THE EDUCATION CONSERVANCY: AN OVERVIEW

DESCRIPTION
The Education Conservancy (EC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that is working with leaders in higher education to overhaul college admissions policies and practices in the service of public interest.

MISSION
  1. To make the college admission system more student-centered and educationally appropriate for students, families, high schools, and colleges.
  2. To stimulate leadership that will align admission practices with education principles.
  3. To highlight the educational potential of the college admissions process.
 STRATEGY AND TACTICS
By providing a stage for system-wide review and reform, EC harnesses the research, ideas, leadership, and imagination of thoughtful educators, and delivers pertinent advice, advocacy, and services. Our work is directed to:
  1. Change public perceptions and behavior of students, families, and high schools by providing meaningful advice, guidance, services, and resources.
  2. Change institutional practices by raising questions, conducting research, orchestrating discussions, facilitating meetings, and developing policy recommendations.
  3. Identify and stimulate leadership by promoting colleges and practices that raise the ethical bar.
 FUNDING
Current grant funding comes from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, and the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation. The EC has also received financial support from more than 100 colleges, as well as numerous schools, school districts, organizations, and individual donors.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  1. The EC has facilitated conversations that are advancing changes in admission practices and the use of rankings.
    1. Beyond Ranking: Responding to the Call For Useful Information: EC is spearheading the development of a comprehensive, universally accessible, student-centered system for college selection. Initial meeting was held at Yale University on September 25, 2007, and was attended by 100+ professionals. As of 10/10/08, 31 colleges have pledged $150K to this project and the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation has offered a $300,000 matching challenge grant.
    2. Beyond Ranking Letter: Presidents and chancellors from 65 public and private institutions have signed an EC letter pledging to disengage from the rankings and work together to develop viable alternatives. A similar letter was signed by leaders of 20 highly selective Liberal Arts colleges.
    3. Early Decision/Early Action: Harvard, Princeton and several other colleges and universities have eliminated early admission programs; similar actions are being considered by more.
    4. Presidential Leadership and Cooperation: The EC sponsored a meeting of college presidents, "College Admissions in the Public Interest." The seeds of several president-directed projects emerged, and such projects are now being orchestrated by the EC.
    5. Training Tomorrow's Trustees: The EC director has spoken by invitation with three groups of college trustees to help them better understand admissions issues. Further meetings are being planned.
    6. Standardized Testing: Many colleges are evaluating and modifying the role of standardized tests in admissions. A national panel, informed by EC research, has recommended reforming the use of these tests in college admissions..

  2. The EC has conducted pilot research on how the current admission system affects student attitudes and behaviors.
    1. "College Admissions: What Are Students Learning?" was devised as an exploratory study to gain insight into student experiences and perspectives about the college applications process for high achieving students applying to highly selective colleges.
    2. The project was supported by the Spencer Foundation, Drew, Southwestern, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, MIT, ACT, and The College Board.
    3. The research findings suggest that many students are suffering as a result of the signals they are receiving through the actions and communications of colleges.
    4. The conclusions from the research are currently being used in the Beyond Ranking campaign to shape institutional and public policies and to direct national initiatives.

  3. The EC has built a network of champions from inside and outside higher education, has become the leading source for national media on college admission issues, and has used its support and attention to leverage and encourage action.
    1. Articles about the EC have appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Education, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, London Times, Los Angeles Times, Oregonian, Philadelphia Inquirer, Education Week, Business Week, Time, Hispanic Outlook and other outlets.
    2. The EC's director has delivered more than 100 speeches to groups of college trustees, college presidents, admission deans, parents and students, counselors, professional organizations, and has provided consulting to such groups. The EC has helped establish advocacy groups among deans, counselors, and parents.
    3. The EC's director has been an invited speaker on PBS's Newshour with Jim Lehrer, CBS's Evening News, NBC's Today, CNN, NPR, and various radio talk shows.
    4. EC's director has written articles appearing in numerous influential publications, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, Trusteeship, and The Times of London.
    5. The EC's director helped orchestrate the production of "Dan Rather Reports: The College Admissions Game." available at http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-6406218902352517896&hl=en

  4. The EC has become a leader in the field of admission reform by providing ideas, tools, and resources, and helping to establish standards that are being embraced nationally and internationally.
    1. College Unranked, originally published by EC and republished by Harvard University Press, has sold more than 10,000 copies and has been translated into Korean. A second book, How College Matters, is being discussed.
    2. EC provides a wealth of useful and free information via its website, such as "We Admit...Guidance From Those Who Do," a statement of guiding principles and advice for parents and students supported and being used by colleges, universities and schools nation-wide.
    3. More than 500 colleges, schools, and organizations have linked to the EC Web site.
CURRENT AND FUTURE PROJECTS
  1. CollegeSpeak Website: The ongoing development of a project launched during the meeting at Yale that will culminate in the building and hosting of a robust system of information, guidance, and interactive tools for students, families, and high schools.
  2. Building a Better Admission System: Grant awarded from the Spencer Foundation to support the first in a series of meetings that will envision an exemplary college admission system.
  3. How College Matters: A new book project designed as an exploratory narrative written around interviews with successful individuals.
  4. Ongoing Advocacy, Media Outreach, Publications, Presentations, and Meetings.
rev. November 2008