Interview at DC alumni event introduces USC’s College Access Blueprint
USC President C. L. Max Nikias led a group of trustees and university leaders to the nation’s capital on April 26 for a series of meetings with legislators. In the evening, he hosted USC’s annual reception for more than 200 alumni, elected officials and political staffers. This year the university revamped its alumni reception to promote the release of its Blueprint for Expanding the College Pipeline. Nikias engaged in a discussion about college access with Politico’s co-founder and editor-in-chief, John Harris.
Nikias highlighted the success of USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative, its USC Rossier-affiliated charter schools and the university’s recruitment of community college students. Together, these programs add hundreds of low income and first-generation students to the college pipeline every year. With the success rate of 98% of students graduating from the Neighborhood Academic Initiative program and around 1/3 of students qualifying to attend USC, the university’s track record proves these programs produce positive results. Nikias also called on USC’s peer universities to make a similar impact in their respective communities.
The report was produced with the USC Rossier School of Education and its Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice, which examines the perspectives and experiences of marginalized students.
Nikias also answered the question all parents ponder; why higher education’s tuition consistently rises above the inflation rate year after year.
This event took place on April 26, 2017. The full interview was recently released. You can watch it here: