Maximizing Student Success: A Student-Driven Platform for Higher Education Accountability

Abstract

Despite students’ personal stake in higher education, with significant amounts of time and money invested, policymakers have yet to incorporate students’ perspectives on policies that measure and respond to higher education outcomes, generally referred to as accountability policy. To fill this void, Young Invincibles set out to increase our understanding of what students think about accountability policy and provide policymakers with important insight when developing future proposals. We heard from a diverse group of highly engaged students across the country about their aspirations for college, who they consider responsible for success or failure, and how to design federal and state policy to ensure students are protected, institutions receiving public dollars are held accountable for their outcomes, and the larger goals of equity and mobility are advanced.