lead author, Brian Pusser of the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education—Read a summary of findings from the Emerging Pathways project, which seeks to identify the diverse needs and characteristics of adult learners, understand patterns of enrollment in credit and non-credit-bearing courses and offer advice to postsecondary institutions and policymakers committed to adult learners' success. (March 2007)

Read Illuminations PDF, a two-page summary.

by Peter Ewell and Marianne Boeke, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems—Learn why better student-tracking data would enhance efforts to help college students succeed and fill a critical economic need to increase the number of students who earn college degrees. (February 2007)

Read Illuminations PDF, a two-page summary.

by Sandy Baum, senior policy analyst for the College Board and professor, Skidmore College, shows how flawed calculations of independent students' financial capacity can jeopardize educational opportunities for those truly in need. Baum proposes a more reliable method of determining the subsidies required by independent students. (May 2006)

Read Illuminations PDF, a two-page summary.

by Alicia Dowd, assistant professor, the University of Massachusetts, Boston, reviews data-based benchmarking practices. These assessment efforts aim to improve student learning and help students complete their courses of study. (December 2005)

Read Illuminations PDF, a two-page summary.

by Thomas R. Bailey and Mariana Alfonso, Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University—Learn why an increased commitment to research on community colleges must play a role in strategies to increase student success. (January 2005)

Read a volume of essays solicited and chosen by the Council of Independent Colleges illustrating the range of institutional efforts that can influence access and success for low-income students. (October 2004)

by Jilian Kinzie, Megan Palmer, John Hayek, Don Hossler, Stacy Jacob and Heather Cummings—Review 50 years of changes in student demographics, admissions practices and shifts in public policies relating to student choice. (September 2004)

by Roberto M. Ifill and Michael S. McPherson—Learn why federally subsidized college savings plans seldom aid low-income families and may even penalize these families. (July 2004)

Read Illuminations PDF, a two-page summary.

by Edward St. John, Choong-Geun Chung, Glenda D. Musoba, Ada B. Simmons, Ontario S. Wooden and Jesse P. Mendez, Indiana Education Policy Center at Indiana University—The buying power of the federal Pell grant has dropped sharply as college costs have increased, reducing college access for lower-income students. What is the net impact of state finance strategies for higher education on college enrollment? (February 2004)

Read Illuminations PDF, a two-page summary.

Find out why tuition discounting—the strategic use of financial aid to lower the sticker price of a college education for designated applicants—may carry unintended, negative consequences for colleges and universities and some low-income students. (May 2003)

Read Illuminations PDF, a two-page summary.

by Peter T. Ewell, Paula R. Schild and Karen Paulson, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems—There is a growing need for more complete measurements of student success in the nation's colleges and universities. Learn why it is both feasible and desirable to develop a comprehensive system to follow students' progress. (April 2003)

Read Illuminations PDF, a two-page summary.

by Edward P. St. John, Glenda Droogsma Musoba, Ada B. Simmons and Choong-Geun Chung, Indiana Education Policy Center—Examine a program that has been shown to improve postsecondary opportunity for low-income students. (August 2002)

Read Illuminations PDF, a two-page summary (PDF).

by Samuel M. Kipp III, Derek V. Price, and Jill K. Wohlford—Learn why college opportunity is unequal among and within states and compare these differences by state. (January 2002)

by Barbara A. Hoblitzell and Tiffany L. Smith, University of California, Office of the President—Examine the effectiveness of the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits in helping students at a large state university system meet the cost of college. (November 2001)

by Raymond J. Wlodkowski, Jennifer E. Mauldin and Sandra W. Gahn, the Center for the Study of Accelerated Learning, School for Professional Studies, Regis University—Compare the success rates of adult students in traditional and accelerated college programs. (August 2001)

by Donald E. Heller, University of Michigan School of Education—Learn how student-loan debt affects post-baccalaureate educational and career choices. (June 2001)

by independent early-childhood consultant Teresa Vast. Explore features of higher education financing as potential strategies for financing a system of high-quality early care and education. (July 2001)

Supplementary technical report: A Financial Aid Need Analysis Methodology for Early Care and Education PDF by Teresa Vast and Sandy Baum.

Supplementary technical report: Assessing the Feasibility of Family Loans for Early Care and Education PDF by Jerry S. Davis and Jill Wohlford.

Supplementary technical report: Community Endowment Funds for Early Care and Education PDF by Helen Monroe

by Ronald A. Phipps and Jane V. Wellman, senior associates at the Institute for Higher Education Policy—Learn how campus officials can improve efforts to plan and pay for the infrastructure that makes technology work. (April 2001)