Shaersti Anderson, 19, is a single mother. She's also a full-time student at Parkland College in Champaign. The shift to online classes because of COVID-19 has been difficult for Anderson, causing added stress as she tries to juggle school work with taking care of her daughter.  

Nationally, student parents make up 26 percent of the total undergraduate student population, and half of those parents are single parents. Meanwhile, childcare availability on college campuses declined from 53 percent in 2004 to 22 percent in 2015. That lack of support leaves students like Anderson scrambling to keep up with the dual demands of being a student and a parent. 

As school districts search for ways to re-engage students after the pandemic, one district in California is finding success in a health career training program that has led to higher graduation rates, more students enrolling in college, and rave reviews from students and alumni.

The Oakland Health Pathways Partnership gives students hands-on job training and personal supports in a growing field, while helping to diversify the health care workforce where Blacks and Latinos are significantly underrepresented.

To encourage students and employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, West Virginia University is hoping to harness their desire for a more normal campus life. If it can reach targeted milestones of increased vaccination rates, the administration promises to relax certain restrictions and allow specified activities to resume.

To date, more than 300 campuses will require COVID-19 vaccinations for the fall. Many colleges, however, remain constrained by state orders and fears of pushback from their communities. Public health experts weigh in on whether voluntary vaccination thresholds like that at West Virginia University can work.