Advancing College Diversity and Access Through Partnership

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the promises and challenges of partnerships as a vehicle for advancing diversity and inclusion in higher education. Designing, implementing, and evaluating intentional partnerships gives all stakeholders an opportunity to advance their inclusion efforts while reimagining the relationship between community and higher education institutions. Moreover, it organically centers the voices of those most impacted by social injustice and systemic inequities. This chapter provides an overview of the Lawrence2College initiative of the Merrimack College Community Engagement Program in partnership with a local nonprofit organization, SquashBusters. Through this initiative, graduate students in the Master's Program in Community Engagement provide mentoring and support to urban high school seniors with a focus on the college application process. The chapter describes how Lawrence2College advances diversity and access in higher education. The chapter offers recommendations for building partnerships that support access to higher education for underrepresented youth.