Daily Lumina News 121523

An increasingly complex and changing world means creating continuous learning opportunities on a large scale and for all individuals, says Lumina Foundation's Jamie Merisotis.
On this podcast, Merisotis offers his unique insight on a wide range of topics, including the future of human work in the face of advancing technology, the critical need for collaboration in solving global issues, and what needs to happen in order to empower young people to create the future they deserve.

Guaranteed admission policies may be getting more attention these days, but they are not new. Texas implemented the first top 10 percent admission plan in 1997. And, even before the U.S. Supreme Court’s affirmative action ban triggered a new wave of concern over accessibility and equity, guaranteed admission was lauded for boosting applications from low-income students to selective institutions and improving access at four-year universities.
But the main beneficiaries of the programs are often overlooked: transfer students. That may be changing.

The United States cannot meet its higher education goals without changing the way it funds public colleges and universities, says a new report from Complete College America.
Among other things, the report suggests that states give institutions funding upfront to hit completion goals rather than rewarding them only after they meet their targets. The completion-goals funding model also includes both investing in proven success strategies and eliminating inefficiencies.

It’s not uncommon for state and local governments to focus on economic development. Attracting businesses and developing industries can provide infrastructure, housing, schools, and more.
But the approach at Hampton Roads Workforce Council in Virginia is different. It's bridging government with people, embracing “the human side of economic development.”

After three months of negotiations, higher education experts convened by the U.S. Department of Education are unable to agree on key elements of the Biden administration’s latest student loan forgiveness plan.
While negotiators found common ground with the department on facets of the agency’s proposal, the panel failed to reach a consensus on provisions that limit relief and eligibility. Here’s a breakdown of the process and what happens now.

Major college donors used to expect their name on a building or the ability to call in a favor with the admissions office. They often gave money toward the end of their life, as a bookend to a successful career. And if they wanted to sway school policy, they typically worked behind the scenes to get their way.
The turmoil at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University, however, illustrates a new playbook for how the wealthiest Americans are exerting influence in higher education.