Daily Lumina News 071822

Too often, schools focus on inputs—on the time and effort invested in educating students. They highlight the hours that a student spends in the classroom or that faculty members devote to delivering classes.
The amount of time and effort committed to teaching students is certainly important to those who labor in universities and colleges. But it’s not as important to the students and parents who fill the classrooms and write the checks. They want to know what they will have to show for the time and money spent on college.

Emerging green technologies and support for green initiatives translate into a new need for workers with green skills.
In Indiana, demand for green jobs is strong, with positions spreading across multiple industries. A new report explores how individuals, employers, educators, and policymakers can take advantage of Indiana's green future.

Thanks to student advocates, the University of Wisconsin at Madison recently became the latest in a growing number of colleges with disability cultural centers, which aim to shine light on the perspectives and experiences of disabled people, foster a sense of community, and promote activism and disability justice.
Altogether, at least 12 disability cultural centers now exist nationwide; in addition, students are working to create new centers on about a dozen other college campuses.

LaCrese Smith is the first person in her family to earn a college degree. Once an introverted student, Smith graduated from Morehead State University, works in the criminal justice field, and wants to be a federal judge.
Smith credits her success and perseverance to the support and resources provided by One Million Degrees.

For the first time in 24 years, Miguel Santiago met his family in Oaxaca, Mexico. He crossed the border to create an ethnography report on his heritage and see his grandfather before he passed away. If not for his status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the trip would have never happened.
DACA recipients like Santiago are anxious about the future. Those who hoped the program would turn into a path toward citizenship now find their legality in question.

Colorado is spending $8.6 million on a new initiative that will let the state’s seven rural community colleges share programs and services so students—no matter where they live—get a wider set of educational opportunities.
The group behind the initiative hopes to address some of the toughest challenges facing rural community colleges, including lack of programs, failing infrastructure, difficulties recruiting faculty, and challenges attracting students.