Lumina Foundation is committed to increasing the proportion of Americans with high-quality degrees, certificates and other credentials to 60 percent by 2025. |
| Eric Hoover, The Chronicle of Higher Education SHARE: Facebook • LinkedIn This week, federal lawmakers heard another round of testimony about the rocky rollout of the revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid. And once again, numerous damning details emerged. Specifically, officials from the U.S. Government Accountability Office shared findings from two new reports about the continuing federal aid crisis with members of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development. The findings and testimony provide the most detailed picture yet of the federal aid system’s failures—and how those failures are affecting students. |
| Dan Walters, CalMatters SHARE: Facebook • LinkedIn California’s Master Plan for Higher Education, adopted 64 years ago, envisioned that three systems— the University of California, California State University, and dozens of community colleges—would cooperatively, seamlessly, and inexpensively generate the educated citizenry and workforce a rapidly growing state needs. Things have not quite worked out as planned, observers say. |
| Kevin Carey and Sophie Nguyen, Washington Monthly SHARE: Facebook • LinkedIn As many colleges grapple with declining enrollment and intense political criticism, sagging public support for higher learning has become a journalistic given. But many of these articles are getting the story wrong. The polling data that form the basis for this narrative is far more limited and nuanced than the framing suggests. Here are five things to know about what higher education public opinion polls actually say and what they mean. |
| Jon Marcus and Kirk Carapezza, College Uncovered SHARE: Facebook • LinkedIn More than 40 million Americans have student loan debt. But should the government forgive all, or even part, of that debt? That debate has become a surprising source of political division. Opponents say student loan forgiveness is effectively a transfer of wealth from the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder to the top. Supporters argue that forgiveness provides relief to graduates struggling with the costs of repayment. That's especially true for millions of borrowers who have debt but no degree or credential. |
| Molly Minta, Mississippi Today SHARE: Facebook • LinkedIn For years, Mississippi State University's housing department has helped certain well-connected students secure spots in its newest and most expensive dorms, while the premium price tag pushes many less privileged students into the school’s older, cheaper halls. The confidential practice, known internally as “five star,” kicks into motion when donors, lawmakers, legacy alumni, and other friends of the university ask for assistance. |
| Jessica Blake, Inside Higher Ed SHARE: Facebook • LinkedIn Nancy Thomas is no stranger to conflict and controversy. But over the past year—amid attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; divisive protests; and mounting tensions over the upcoming election—the executive director of the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education has watched faculty concerns about managing complex conversations multiply. The American Association of Colleges and Universities aims to help with the launch of a virtual resource that advises educators on how to tone down vitriol and foster constructive dialogue. |
| Ramona Schindelheim, WorkingNation |
| Tamilore Oshikanlu, The Washington Post |
| James N. Fitzhenry, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |
| Patricia Mc Guire, Diverse Issues in Higher Education |
| Lillian Hernández Caraballo, Central Florida Public Media |
| American Council on Education |
| Ashley Mowreader, Inside Higher Ed |
| Emma Hall, The Sacramento Bee |
| Alcino Donadel, University Business |
RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY |
| Linda Dale Bloomberg, Teachers College Press |
| Alex Mann, The Baltimore Sun |
| Danielle McLean, Higher Ed Dive |
| Aya Waller-Bey, Detroit Free Press |
| Matt Hartman, The Assembly (North Carolina) |
| Briana Falduti and Ryan Reyna, Education Commission of the States |
| Mikhail Zinshteyn, CalMatters |
| Nimisha Srikanth, The CT Mirror (Connecticut) |
| American Council on Education, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and Imaginable Futures |
| Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis |
|
