improving high-quality postsecondary data in our white paper, Missing Metrics: An Analysis of Equity Measurement Gaps in Higher Education . READ THE PAPER Missing Metrics: An Analysis of Equity Measurement Gaps in Higher Education Dashboard at a Glance View institutional details Additional resources Several leading organizations and individuals have made important contributions to increasing transparency around the costs, value, finances, and economic models of higher education. Black Students at Public Colleges and Universities: A 50-state Report Card "More than 900,000 Black undergraduates are enrolled at public colleges and universities across the United States. This report is about the status of these students at every four-year, non-specialized, public postsecondary institution in the nation. Letter grades (A, B, C, D, F, and I) are awarded to each institution." ​ Learn more This index is part of the MAPS Project, which is hosted and run by the Sorenson Impact Center. The MAPS project charts the shifting landscape of higher education to help create a more equitable future. This project is based on research funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. These materials do not necessarily reflect positions or policies of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MAPS PROJECT Get updates on MAPS Project data tools, industry insights, and peer discussions by joining our LinkedIn community. MAPS LINKEDIN COMMUNITY

THE WORKING GROUP Amy Laitenen Director, Higher Education at New America Read More David Tandberg Vice President for Policy Research and Strategic Initiative, SHEEO Read More Jacob Fraire President and CEO, Texas Association of Community Colleges Read More Jared Colston Doctoral Researcher, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Read More Laurie Carter President, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Read More Shaun Harper Professor of Business & Clifford and Betty Allen Chair in Urban Leadership, USC Race & Equity Center Executive Director Greater Los Angeles Area Read More Ya-Chi Hung Senior Research Scientist, USC Race & Equity Center Read More Ann Lichter Director, Strategic Partnerships Center on Rural Innovation Read More Greg Fowler President, SNHU Global Campus Read More Jamienne S. Studley President, WASC Senior College & University Commission Read More John Macintosh Managing Partner, Sea Change Capital Partners Read More Marc Dones Executive Director, NIS Read More Shelley Nickel Former Executive Vice Chancellor for Strategy and Fiscal Affairs, University System of Georgia Read More Cristina Rivera Director of Engagement, Young Invincibles Read More Harry Williams President & CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund Read More Janet Holmgren President Emerita, Mills College, Oakland, Ca; Principal, Jangren Higher Education Consulting LLC, Oakland, CA Read More Kevin McFarland Head of Industry Partnerships, Coursera Read More Nick Hillman Associate Professor of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, University of Wisconsin-Madison Read More Stuart Andreason Director of Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Read More THE FACILITATORS Daniel Hadley Managing Director, Sorenson Impact Center Read More Gwen Reynolds Senior Director, Sorenson Impact Center Read More Caroline Ross Senior Director, Sorenson Impact Center Read More

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The Sorenson Impact Center Student Program prepares students to lead in their chosen fields with impact through a unique pedagogy that includes both theoretical education and practical learning experiences, promoting interdisciplinary engagement, and local and global involvement. To learn more about current opportunities to get involved with projects like MAPS, please visit the Sorenson Impact Center Student Program website. Join our Student Program Student Coalition 2020-2021 Student Managers Marin Murdock | She/Her Austin Hendrickson | He/Him Clara Randall | She/her Tramaine Jones | He/Him JP Flores | He/Him Coalition Members Taylor Kamhong | She/Her Kurien Thomas | He/Him Julianne Liu | She/Her Michaela Zeno | She/Her Karlyn Bradley | He/They Alex Johnson | He/Him Aajah Harris | She/Her Jordana Maciel | She/Her Carolyn Dennis | She/Her Alex Rodriguez | He/Him Catalyzing Student Equity In Higher Education Drawing from a months-long process speaking with students and administrators across the nation. The Student Coalition of 2020-21 on Higher Education designed a guidebook that dives into factors that emerged as important in catalyzing student-equity-centricity. Full Student Guidebook Student Guidebook: Summary

Additional Resources IMPROVING STATE AUTHORIZATION: THE STATE ROLE IN ENSURING QUALITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION ​ DAVID A. TANDBERG, SHEEO ELLIE M. BRUECKER, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN DUSTIN D. WEEDEN, SHEEO JULY 2019 ​ ​ Read Report

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