With the goal of improving the college admission application process for all students, more than 80 public and private colleges and universities, including Cornell, have joined together to form the Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success.

The participating colleges and universities hope to make the college admission process a more engaged, ongoing and educationally reaffirming experience, and to motivate a stronger college-going mindset among students of all backgrounds, especially those from low-income families or underrepresented groups.

Coalition members include public universities with affordable tuition and need-based financial aid for in-state residents, and private schools that provide sufficient financial aid to meet the full demonstrated financial need of every domestic student they admit.

The member institutions, including all eight Ivy League schools, are committed to making college affordable and accessible for students from diverse backgrounds, and to their students’ success in completing their education. Coalition schools graduate at least 70 percent of their students within six years, with many having much higher graduation rates.

The coalition continues to add members and is working to develop ways to address many of the barriers preventing students from attending college or successfully earning a degree. Among its initiatives is developing a free platform of online tools to streamline the experience of planning for and applying to college.

The initial version of the platform will be available to high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors beginning in January. It is intended to reframe the process of applying to college by encouraging self-reflection and long-range planning as students develop over the course of their high school careers; increase transparency in applications, admissions and financial aid; and level the playing field for all students.

“Cornell has been committed to access since its founding,” said Jason C. Locke, associate vice provost for enrollment. “The coalition’s goal of helping high school students begin planning for college early should not only ease the stress of the college application process but give students from all backgrounds a greater opportunity to select a college or university that best matches their interests and abilities.”

An application portal will be among the coalition’s online resources, and many member colleges and universities will begin accepting the application from students enrolling for fall 2017. The launch of the Coalition Application was announced to high school guidance offices Sept. 28.