This growing alliance, called the American Talent Initiative (ATI), supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, brings together a diverse set of public and private institutions united in this common goal. ATI members will enhance their own efforts to recruit, enroll, and support lower-income students. Additionally, members will learn from each other and contribute to research that will help other institutions expand opportunities.

Launched in December 2016, the ATI was founded with a national goal of educating 50,000 additional highachieving, lower-income students by the year 2025. Based on the most recent federal data available, approximately 430,000 lower-income students are enrolled at these 270 institutions. ATI’s goal is to increase and sustain the total number of lower-income students attending these topperforming colleges to about 480,000 by 2025.

We are honored to join with the American Talent Initiative to strengthen efforts and create opportunity for people from all backgrounds.James A. Troha, president

“Juniata College is committed to serving students facing financial and social challenges while creating a learning environment where they can prosper and achieve their dreams,” says President James A. Troha. “We are honored to join with the American Talent Initiative to strengthen efforts and create opportunity for people from all backgrounds.”

Research shows that when high-achieving, lower-income students attend top-performing institutions, they graduate at higher rates. Additionally, access to those institutions increases their chance of attaining leadership positions and opportunities throughout their lives. Yet in each graduating high school class, at least 12,500 lower-income young people with outstanding academic credentials do not enroll at institutions where they have the greatest likelihood of graduating.

For a variety of reasons—including a lack of information about options, confusion about costs, and inadequate financial aid—many students lack access. ATI seeks to ensure these “missing” students have a path to attend and thrive at the institutions with the best graduation rates and track records for post-graduate success.

Juniata is among 12 Pennsylvania colleges and universities that are part of ATI, including Franklin and Marshall, Lehigh University, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania.