Members of Congress: Inspiration for Higher Education
Members of Congress represent thousands of constituents and introduce legislation to better serve them, including today’s students. Many of today’s students are parenting, working full-time or part-time, and financially independent and require updated legislation that speaks directly to their needs. This month, a few Members shared their inspiration for higher education with Insights & Outlooks,…
Read MoreToday’s Students: Inspiration for Higher Education
Today’s students are more diverse across multiple areas than any previous generation of college students. Students represent various ages, income levels, and races. They’re more mobile and may not live on campus. Most participate in the workforce, either full-time or part-time. Work and family responsibilities beyond the classroom—whether that is on-campus or online—often compete with…
Read MoreFrom the 101st Airborne to Tennessee’s State Higher Education Leader: A Fighter for Today’s Students
Like many of “today’s students” who are working adults and come from diverse backgrounds, Mike Krause had to fight for a degree. An eighth generation Tennessean, Mike joined the U.S. Army at age 18 after spending six months attending a local community college. He served a total of eight years in the U.S. Army and…
Read MoreThe Higher Education Act Reauthorization Needs to Focus on #RealCollege Students
When Congress reauthorizes the Higher Education Act, it must invest in a higher education system that leverages talent in order to propel innovation, create healthier communities, and fuel a more just economy that works for all. Doing so requires a clear focus on supporting today’s #RealCollege students. #RealCollege students know that it is easier to…
Read MoreThe Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act Is Essential for College Affordability
The month of September signals change. It is the beginning of a new season, and for many, it is the start of a new school year. One thing that has not changed, however, is the reauthorization status of the Higher Education Act (HEA). This act is essentially the framework for how institutions of higher learning…
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 MoreEncouraging State Higher Ed Investments through Federal-State Partnerships
As the nation prepares for yet another attempt at reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, it is crucial to remember the history of this seminal legislation as well as the current plight of public higher education and the reality facing students across the nation. In 1965, when Lyndon Johnson signed the original HEA into reality as…
Read MoreJan Yoshiwara: Channeling 1960’s Student Activism For 21st Century Change
Jan Yoshiwara counts herself lucky to have been in high school and college in California during a time of excitement, change and activism in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Her family had been detained in internment camps during World War II, and Jan understood what prejudice looked and felt like through the stories she…
Read MoreGuiding Today’s Students with Equity in Mind
Successfully navigating the college experience is not easy, particularly for today’s students. Knowing where and from whom to get help can mean the difference between success or failure for students of color and those with low incomes who are opportunity youth, adults, parents, immigrants, first-generation college attendees, or justice-impacted individuals. Students find that pursuing a postsecondary credential…
Read MoreCMT Shines Spotlight on Tennessee Community Colleges
I first heard about CMT’s “Empowering Education” initiative late last year when the country music network announced it would stage free concerts at four Tennessee community colleges this spring to encourage more Tennesseans to attend college. The concerts were targeted toward our colleges primarily serving rural areas where college-going rates are generally lower, and especially…
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