Daily Lumina News 040924

In 2022, Madera Community College became the winner of The Million Dollar Community College Challenge, an effort created by Lumina Foundation to help community colleges position their brand to gain the attention of adults who often have competing demands but could benefit from a college degree, credential, or certificate.
On this podcast, Madera's Dr. Angel Reyna discusses how his personal journey has shaped his commitment to serve students, plus the various ways his school is leveraging The Million Dollar Community College Challenge grant to foster a sense of belonging on campus and promote generational transformation.

Delays and technical issues continue to plague the launch of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, causing havoc and uncertainty among college administrators, students, and families.
College and university leaders now say they need more honesty and transparency from the U.S. Department of Education to rebuild their trust in the federal financial aid system.

The Biden administration has unveiled a new set of plans that would eliminate student debt for millions of Americans. If fully implemented, it will bring the number of borrowers who've seen some or all of their debt forgiven during the president's term to more than 30 million.
The new plan, aiming to supplant an earlier version that was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court in June, offers targeted relief to specific groups of borrowers, notably those who've carried debt for many years and those struggling to make payments.

Nomi Badboy’s journey—more than 12 years sober after nine bouts of treatment—has created a structure in her life that supports college success as much as it supports her well-being. Her peers in Minneapolis College’s recovery program understand that in a way few others can, she says, and she feels accountable to them.
Community colleges are increasingly embracing students who are recovering from substance use disorder, creating programs and tackling challenges like funding and staffing. Their involvement offers a path to access—and second chances.

City College of New York often serves as a nostalgic symbol of American higher education’s past. The college did not charge tuition for decades, and its students, many of them poor, went on to become Nobel laureates, chief executives, civil rights leaders, and more.
But it turns out the school that occupies City College’s original 19th-century campus, on the East Side of Manhattan, has done a fine job of living up to its predecessor’s legacy. That school is Baruch College, and it is an upward-mobility machine.

State financial aid programs across the country have varying levels of accessibility, affordability, and equity for students and plenty of room to improve, according to a recent report from The Education Trust.
The study analyzes 10 state financial aid programs and the key eligibility requirements that often create barriers for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and undocumented students to pursue college.