Daily Lumina News 102821

Many colleges and universities are working to lure back some of the 36 million Americans who left college without earning a degree. They're focusing on adult students—and building better programs for people of color, first-generation students, and others.
While the reasons vary for wanting to get students back—including enrollment issues, racial justice and equity, and the demands of governors, legislators, and corporate partners—the message this season is simple: Welcome home.

Policies that deny students access to their transcripts because of college debt disproportionately lock low-income learners and people of color out of opportunity.
Colleges and policymakers have the power to change that, writes Sosanya Jones of Howard University in this op-ed.

As fewer men apply to college, several selective colleges and universities have higher acceptance rates for men than for women, federal data show.
Women now comprise nearly 60 percent of enrollment in universities and colleges and men just over 40 percent. Fifty years ago, the gender proportions were reversed.

Ryan Stowers of the Charles Koch Foundation says cost and inflexibility are two of the biggest barriers standing in the way of Americans getting the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their careers.
On this podcast, he talks about why postsecondary education must adjust to meet the dynamic nature of the economy and the needs of lifelong learners.