Daily Lumina News 010223

When Renee Perez has any extra money, she sets it aside for her five children. For the 38-year-old business information technology major at Texas Christian University, anything that isn't essential, like professional clothing, is a difficult purchase to justify.
She's noticed others in the Fort Worth business school’s orbit don’t seem to have the same concerns. Some colleges are taking note—and outfitting their students with professional clothing to help them prepare for the workplace.

Tucked in the mountains of northern California is the Hoopa Valley Reservation. It's the place Jada McCovey calls home. Soon, McCovey will leave her beloved place to go to college at the University of California, Davis.
For generations, many high-achieving Native American students like McCovey have been kept from attending prestigious universities simply because of lack of funds. A new program is trying to make amends so that the dream of higher education becomes a reality for more Native students.

More South Carolina college students are enrolling in education-related study programs, a possible positive sign as the statewide teacher shortage worsens.
Growth in the profession is key, but stabilizing the workforce is even more important. Many teachers leave within their first five years. That’s why universities say they are focusing on support, professional development, and creating hands-on experiences.

Some 48 million American adults struggle to read basic English. That may leave them unable to find and keep a decent job, navigate the signage on city streets, follow medical instructions, and vote. They’re vulnerable to scams and face stigma and shame.
The main remedy available is adult education: free classes where they can improve their skills, earn a high school credential, and progress to further education or jobs that pay a living wage. Some states are stepping up with solutions to make that happen.

David Tellez had to make a tough decision: continue attending community college full time, or focus on making money at work for his family. Like many community college students in the last few years, he chose the latter.
Since 2019, California's 115 community college campuses have lost about 300,000 students. What are those colleges doing to win them back? And what effect will the loss of thousands of students have on the state?

Vicki Hunter has been there. Once incarcerated, the 17-year Minnesota State University professor of sociology knows the hopelessness of prison. She also knows the power of prison education programs to change one's future.
Those experiences ultimately inspired Hunter to pay it forward—and to start an associate of arts program called Scholars Serving Time at three Minnesota correctional facilities.