UA cloudflare authentication

Browsing by Author "Till, Garrett A."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Empowering Futures: Expanding Educational Opportunities in Alabama's Black Belt
    (2025) Katsinas, Stephen G.; Bray, Nathaniel J.; Till, Garrett A.; Fincher, Mark; Keeney, Noel E.; Lohrmeyer, Trinity P.; Vlacovsky, Henry N.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Halfway Home and a Long Way To Go: Bridging Persistent Poverty Gap in Alabama’s Black Belt
    (2025) Katsinas, Stephen G.; Till, Garrett A.; Peterson, Joscelyn; Keeney, Noel E.; Kelly, Patrick J.; Bray, Nathaniel J.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Healthcare in Alabama’s Black Belt: Impacts of Potential Medicaid Cuts
    (2025) Till, Garrett A.; Katsinas, Stephen G.; Bray, Nathaniel J.; Vlacovsky, Henry N.; Keeney, Noel E.; Ogunniran, Moses O.; Peterson, Joscelyn K. J.
    The evidence from expansion states demonstrates that Medicaid expansion is not only beneficial for public health but also economically advantageous. For the Black Belt, where healthcare disparities are most acute, expansion could be transformative, increasing access to care, creating jobs, preventing hospital closures, and injecting much-needed resources into struggling rural economies. As Alabama continues to navigate healthcare policy decisions, the impact on its most vulnerable communities must be a primary consideration. The health of the Black Belt reflects the health of Alabama as a whole, and investments in equitable healthcare access today will yield dividends in improved health outcomes, economic vitality, and quality of life for generations to come.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Uncertain Recovery for Community Colleges: Findings from the 2024 National Survey of Finance and Access
    (Montezuma Publishing, 2025-09-01) Katsinas, Stephen G.; Till, Garrett A.; Bray, Nathaniel J.; Keeney, Noel E.
    The 2024 National Survey of Finance and Access, conducted by The University of Alabama's Education Policy Center (EPC), draws on responses from state community college leaders in 45 states who possess broad knowledge across all educational sectors. The survey reveals concerning financial prospects for public higher education. State operating budget increases are projected below inflation (2.4% vs. 2.5%), with tuition expected to rise across sectors by an average of 2.3%. Community colleges show the strongest enrollment growth at 2.2%. Nearly half of the respondents cited recession as a major budget concern. A significant majority (63%) indicated that uncertain state funding threatens progress to improve access and completion. The slow FAFSA rollout compounds these challenges, creating a difficult environment for institutions supporting student success initiatives. These findings indicate a continuing pattern where the “high tuition/high aid” model fails to maintain affordability and access in economic downturns.