Daily Lumina News 091420

For even the most seasoned voters, the upcoming election will likely be a challenging process. But for America’s college students, it will be especially perplexing. Young people are, by definition, the age group least experienced with the act of voting. Not coincidentally, they also are the ones least likely to cast ballots.
Colleges can help change that. In its fifth student voting honor roll, Washington Monthly lists the colleges and universities that are doing the most to turn students into citizens.

The fall semester is barely underway, but several colleges are already announcing their instruction plans for the spring. The bottom line, so far, is that few institutions will change their approaches—whether face to face, remote, or a mix of the two.
Experts point to several factors that could influence colleges' future plans, including the success (or failure) of the fall term and state restrictions affecting campuses.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Black and Latino people harder than other populations, both physically and economically. And with lost income and health concerns, many students of color have not re-enrolled in college this fall.
Southwestern University in Georgetown is trying to reverse this trend. That includes helping students like Alex Bell cover unexpected expenses and other bills so they can continue their education.

Community colleges serve diverse populations that include high school students in dual-enrollment courses, senior citizens, working adults, and traditional-age students. Building community among these varied groups of people in the age of COVID-19 can be a daunting task.
Against this backdrop, some two-year colleges are finding innovative ways to maintain or increase student engagement. At Northern Virginia Community College, for instance, students can enter a virtual lobby on Zoom that connects them with advisers, who then connect them with the services they need.