Insights & Outlooks
An In-depth Look at Student Enrollment Factors
A Q&A with Jonell Sanchez, Vice President of Education Solutions for The National Student Clearinghouse Insights & Outlooks: There is currently a ban on the creation of a federal student unit record system, but there is increased interest from policymakers in understanding student success metrics– specifically around persistence and...
The HBCU Leader Creating a Revolutionary New Model for Urban, Career-Based Learning
For most college presidents, converting the school’s football field into an organic farm would be a career-ending move. For Michael Sorrell, it was just the beginning of what has become a historic turnaround at the 147-year-old institution where he serves as president. Facing sagging enrollment, financial challenges and growing questions about th...
A Q&A with Andre Perry, David M. Rubenstein Fellow for the Brookings Institution
Insights & Outlooks: How did you originally develop a passion for education, both personally and as a career? What are the issues that inspire you most today? I got my first job in the summer of 1990 as a rising sophomore at Allegheny College in Meadville, Penn. The Pennsylvania Department of Education hired me as…
An Insider’s Look at Postsecondary Education in Louisiana
A Q&A with Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Commissioner, Louisiana Commission of Higher Education Today’s students are more diverse, older and juggling multiple demands on their time while pursuing postsecondary education. The complex lives of today’s students often contribute to challenges in their ability to persist through their program of stud...
Supporting First-Generation Students: The Power of Peers
Attending college as a first-generation or low-income student can be a difficult path. Though neither of my parents graduated from high school, they encouraged their five children to go to college. Thankfully, by the time it was my turn, I had four older siblings who had kept their promise to my parents — four mentors…
What “Persistence and Retention” Means for Adult Learners
In an era when declining enrollment looms large, and the demographics of higher education are undergoing an unprecedented shift. Colleges and universities are clamoring to attract so-called “nontraditional students.” But, while institutions are quick to market more flexible pathways to a degree, many still expect their adult, parent, and workin...
The Other Costs of College: Four Ways to Support Today’s Students Beyond Tuition
The idea of free college is currently dominating headlines and the 2020 Democratic primary race. And for good reason: Americans now collectively owe $1.6 trillion in student debt. But supporting today’s students requires more than plans for offering free tuition or debt relief. More students than ever before are now going to college. They are&h...
Transforming the Transcript
Flipping the Script: Making sure all learning counts. “I was worried I would not be able to find a job due to my lack of experience, inadequate resume and now, time away from the workforce. I continued to apply for work. To my dismay, my resume did not demonstrate that I was a strong enough…