Daily Lumina News 041024

Even though access to college degrees and high-quality credentials has increased, completion rates still need improvement. With more than 40 million Americans in the "some college, no degree” population, it's clear that the focus must now shift to supporting students—including adult learners—through every part of their educational journey.
Lumina Foundation's Courtney Brown weighs in on the strategies that are addressing the completion challenge, as well as the necessary changes institutions and policymakers must make to help students cross the finish line.

When a college shuts its doors, leaders must grapple with a very concrete logistical issue: what to do with acres of idyllic stretches of green space, ready-to-use facilities, and historic architecture that will soon have no occupants.
Often, a college sells off its campus. Other times, it’s more complicated. Several experts explain why this can be so hard to figure out.

Benard McKinley will soon be among hundreds of men and women attending Northwestern University's prestigious Pritzker Law School this year—but his path is unlike any of his fellow students.
McKinley got his bachelor’s degree through a Northwestern University program for incarcerated citizens and will be the first person from that program to attend law school. In this interview, he talks about his journey and how he hopes his success will inspire others.

The profile of the average community college student is changing. While two-year institutions still have significant populations of adult students and people who want to enhance their career options, there is a growing number of first-time college students, age 18 to 22, seeking a traditional college experience.
Today, there are also many students without stable or consistent homes who want a place to live while pursuing their education. Those realities are driving more community colleges to create residential options for students.

Amid a nationwide decline in college enrollment, schools and policymakers are being urged to prioritize student concerns, especially in conservative states like Indiana.
Findings from a recent Lumina Foundation/Gallup poll show college students want to be able to talk about different topics and viewpoints, rather than limiting what professors can teach.

On the eastern edge of the Permian Basin, stable paychecks and the chance to travel draw young people like Steven Vasquez into the wind industry. And once Vasquez secures an associate degree in wind energy technology, he knows he has a good shot of finding a job in the field after college.
However, qualified candidates like Vasquez are hard to come by because a lack of training programs and waning political support make it difficult to find new recruits.