Even as vaccine rollouts allow many institutions to resume in-person instruction, the need for low-cost and reliable high-speed internet and web-enabled devices remains crucial to students completing assignments, studying for exams, communicating with professors and classmates, and participating fully in higher education, says a new report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy.

This is especially true for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds, who are more likely to face barriers to accessing reliable technology, the report notes.

Illustration: Rob Dobi

Legacy admissions have long been a target for reform. Last week, Colorado became the first state to do away with that admissions boost when Gov. Jared Polis signed a ban on the practice into law. The governor also signed a bill removing a requirement that public colleges consider SAT or ACT scores for freshmen.

Both moves are aimed at making higher education access more equitable. According to the legislation, 67 percent of middle- to high-income students in Colorado enroll in bachelor's degree programs straight from high school, while 47 percent of low-income students do. There are also major differences when it comes to race, with white students far more likely to enroll in college.

Illustration: Dominic Kesterton

When Elijah Megginson started to be recognized as a promising student, he was told, “You’re smart and you’re from the projects; colleges will love you.” But Megginson didn’t want to focus on the hardships he faced when applying to college. 

In this essay, Megginson talks about resisting the pressure to sell his trauma to college admissions officers and focus instead on other elements of his life.