Case Study
Understanding the root causes of inequity in student success
Postsecondary education suffers from a “success gap” where specific student profiles are deemed less likely to succeed. We did a root cause analysis of what causes some students to disproportionately fail, withdraw and not complete. We delivered a blueprint to closing the gap using a whole systems approach to academic and social integration.

Problem

In America’s postsecondary education system, underrepresented and low-income students have consistently worse outcomes when compared to the higher-performing sub-population. For example, white students have a 64% chance of graduating within six years, compared to 54%, 40%, and 39% for Black, Latinx and Indigenous students. The reasons for this equity gap are historical and pervasive, and manifest as poor college readiness, tremendous financial burden, and a system poorly designed to meet their needs.

Solution

We have worked with postsecondary and other stakeholders to engage with the root causes of inequity in higher education by equity auditing processes, data collection, policies, technologies, epistemology, and teaching practices. We supported our clients to name, and engage the overt, entrenched, and insidious systemic issues which lead to biased institutional processes and education systems.

Impact

Paritii helped our client to identify why underrepresented students disproportionately drop, fail, incomplete, or withdraw from postsecondary education, and how to improve retention in a manner that actually addresses the root cause. Our retention solution involved academic and social integration within the college experience. This solution addressed the bridge to collegiate academic and social life, building of social capital, culturally responsive value systems. Our solutions engaged multiple levels and stakeholders, including policy, institutions, technologies, faculty and students.

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