Marling named to group incorporating equity into admissions and financial aid

Dr. Janet Marling, executive director of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS), has been named to a commission aimed at redesigning college admissions and financial aid through a racial equity lens.

Marling is one of 21 panel members for the group. The commission was formed through a partnership between the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) with funding from the Lumina Foundation.

"I applaud the leadership of NACAC and NASFAA for convening this commission, committing to creating more racially equitable admission and financial aid processes, and recognizing the essential role of transfer in addressing the equity imperative," Marling said. "I am excited to represent the NISTS and UNG communities while collaborating with my colleagues in this critical work."

NISTS was founded in 2002 by UNG President Bonita Jacobs in response to a lack of professional development opportunities and research literature focused specifically on transfer students. The institute is based on UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

The panel aims to complete its analyses and release three sets of recommendations this summer: a guide for colleges centered around racial/ethnic inclusion, a related guide for postsecondary institutional leaders, and recommendations for federal and state policymakers for an equity-based college transition.