Daily Lumina News 100223

In the 1980s, a working mom attending college was an anomaly. Today, there are nearly 4 million college students with children.
Too often, parenting students are left to figure out their pathway to and through college on their own. Public policies and programs that assist student parents both inside and outside of the classroom and hold schools accountable for ensuring value can help.

Elizabeth Clews was taking classes at a community college, working a full-time job at the local mall, and living in a Toyota Camry with her baby when she learned that she no longer qualified for financial aid.
To qualify for financial aid, students must maintain a certain grade-point-average. But many don’t because of unforeseen hardships. About 120,000 students across California’s colleges and universities lose their financial aid because they can’t meet these academic requirements. A new bill aims to give them another chance at aid.

At this time of the year, many high school seniors are beginning to apply to college. But just outside of Cleveland, Ohio, one senior is on track to graduate with a high school diploma and three college degrees under his belt.
That impressive achievement is due to the dual enrollment program at Lorain County Community College. In this interview, two leaders at the school discuss how the college’s bachelor’s programs provide pathways for dual enrollment graduates.

The U.S. government is making massive investments to update America’s infrastructure so that the country can meet some of the biggest challenges of this century: confronting climate change, improving economic competitiveness, and safeguarding the nation's supply chain.
But the dollars will only go so far if we lack the skilled workforce needed to fill the newly created positions. America’s community colleges are key to addressing this challenge—if we invest in them properly.

After protests over racial justice disrupt a college, college leaders often respond by announcing new policies and programs that they say will improve the experiences of students of color. But months and years later, many students say little has improved. Soon enough, there are more protests and demands for change.
A new report shares insights about ways students and senior administrators define the term racial climate and what they identify as key factors for advancing racial justice on campus.

“Gateway courses” are supposed to clear the path to fields of study, but for millions of students who struggle in those key classes, they often shut the door prematurely.
This episode of The Key explores early efforts to develop courseware for 20 high enrollment courses that can make or break whether students from all backgrounds persist and ultimately complete their degree or credential.