ABSTRACT
Income inequality has increased significantly since the 1970s in America,with the share of income claimed by the top 10 percent, 5 percent, and 1 percent all having increased (Saez, 2013). At the same time, intergeneration income mobility has also stagnated (Reeves, 2014). These trends-rising income inequality and declining intergenerational income mobility-raise concerns about America’s commitment to equal opportunity and social mobility. This chapter will focus on the role that higher education can play in countering these trends, in particular the selective, private non-profit colleges and universities. Access to education has long been considered an important path to economic and social mobility. And many colleges and universities have long been committed to equal opportunity as part of their mission. Diversity of all kinds is also often considered important to the general educational mission, with different points of view contributing to learning in the classroom. But higher education leaders face significant challenges in increasing socio - economic diversity and countering trends toward greater income inequality and less intergenerational income mobility. These challenges and possible ways forward will be examined.
