Graduate Students, Faculty, and Practitioners Address Challenges in Access to Higher Education at Policy Collaboratory

This year’s third annual Policy Collaboratory convened graduate students, faculty experts, and policy practitioners from across New Jersey to discuss challenges surrounding access to higher education. With parallel missions of providing evidence-based research to guide policymaking in New Jersey, the New Jersey State Policy Lab and SPIA in NJ, with support from the Rutgers Democracy Lab, worked together to plan this Collaboratory with an emphasis on student engagement.

At a moment when pathways to obtaining a college degree are complex, the Collaboratory created a dynamic space for rigorous analysis and policy development. This year’s focus on access to higher education included diverse perspectives on affordability and financial aid, coursework and curricular pathways, student support services, and transfer pathways.

The Collaboratory took place in New Brunswick on March 25, 2026, kicking off with a keynote address by Robert Kim, Executive Director of the Education Law Center. Next, a panel of experts laid the foundation for the students’ work of developing policy proposals for New Jersey.

Afterward, graduate students from Rutgers, Princeton, Seton Hall, and Montclair State universities worked in cross-institutional teams to examine barriers that limit opportunities to access higher education, particularly for historically underrepresented communities. Each group of students brainstormed potential solutions, ultimately presenting policy proposals to representatives of the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, noting real-world implications for the state. Vance Stephens, Director of Policy at the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE), applauded the students’ presentations and identified current efforts to expand access in New Jersey. Proposals generated during the Collaboratory will inform ongoing conversations with state partners.

We are grateful to the experts who shared their insights, including Vandeen Campbell, Assistant Research Professor and Associate Director of the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers University; Khristina Gonzalez, Senior Associate Dean  and Director of the Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity at Princeton University; Aramis Gutierrez, Assistant Vice President for Educational Access and Success  at Rutgers University; Vance Stephens, Director of Policy, NJ OSHE; and Jackasha-Janaee Wiley, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Access at Rutgers University. We would also like to thank Anastasia Mann and Thelma Carrera for their collaborative spirit, and SPIA in NJ and the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs for underwriting the networking event. We appreciate the logistical support provided by the staff at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, where the event was held.

Importantly, we owe a debt of gratitude to the Rutgers Democracy Lab (RDL) at the Eagleton Institute of Politics for funding this Policy Collaboratory as part of their Solving Grand Challenges program. Aligning with one of the core values of democracy—where power is derived from the people—this event provided an opportunity for students to collaborate in developing solutions to policy challenges confronting the state. On Thursday, April 23rd the RDL will hold the Rutgers Democracy Lab Showcase from 12:00pm-4:00pm at the Cook Student Center, where we will discuss our efforts with the Policy Collaboratory as part of a series of lightning talks. The showcase is open to all Rutgers faculty, staff, students, and the public, and registration can be found here.

The Policy Collaboratory demonstrated the value of bringing together diverse voices to tackle complex challenges and generate meaningful solutions. Through the collective efforts of all who participated, the Collaboratory built a network of emerging and established leaders committed to advancing educational opportunities.

 

Author

Elizabeth Cooner

Dr. Elizabeth Cooner is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Policy Lab, which conducts rigorous, nonpartisan research and analysis of policy issues facing the state with an eye toward equity and social justice. With more than twenty years of professional experience, Dr. Cooner has worked in higher education, survey research, and management consulting.  As the Vice President of Social and Public Policy at Louis Harris & Associates, she focused on policy issues related to health, well-being, and access to care. She also served as the Executive Director of Assessment, Planning & Research at Union College-NJ for more than six years and managed the Grants Department on an interim basis. Relying on evidence-based research to guide strategic planning, improve outcomes, and increase institutional effectiveness throughout her career, Dr. Cooner also worked at other educational institutions and research firms.  She has a doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from Georgetown University, and a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from Villanova University.

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