Baruch College Joins National Initiative to Increase College Access and Student Success
Baruch is the latest member of the American Talent Initiative, a nationwide network of top-tier institutions dedicated to accelerating college opportunityOctober 31, 2022
OCTOBER 31, NEW YORK, NY– Baruch College has joined the American Talent Initiative (ATI), a nationwide alliance of 131 higher education institutions united in a shared goal to enroll, support, and graduate 50,000 additional talented, lower-income students across high-graduation-rate colleges and universities by 2025.
As an ATI member, Baruch College is now part of a coalition of colleges and universities that include top-tier institutions across the nation, including the entire Ivy League, leading private institutions such as Caltech, Duke, Stanford, and Lehigh, as well as public institutions such as UCLA, Texas A&M, and George Mason University.
“Baruch’s deep commitment to making excellence accessible is well aligned with the American Talent Initiative’s mission. We demand excellence and deliver value, opening a world of opportunity for anyone who is willing to work hard to attain a top-quality education.” said Baruch College President S. David Wu. “
“It is a privilege to join this important national effort. And Baruch—with one of the most diverse student populations in the nation and a graduation rate significantly outpacing the national norm—has a lot to offer.”
President Wu added, “At its best, higher education is an equalizer that helps all citizens overcome social, economic, and class barriers to success. Baruch’s membership with ATI comes with valuable resources, a forum to exchange innovative ideas and elevate best practices, and opportunities to collaborate with those institutions committed to improving access and success for lower-income students.
“The widening wealth gap in the U.S. continues to fuel the divide in accessing high-quality education—the most important component of our society’s infrastructure of opportunity. Expanding access to opportunity in underserved communities is not only about social justice but also is critical to our nation’s competitiveness—nurturing talents that are in short supply for today’s global innovation economy. This alliance will allow us to work together to strengthen that infrastructure.”
Expanding Access and Opportunity
ATI was inspired by decades of work by individual colleges and universities to expand college opportunity, along with research documenting that tens of thousands of high-achieving, low- and moderate-income students are unable to gain access at top colleges and universities.
Today, ATI is a Bloomberg Philanthropies-supported collaboration among the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, Ithaka S+R, and a growing group of colleges and universities who graduate at least 70 percent of their students within six years. Currently, Baruch’s six-year graduation rate is 74 percent.
With this new affiliation, Baruch joins its fellow members in pledging to a public, aspirational goal to increase lower-income student enrollment over the next several years. To realize this pledge, Baruch will establish specific goals and strategies to recruit more students from economically diverse backgrounds, create more equitable student experiences, and ultimately minimize equity-based gaps in retention and graduation rates.
Learn more about the American Talent Initiative.
###
About Baruch College
Bernard M. Baruch College of The City University of New York—renowned for its rich tradition of academic excellence, accessibility, and outcomes—is one of the country’s top-performing colleges for its role as an engine of opportunity for students from every corner of New York, the nation, and the world. Representing 155 countries and speaking more than 100 languages, Baruch’s student population is among the most diverse in the United States. As a vital nexus of aspiration and opportunity, the College empowers students to transform their futures, their professions, and their communities.
Baruch College is home to three well-regarded and nationally ranked schools—the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, and the Zicklin School of Business—and currently enrolls 20,000 students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Baruch’s world-class faculty are leading scholars who push the knowledge frontier of their fields while demanding the highest academic standards for their students. Baruch students receive outstanding support from top professionals in academic and career advisement, allowing them to maintain academic momentum while achieving outstanding career outcomes. baruch.cuny.edu
About The Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program:
The Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program aims to advance higher education practices and leadership that significantly improve student learning, completion, and employment after college—especially for the growing population of low-income and minority students on campuses nationwide. The Program is part of The Aspen Institute, a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society.
About Ithaka S+R:
Ithaka S+R is a not-for-profit service that provides research and strategic guidance to help the academic and cultural communities serve the public good and navigate economic, technological, and demographic change. Ithaka S+R is part of ITHAKA.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in more than 570 cities and over 160 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.3 billion.
Media Contacts
Suzanne Bronski: Suzanne.Bronski@baruch.cuny.edu
Adam Rabinowitz Adam.Rabinowitz@aspeninstitute.org