Daily Lumina News 042123

Lawmakers in at least 19 states have introduced bills in the current legislative sessions that would restrict colleges’ efforts to improve diversity, equity, or inclusion, with six states proposing to ban DEI offices or staff altogether.
What does this mean for those who work in a diversity, equity, and inclusion office on a college campus in 2023? Four administrators, in both red and blue states, share what they do and what they’re thinking about at this critical time in their field.

An apparent chill has fallen over the Sunshine State, with many faculty members at Florida's colleges and universities up in arms at legislation that threatens their research, teaching, and employment. But students are upset, too.
Students in Florida offer their thoughts on how the higher ed "reforms" being put forward by Gov. Ron DeSantis will impact their college experiences.

Research shows that higher education programs in prisons reduce recidivism. And the higher a degree incarcerated people earn, the less likely they are to re-offend, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Colorado, which has the fourth-highest recidivism rate in the United States, is now taking one of the boldest steps of any state to incentivize people in prison to get a credential.

There are 600,000 fewer Black learners in college today than a decade ago, resulting in devastating lost opportunities.
Today, leaders are sounding the alarm. A bipartisan, nationwide network of 26 CEOs, college executives, state and federal officials, and business and philanthropic leaders is committing to level up efforts for Black learners with a series of urgent steps.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of veterans use GI Bill benefits to pay for college or other educational programs. The funding is meant to be a recruitment tool, an acknowledgment of their service, and a springboard to help soldiers transition back into civilian life.
But for thousands of veterans, their post-military lives have been disrupted by poor experiences at for-profit colleges accused of defrauding students.

Natasha Gutierrez had covered a lot of rocky territory by the time she turned 23 and hit a personal low, addicted to drugs and fed up with her life. Five years later, Gutierrez is on different track—a perfect GPA and one year away from earning an associate degree.
Her vision for the future has become sharper thanks in part to Colorado's "Finish What You Started" program, an effort that helps students overcome financial obstacles and academic anxieties so they can return to school and finish their degree.