The Biden administration has released a 200-plus-page proposed rule to try to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The effort has been subject to legal challenges for nearly the entirety of its decade-long existence.

In this interview, Alison Kim and Amy Marcalle of Swarthmore College describe what it means to live and study as an undocumented college student.

Congress is still debating the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, which includes a tuition-free community college plan called America’s College Promise (ACP). 

While the plan could be a game-changer in federal-state partnerships in higher education—one estimated to help millions of historically underserved students if all states participate—some experts and advocates warn it might not go far enough.

Illustration: Sam Kalda

The fall college-tour season is here once again. And for many prospective students—especially those who are first-generation and unable to travel—that means scouring institutions’ websites and social media to find the right fit. It also means taking virtual tours.

First-generation students weigh in on what they like and dislike about existing virtual tools. Their answers reveal a need for more human interactions, real-time Q&A opportunities, insights into the surrounding community, virtual sessions spotlighting clubs, and translation services.