A National Rural Postsecondary Research Agenda

Abstract

The research agenda explores four critical focus areas to help build field understanding of the many factors influencing rural learner success — especially learners from low-income backgrounds — in postsecondary education and entry to the workforce. Each focus area is closely related to the others, aiming to explore the challenges and opportunities for rural learner success from different perspectives. The focus areas can be thought of like lenses into rural education — starting from the widest-angle view, with a look at institutions in their communities, and narrowing to a close-up on learner perspectives and experiences.