Policy Punchline

Dr. Parminder K. Jassal is an educational researcher and reformer. While she is currently the CEO of Social Tech Inc., a public benefit corporation trying to increase educational access, her career has also taken her through the ACT Foundation, the Institute for the Future, and a number of large private corporations. Her own educational story traverses through both India as well as the American public education system where she has experienced both the 2-year and the 4-year system which have helped shape the ways in which she seeks to expand access for other learners. Throughout this interview we explore many of the broader issues in higher education. These range from the economics of offering Introduction to Microeconomics online, the demographic changes being undergone by the student body, and the unique role that community colleges have to play in the coming changes to higher ed. We do eventually focus on the underserved group she has spent the most time trying to help - working students. These students