Daily Lumina News 100623

Black student fathers encounter unique challenges in obtaining a degree from a college or university. Seventy-two percent withdraw from their program; in addition, they work more hours and owe more in undergraduate student loans than their peers. Two barriers that particularly affect Black student fathers: the escalating cost of child care and a shortage of on-campus child-care facilities.
A new report explores these challenges and the programs that can provide valuable lifelines for young fathers as they pursue an education beyond high school.

This week, Melissa Gilliam was named as the next president of Boston University. The move is historic: Gilliam, a physician with a background in reproductive health, is the first woman and first Black leader of Boston's largest university.
In this interview, Gilliam talks about what calls her to higher education leadership and the challenges she'll face when she starts her new role in July 2024.

Carlos Sanchez took out an enormous amount of federal student loan debt to make sure his children could attend college. With about $160,000 in Parent PLUS loans, it's likely he will not pay them off (or qualify for debt forgiveness) until he's in his 80s.
For Sanchez and millions of other parents and caregivers, relief could come through a loophole in federal law—a loophole that may help them access a more forgiving payment plan and ultimately shed debts that might otherwise follow them for the rest of their lives.

More than 26 percent of today's undergraduate students, or 4.8 million individuals, are raising dependent children. Rates of basic needs insecurity are high across higher education and even higher for student parents, 70 percent of whom experienced food and/or housing insecurity in 2020 compared to 43 percent of students overall.
For parenting students, these experiences range from homelessness to being unable to pay full rent or utilities. Some colleges are stepping up with holistic supports and creative programs to help housing-insecure student parents thrive.

The Biden administration's new “gainful employment” rules should help graduates of vocational education programs earn enough to repay their loans. But will the rules stay in place?
Robert Kelchen, a professor and head of the department of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, weighs in with his thoughts.

For many Americans, paying for a college education can be hard to fathom. Even if there are multiple income-earners in their home. Even if they have enough cash to cover rent, utility bills and keep food on the table. Even if they don’t qualify for government assistance.
The University of Central Arkansas is testing out a solution it says will largely eliminate financial barriers to a bachelor's degree for families earning less than $100,000 per year. That could be crucial in a state like Arkansas, which has the 10th highest poverty rate and the third lowest rate of bachelor’s degree attainment in the country.