Photo: Valeria Olivares

It's been a tumultuous year for defenders of anti-racism in higher education. Between 2022 and 2023, government entities introduced 57 measures to restrict the teaching of critical race theory in colleges and universities. Forty bills were brought up to limit diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. And the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the use of affirmative action in college admissions.

Experts warn that conservative attacks on higher education aren’t going away any time soon. They may be getting worse.

Mental health issues are increasingly prevalent among today's college students—and it's forcing schools to think more creatively about what they can do to meet the demand.

One institution is taking a unique approach to mental health. It has created a program designed to address student distress before it manifests into a crisis. Jim Gash of Pepperdine University explains more in this interview.

Illustration: Sam Green

Sometime after the spring of their sophomore year of high school, the mailboxes of college-bound teenagers begin filling with college brochures. The glossy pamphlets promise dynamic teaching, caring professors, expanded horizons. Campus visits repeat the drill, with guides citing statistics on robust undergraduate research and experiential learning opportunities.

The message: We care about your education. Good teaching is important to us. But is it?