Class Dismissed: How Covid-19 Exposed the Class Divide in Higher Education

Today we explore the hidden struggles faced by low-income students at elite colleges, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our guest is Anthony Abraham Jack, author of "The Privileged Poor," who sheds light on the often-overlooked challenges these students encounter. Jack's new book, "Class Dismissed," shifts focus to how external inequalities still affect students' college experiences. He argues that highly selective universities, despite their vast resources, often fail to support marginalized students adequately, prioritizing performative diversity over substantive help. Jack calls for universities to reassess their policies and genuinely support their most vulnerable students. He offers actionable suggestions for change - calling his new book both “a critique of what happened” and “an invitation about what could be.”

Higher Ed Spotlight is sponsored by Chegg’s Center for Digital Learning and aims to explore the future of higher education. It is produced by Antica Productions.