The University and other state universities nationwide are failing to provide adequate access to minority and low-income students, according to a study by the Education Trust.
The study examined flagship public universities from each state, rating financial aid practices toward minority and low-income students, said Danette Gerald, senior research associate for the Trust and co-author of the report.
"We wanted to use flagship universities to highlight the inequities in higher education," Gerald said. "Since these schools are public institutions, they have a special responsibility to serve the citizenry of their state."
The study found many universities are making decisions that favor high-achieving, financially secure students by giving merit aid to them, rather than giving money to students who need financial assistance in order to continue their education, Gerald added.
"Many high-achieving students who receive aid are in higher income brackets and have the best access to better schools and programs such as SAT prep classes and [Advanced Placement] classes," Gerald explained, noting that low-income students may not have had these advantages.
Institutions "need to take into account these types of factors when they are considering grant aid" Gerald added.
Education School Dean David Breneman noted the problem has resulted in part for increased selectivity in the flagship schools over the past few years.
"Selectivity of these schools has risen fairly significantly in the last five years, and the core issues is that academic records of achievement
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