Daily Lumina News 072021

When Abdi Yusuf's family moved to Seattle, he finally began to find his footing. He dreamed of attending college to become a social worker so he could help refugees like himself. Thanks to Seattle Promise, a free community college tuition program, Yusuf is on his way to realizing his dream.
Advocates argue that Joe Biden's proposal to implement programs like Seattle Promise on a national scale could open doors to students who have historically been excluded from higher education and boost the economy.

The University of California announced last week that it is mandating coronavirus vaccinations for students and faculty members. On the same day, the University of Hawaii system nixed its vaccine mandate for the fall term.
The two announcements highlight the debate raging nationwide about whether colleges can—or should—require the vaccines even though they haven't yet received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Students facing complex personal circumstances and systemic barriers to opportunity need support services—including academic help, advising, mental health support, and career guidance—to persist and thrive in college.
Yet, those needs often overwhelm what a college's professional staff can offer. In the face of that shortage, some students are turning to an unexpected source of support: each other.

Historically Black colleges and universities are having a moment, one that many educators say is more than a century overdue.
There are star hirings and hundreds of millions in donations. But not every institution is sharing in the bounty—and some are struggling to survive.

A single mom with cancer striving for her college degree exemplifies the struggle of many adult students today.
These talented, resilient individuals—who at age 29 or 49 decide to invest in themselves—need schools, faculty, and staff to understand the pressures students face as they juggle classes, work, and families.

New research shows that many students are struggling when it comes to their post-grad employment search.
Michael Hansen of Cengage talks about what colleges and universities should be doing to help students better prepare for today's job market.