Facilitating Postsecondary Access for Rural Residents

• In Event: College Access and Geography

Abstract

While the gap has decreased in recent years, high school graduates from rural areas are still less likely to attain college degrees than their urban or suburban peers. To better understand how college administrators perceive and respond to this gap, we employ critical rural theory to analyze data from interviews with professionals working throughout Tennessee’s higher education system. Our preliminary findings suggest that college-going culture varies by region and county, that community and technical colleges describe employing community-focused recruitment strategies, and that colleges facilitate rural postsecondary access through establishing branch or satellite campuses and emphasizing short-term vocational programming. Our findings are relevant for policymakers seeking to increase postsecondary attainment and administrators seeking to recruit and support rural students.

Authors

• Cara DeLoach, Vanderbilt University

• Adela Soliz, Vanderbilt University