A Year in Review: Reflections on 2018 and the Year Ahead
As 2018 comes to a close, I can’t help but look back at what turned out to be a dynamic and fascinating year of developments in higher education policy and practice and look forward to the year ahead. As federal policymakers and advocates are working toward updating major laws—including the Higher Education Act—and regulations, consider…
Read MoreMy First-Gen Story: Navigating the College Experience and FAFSA
Editor’s Note: In this video narrative, University of Michigan graduate student and Georgetown University graduate Aya Waller-Bey discusses her experience as a first-generation student and navigating the federal student aid application process. This story is Aya-Waller-Bey’s video submission to Voices of Today’s Students, a national campaign to educate policymakers about the demographic shift and experiences of the modern higher learning…
Read MoreElevating First-Gen Student Success
Sarah Whitley is the Senior Director of the Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative between NASPA and The Suder Foundation, a small family foundation created by Eric and Deb Suder. Eric, a first-generation college graduate, was contributing to scholarship funds at universities around first-gen initiatives and found that first-gen students still weren’t graduating. The…
Read MoreBridging the Education-Workforce Divide: Perspectives from Kentucky and Virginia Champions Network Members
At a time when employees may change careers a half dozen or more times in a lifetime, the linear path from high school to college and employment is increasingly insufficient. Automation and the gig economy are changing the traditional career paths that defined 20th century America. Today’s students may need several entry and exit points…
Read MoreNavigating the New Higher Learning Landscape
Today’s students need access to a variety of higher learning programs that equip them with the tools they need to succeed in the evolving workforce. The linear path from high school to college and employment is increasingly insufficient: today’s students may need several entry and exit points to and through higher learning throughout their lives.…
Read MoreThe Strategy Behind Putting Hoosier Students First
When it comes to higher education in Indiana, Hoosier students always come first. Whether we’re developing a statewide higher education strategy or focusing on specific goals, student outcomes represent our measure of success. At the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, our job is to recognize the changing needs and demographics of Hoosier students and promote…
Read MorePutting Students First: What Does It Look Like in Policy and Practice?
From his time as a college president and a university trustee to his work as U.S. under secretary of education, few have had a more up close and personal view to the work of improving American higher education than Dr. Ted Mitchell. Today, he continues that work as the president of the American Council on…
Read MoreCreating Student-Centric Support Systems for Military-Connected Students
Prior to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, little focus was put on promising practices to support military and veteran students in their pursuit of higher education. With the passage of this comprehensive benefit in 2009, administrators at colleges and universities throughout the country began the mad dash of trying to find ways to best support…
Read MoreSeeing the Potential in All Students: A Q&A with Michele Siqueiros
Insights & Outlooks: As a first-generation high school and college graduate, what comes to mind when you think about the idea of putting students first? Michele Siqueiros: My mother comes to mind—she was always my higher education champion. She did not have the opportunity to attend college, but she encouraged my success early on. Though…
Read MoreCrossing the Finish Line: Research to Re-Engage and Support Students with Some College, No Degree
Millions of our nation’s students have accumulated significant college credit but have no credential to recognize their hard work. Roughly 4 million of these students are considered near-completers, meaning they have completed at least two years of coursework—often enough to earn an associate’s degree—and in many cases are just a few credits shy of the…
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