Daily Lumina News 110923

Whose degrees—and which degrees—matter for defining first-generation status? The question is timely. Since the U.S. Supreme Court barred the consideration of applicants’ racial status this past summer, colleges have talked a big game about doubling down on various markers of student disadvantage, including Pell Grant eligibility and whether they are first generation.
The challenge is that one college’s definition of a first-generation student might not look like another’s.

Graduates from one of the most unusual community colleges in the country will soon receive guaranteed admission to campuses in the California State University system. But first, they need to be released from prison.
The nation’s largest public university system is developing a new college transfer program with Mount Tamalpais College, which is located within San Quentin State Prison. The private two-year college is the first accredited institution created within a state prison.

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to strike down the use of race in college admissions sent shock waves through higher education, forcing universities and colleges to re-evaluate what information they can ask from applicants while still building a racially diverse campus.

Now, senators are taking fresh aim at legacy and donor preferences for admission to college with a new bipartisan bill that aims to end the controversial practice.

The urgency of addressing climate change isn't just an environmental call to action; it's a societal reckoning that demands solutions capable of reshaping the world.
So, what should an inclusive green economy look like, and how we can get there? And what qualifies as a green job today and tomorrow? A new multimedia digital magazine explores these questions and more.

As a child, Natalie Jones lived in Boston, a granddaughter of Italian immigrants. Her family worked hard, but no one expected Jones to go to college. Her mother’s education had stopped at eighth grade.
Her family's focus on work over school determined the direction of Jones' life from an early age. Decades later, as a single parent, Jones would overcome the conviction of "not being college material" and design her life's “third act,” pursuing multiple degrees while caring for her sons—and fulfilling a quietly held dream.

An internship can be a useful and valuable tool to prepare college students for careers. Among other things, internships provide opportunities to explore future jobs, while supplementing classroom learning with hands-on experiences.
But it takes more than luck to ensure internships really pay off. Colleges can play a key role in making that happen, experts say.