Daily Lumina News 012122

COVID containment. Declining enrollments. New supports for vulnerable students. By all accounts, the year of 2021 provided highs, lows, and unexpected learning lessons at every turn.
On this podcast, Danielle Douglas-Gabriel of the Washington Post, NPR's Elissa Nadworny, and Katherine Wheatle of Lumina Foundation look back and ahead at the big stories in higher education.

American adults consistently say they want shorter and faster work-aligned pathways to college credentials—and ultimately to career and economic advancement.
For the past year, Education Design Lab has been working with a group of the country’s largest community colleges to meet that need. The schools also are experimenting with new approaches to marketing, delivery, and support.

In an "Intro to Machine Learning" computer class last fall at the University of California Riverside, some students attended in person. Others joined remotely, tuning into the class on Zoom from home.
The class is one of dozens across the campus taught in what Riverside officials call RISE classrooms. The classrooms, if approved by the instructor, give students the flexibility to attend lectures in a way they’re most comfortable.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have for decades faced persistent funding inequities at both the state and federal levels. Research shows that HBCU students also experience especially high rates of basic needs insecurity.
The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice and The Center for the Study of HBCUs will address these and other longstanding inequities through a new pilot project designed to build capacity and support at 10 HBCUs.

Emmanuel “Manny” Escamilla grew up in a trailer park in south Modesto with a single mother battling a drug addiction. He often slept on the floor of the trailer next to his mother’s cot while they rented out their only room.
As a student, Escamilla would often visit Starbucks or McDonald’s for the free internet connection to complete his homework. Today, the now-college graduate is using his time and talents to inspire disadvantaged youth in Modesto.

An Olympic champion is encouraging students to take the plunge—into STEM.
Katie Ledecky, a three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer, wants kids to get excited about science, technology, engineering, and math. A new educational initiative from Ledecky, Panasonic North America, and Discovery Education aims to provide resources and support to ignite their passion.