Born of Necessity, Emergency Student Aid Should Become Standard Operating Procedure
In the wake of two years that have upended the financial and educational well-being of millions of students, emergency aid has become a watchword of the day for many higher education institutions. Once thought of as “point solutions” used by a relatively small number of colleges and universities, cash assistance programs are now increasingly commonplace…
Read MoreLack of Broadband Access is a Barrier to Our Pandemic Recovery
In Alabama, COVID-19 has our state colored red for a reason other than its political party representation. Our state is considered a ‘hot spot’ due to the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths. As our nation’s education system grapples with safe ways to re-open in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, communities where inequities…
Read MoreQ&A with President Lyle Roelofs of Berea College
Berea College, the first interracial and coeducational college in the South, focuses on learning, labor and service. The College admits only academically promising students with limited financial resources, primarily from Kentucky and Appalachia, although students come from 40 states and 70 countries. Every Berea student receives a Tuition Promise Scholarship, which means no Berea student…
Read MoreFor the Next Stimulus Package, Direct Aid to States for Public Higher Education
As Congress prepares for another round of stimulus legislation this summer, the unprecedented financial challenges confronting public colleges and universities remain a pressing issue facing lawmakers. There have been a host of disagreements on the best federal policy approach to help higher education, such as the appropriate funding levels and uses of the aid. These…
Read MoreA Q&A with Julie Peller, Executive Director for Higher Learning Advocates
Insights & Outlooks: Last month marked the 11th anniversary of the last reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). For HEA to better support today’s students, what are you hoping to see updated in the next reauthorization of HEA? Today’s students are now more diverse in age, race, and income level than any previous generation.…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreWhatever It Takes: The Student Success Renaissance at Paul Quinn College
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 a historic turnaround that’s occurred at the 146-year-old institution where he serves as president. Facing sagging enrollment, financial challenges and growing questions about the relevance of its mission,…
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