Class Dismissed

Reviews

“Anthony Abraham Jack powerfully illuminates the aspects of the student experience that exist beyond the gloss of the university brochure, showing how inequality reverberates both on and off campus and providing readers with specific frameworks for what equitable university policies could look like. Class Dismissed should be mandatory reading at every college in the country—for students and administrators alike.”—Clint Smith, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How the Word Is Passed

“Anthony Abraham Jack exposes the deep-seated inequalities that plague higher education and our society, elevating the voices of the most vulnerable students and daring colleges not only to listen, but to learn and transform. Class Dismissed is exemplary.”—Ibram X. Kendi, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist

“A masterful book that illuminates the dark corners of college admission. Jack tells the stories of students who are used for brochures to show a diverse population and how they are failed and left without resources by the establishments that once welcomed them. Class Dismissed reveals how deep the roots of inequality are, describing what happens when the safety nets provided to those in poverty disappear.”—Stephanie Land, New York Times bestselling author of Maid and Class

“Anthony Abraham Jack convincingly details—through meticulous research and thoroughly engaging writing—the distance between institutions’ stated values to support their students and how it plays out in practice. Class Dismissed is critically important and should inspire leaders to think about what it takes to get a diverse population of students through college at least as much as they think about getting them to campus in the first place.”—Adam Harris, author of The State Must Provide

“Class Dismissed offers a profound examination of how lower-income college students often serve as the face of university diversity initiatives yet are left to grapple with hollow promises and superficial acknowledgments of their needs. Jack’s discerning analysis not only sheds light on these issues but also presents an opportunity for tangible change in addressing the stark disparities within our educational systems despite our rhetoric of equity.”—Bettina L. Love, author of Punished for Dreaming

“If you work in higher education, I promise this book will make you uncomfortable. It highlights the painful equity gaps that remain for the most marginalized students on campus. Admitting these students is wonderful, but Jack reminds us that without a fundamental shift in how we serve them, we may be causing more harm than good.”—Angel B. Pérez, CEO, National Association for College Admission Counseling

“Improving access to higher ed isn’t just about touting your latest enrollment numbers. It’s also about meeting students where they are, as Anthony Abraham Jack vividly illustrates in this deeply reported book. Through a combination of engaging storytelling and rich insights rooted in research, Jack helps higher ed leaders understand the inequities that shape their campuses, and more importantly, shows them how to create inclusive institutions where students feel a sense of belonging, and ultimately a purpose to their education.”—Jeffrey Selingo, New York Times bestselling author of Who Gets In and Why and cohost of the Future U. podcast Expand reviews