Daily Lumina News 032723

Research shows that Black students are more likely to feel discriminated against than other groups, especially at institutions with less racially diverse student bodies.
Lumina Foundation's Courtney Brown weighs in on the importance of understanding the truth behind the Black student experience, the discrimination endured by students of color, and the solutions to give all students, especially Black, Latino, Hispanic, and Native Americans, the opportunity to succeed in an education beyond high school.

Too often, discussions about college affordability focus solely on traditional college-age, full-time students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree. But that excludes the millions of adult learners seeking to attain a credential that can help them get a promotion or pursue a new job.
These are the students who stand to gain the most if Congress permits Pell grants to cover quality, short-term workforce development programs, advocates say.

The difficulty of making a successful transition from school to the workforce remains one of the most persistent challenges in higher education. The outcome is bad for students and industries alike: a lack of social mobility and a lack of qualified workers.
California State University, Fullerton, is ramping up efforts to tackle the college-to-work transition with an infusion of new funding for projects designed to reshape career pathways for students.

Earning a college degree for student parents can have a transformative impact on their lives. However, a myriad of financial, academic, personal, and time-related hurdles divert their paths to graduation. Chief among these challenges: child-care costs.
A new report illuminates the caregiving needs and experiences of parents in college.

Southwestern Illinois College is partnering with Memorial Hospital in Belleville as part of a program that includes an apprenticeship component, which covers students' tuition and pays them for their time while they learn the skills and training to become "nationally credentialed" pharmacy technicians.
The unique certification provides a leg up for graduates, making them eligible for employment in all states and providing more opportunities for career advancement.

California has witnessed a surge in new teacher credentials in recent years, a reversal of the downward trend of the past decade.
The credit goes to a renewed focus on teacher recruitment and support initiatives, say officials. The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency also recently launched a work group to develop a teacher apprenticeship program in the state. But will these and other efforts be enough to meet future demand?