Dear Colleagues:
In today’s issue of Inside HigherEd, Tom Allison discusses recommendations about tools for helping students compare college costs and outcomes. Tom co-wrote a report with Healey Whitsett for the Pew Charitable Trust, a report that describes best practices on how to design and deliver information to help prospective college students investigate the best programs available for them. While the report focuses on electronic systems and does not address the full range of postsecondary options for adults, the recommendations and practices are applicable to adult education programs. Here is some of what he has to say:
1. Use the tools that are already out there: College Navigator (government website) and College Results Online (nonprofit website)
2. Target efforts at students from low-income families. They’re less likely to spend time searching for information. [Or have the time and technology to do this. cz]
3. Too much information in one place overwhelms the reader.
4. Personally relevant information is more likely to be understood, retained, and used.
5. Students are unable to identify how much money they take out in student loans so forms that simplify this information are key.
6. Too many choices overwhelm and discourage students. Compare a limited set of schools and majors.
For all the details and links, read Designing a Federal Ratings Tool by Tom Allison.
Does this ring true for your students? How do you help students compare postsecondary options?
Cynthia (czafft@worlded.org)
Postsecondary Completion Moderator