What’s AHEAD Poll # 10: Closing Gaps in Higher Education Attainment

This report summarizes the results of a poll of members of the What’s AHEAD trend-spotter panel (n = 368). The panel is made up of higher education leaders, including alumni of the Executive Doctorate program in Higher Education Management at the University of Pennsylvania, and members of NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. We received 134 responses during the 9-day period in which the poll was open (May 10 through 18, 2016): 111 of 248 Executive Doctorate alumni, 20 members of NASPA, and 3 other higher education leaders. About half (52%) of respondents work at private not-for-profit four-year institutions, 20% work at public four-year institutions, 8% at public two-year institutions, 2% at for-profit institutions, 3% at non-US based universities, and less than 1% in administrative units (e.g., system offices). The remaining respondents (14%) work in organizations other than colleges and universities. More than a third (36%) of respondents hold positions that focus on administration, 26% on academic matters, 19% in student affairs, 4% in finance, and 15% in other areas. Additional commentary is available at https://ahead-penn.org/commentary-june-2016