Illustration: Ron Coddington

Advocates for incarcerated students are concerned about proposed regulations giving the local, state, and federal agencies that oversee prisons the authority to decide which education programs will be eligible for Pell Grants.

Many higher education experts worry that corrections agencies are not equipped to evaluate the educational quality of the programs, and that prisons will limit the available courses because they’re more concerned with security than access to knowledge.

Proponents say virtual reality boosts student engagement and achievement. Others worry it may prioritize corporate profits and violate student privacy. 

As 10 universities—including Morehouse College and New Mexico State University—launch the “metaversity” concept this fall, the details are being worked out in real time.

Dual-enrollment programs help nearly 1.4 million high school students take college courses each year. It’s an opportunity that can improve college success and increase college credit accumulation and degree completion.  

But as dual enrollment grows across the country, access to the option is not distributed equally. Can better pathways help schools, colleges, and students avoid what many call random acts of dual enrollment?