Daily Lumina News 093021

Even before the pandemic, professors were playing a growing role in recognizing and responding to students’ mental-health challenges.
But online learning, which reduced students’ interactions with staff and peers, has turned many professors into mental-health first responders. Stressed and worried students, confined to their dorms or childhood homes, are confiding in their professors more than ever.

Following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020, many colleges and university leaders issued antiracism commitments and promises to improve racial equity and inclusion.
Bates College is one of those institutions. Recently, though, the school hit a big roadblock: Four staff members hired to lead racial-equity work left Bates within the past year.

The estimated number of American adults who stop out of college could be as high as 36 million. Many of these individuals are also paying off student debt.
Support is key to getting those who stopped out back into education, say experts and students alike. That includes financial, educational, environmental, and cultural support.

The word, "system," is often used to describe higher education. But it's not really a system and it's mostly controlled by the states.
On this podcast, three regional education reporters explain what's happening on the ground in higher education in three very different places of the United States.

Battered by enrollment declines and lost academic momentum among low-income students weighed down with fresh financial burdens from COVID-19, community colleges are redoubling their efforts to offer community-based opportunities to help current students—especially adult learners juggling classes alongside work and childcare responsibilities—continue their education.
The colleges are also using the outreach to encourage other residents to enroll and get new work skills, credentials, or degrees.

After joining a national network this month, Colorado community colleges will provide more aid and resources for their older students, better track their college success, and create degree programs leading to well-paying jobs.
The REACH Collaborative aims to address the needs and experiences of adult learners nationwide, with a focus on older Black, Hispanic, and Native American students.