Princeton Considers New Program For Underserved Students

The credit- or degree-granting program would extend the University’s educational mission

Nassau Street in Princeton as seen through the University’s main entrance, FitzRandolph Gate, in March 2020.

Denise Applewhite/Office of Communications

By Elisabeth H. Daugherty

Published Sept. 2, 2020

1 min read

Princeton is exploring the creation of a program that would grant credits or degrees and extend the University’s educational mission to underserved students.

President Eisgruber ’83 listed the possibility along with other moves his administration is considering in an effort to address systemic racism both in the greater world and just outside Princeton’s gates. Peer institutions already have continuing-education and outreach programs, Eisgruber noted.

“Princeton contributes to the world through teaching and research of unsurpassed quality, and we must continue to find ways to bring that mission to bear against racism, and against all of the discrimination that damages the lives of people of color,” he wrote.

Other moves under consideration include increasing the number of tenured and tenure-track faculty members from underrepresented groups by 50 percent over five years, increasing supplier and contractor diversity, and creating a committee to consider changing names and other campus iconography. Earlier this summer Princeton took Woodrow Wilson’s name off its public-affairs school, citing the former president’s racism.

2 Responses

Norman Ravitch *62

8 Months Ago

Offerings for Underserved Students

President Eisgruber named several things the University could do for students in this program. Personally I fail to understand why combatting racism is one of them. So long as Princeton no longer supports racism there seems to be no reason that combatting it should be part of this program.

John J. Wheaton ’78

3 Years Ago

Much To Offer

I'm a 1978 graduate who became a high school and a university teacher. This proposal to educate underserved students is wonderful! Princeton can offer young learners so many pathways to excellent education, through the efforts of the faculty and of the students — and the wonderful resources available on campus.

I hope this program has a wonderful beginning!

Incidentally, if anyone be curious, I was a reporter and co-managing editor of The Daily Princetonian. My A.B. was in Comparative Literature in English, Spanish, Portuguese and a little French. But, I also had two years of physics and math courses as a Tiger, so I am sure the Yniversity has much to offer eager learners.