Photo: Brian Taylor

Even before the pandemic, college leaders faced a difficult reality: financial problems, campus conflict, and intense public scrutiny. Now they are making decisions about reopening in the fall that have potentially life-or-death consequences. How are they navigating the tough economic climate? What ethical considerations weigh most heavily on their minds?

Three presidents discuss how they navigate the crises hitting higher education, the imperative of taking action to combat racism, and the risk of emotional burnout.

With 2.3 million people currently behind bars and 77 million people with criminal records in the United States, a college degree is an investment with tangible returns. Yet despite all of the data, Congress has yet to lift the prohibition on Pell Grants for incarcerated people.

For people who have been involved with the justice system as defendants, prioritizing higher education is a necessary safeguard for social and economic success, both during and after incarceration.