PDA Event: Myths and Truths about Regional Public Universities

Regional Public Universities (RPUs) educate 20% of all undergraduate students each year and serve as anchor institutions for their regions. As a result of their access and student-centered mission, RPUs generate greater upward mobility than any other postsecondary sector, propelling people to the middle and upper classes. Despite the important role RPUs play in society and for their students, their contributions are often obscured by deficit-based myths and portrayals found in media coverage about the sector, research, and university rankings systems. During this webinar, we will use research and evidence to bust the myths about RPUs while describing their contributions to educational equity, regional wellbeing, and society.

Cecilia M. Orphan, Ph.D. is an associate professor of higher education at the University of Denver and Director of Partnerships for the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges. Her research examines how RPUs navigate the policy, funding, and legitimacy challenges they face while promoting their educational equity and regional service missions.

Andrew Koricich, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges and an associate professor of higher education at Appalachian State University. His research focuses on rural issues in postsecondary education, with a particular focus on rural-serving institutions.

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Sponsored by ASERL