The Relevance of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in the College Completion Agenda
Author: National Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Research in Education (CARE)
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Reports - Evaluative
Subjects: Equal Education,Higher Education,Social Justice,Educational Opportunities,Program Effectiveness,Asian Americans,Educational Change,Social Change,Pacific Islanders,Educational Policy,Public Policy,Institutional Characteristics,Family Needs,Research Needs,Student Needs,Strategic Planning,Accountability,Graduation Rate,Developmental Studies Programs,Theory Practice Relationship,Educational Attainment,Student Diversity,Demography,Investment,Change Strategies,Agenda Setting,Educational Improvement,Improvement Programs,Academic Achievement,Relevance (Education)

The National Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Research in Education (CARE), consisting of a national commission, research advisory group, and research team at New York University, aims to provoke thoughtful and actionable discussions about the mobility and educational opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in America's education system. With this charge, the CARE Project works toward three primary goals: (1) conducting applied research that addresses the exclusion and misrepresentation of AAPIs in the broader discourse on America's commitment to equity and social justice; (2) documenting the relevance of AAPIs to national higher education research and policy priorities; and (3) offering solutions and strategies to inform the work of key constituents, such as researchers, policymakers, institutional leaders, and the civil rights community. In this report, CARE focuses most intently on the relevance of the AAPI population to the national college completion agenda, which is undeniably significant for today's higher education reform effort. With this issue in mind, their research is guided by four propositions about education and social change. First, they argue that policy matters: it dictates funding priorities, resource usage, and federal, state, and local involvement in educational efforts. Second, they assert that institutions matter: what colleges and universities "do" with funding and resources has a tremendous impact on student success. Third, research matters: policymakers and institutional administrators need accurate, disaggregated data that present the real assets and needs of college students and their families. Finally, strategic action matters: now, more than ever, there is a strong public interest in institutional accountability. CARE is interested in identifying and studying areas of program effectiveness relative to the AAPI population to inform policymaking decisions. They challenge funders, policymakers, and higher education leadership to account for AAPI assets and needs when developing and/or building upon programs and policies. At the crossroads of domestic policies and competition in the global arena is the AAPI population, a national asset and opportunity to heed the call for a greater investment in diversity throughout the pathways, from education to the workforce. Data Source and Methodology are appended. (Contains 8 figures, 3 tables, 3 footnotes, and 35 endnotes.)