The traditional model of higher education just wasn’t
working for students of Paul Quinn College, Dallas, TX. The school’s solution
was to incorporate flexibility, experiential learning, and entrepreneurial thought.
Under the New Urban College Model, the first federally recognized
urban work college, participating students are employed for 10-20 hours a week
and earn an annual stipend of up to $2,000 each academic year. Since nearly
half of Paul Quinn students live at or near the poverty level, the institution
uses open-sourced course materials so students don’t have choose between helping
their families financially or buying textbooks. Varsity football was also
eliminated and the field turned into an organic farm, providing hands-on
learning and helping to feed the surrounding community.
The effort has driven down the cost to attend Paul
Quinn College from nearly $24,000 annually to just under $15,000 for
residential students. In addition, four-year loan debt averages are now less
than $10,000.
“It is irresponsible to tell students from poverty that
the way out of poverty is massive amounts of student loan debt,” said Paul
Quinn President Michael J. Sorrell, during his presentation at the ASU + GSV Education
Technology summit. “That is not right. We refuse to buy into that culture.”
The model has worked for Paul Quinn, which has been
called an emerging national leader by The New York Times.
Sorrell also earned a 2017 Social Innovator award from the Lewis Institute at Babson College for his efforts.