Photo: Erik Petersen

Imagine being told that your college degree from the University of Minnesota doesn’t count when you move to Wisconsin, and that you’ll have to pay to retake courses from the University of Wisconsin for your degree to be valid there. No one would put such a restriction on college degrees, but it’s common for teaching credentials.

An important piece of legislation is gaining momentum to solve this challenge.

In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the consideration of race in college admissions, selective colleges are suddenly under increasing scrutiny about just how much advantage alumni and donor children have in the admissions process, and whether those preferences are justified.

Two long-time higher ed watchers weigh in on the future of legacy admissions in a post-affirmative action world.

The number of older student loan borrowers has grown exponentially over the past several decades. Many of these borrowers hold debt for their own education, and they are disproportionately likely to be people of color, women, and financially insecure. 

Many have been in the student loan system for decades, unable to pay down their debt after not receiving a return on their higher education investments. Some attended low-quality programs, others did not complete a degree or credential, and too many have faced racism and discrimination in the labor market.