Photo: Latino College Prep Academy

The good news: More students of Latino descent are applying, attending, and graduating from public colleges and universities in California, according to a new report by the Campaign for College Opportunity.

The bad news: Much more work needs to be done to ensure their success. This includes expanding financial support and streamlining transfer pathways, the report states.

Colleges large and small are finding themselves inundated with requests from companies hoping to recruit students. The demand is a major reversal from earlier in the pandemic when internships were cancelled in droves and job offers to new graduates fell.

In many ways, the ball now rests in the students’ court, leaving companies to figure out how to differentiate themselves to stay competitive and recruit the talent they need. 

Each year, millions of students who receive federal financial aid are required to undergo an additional review of their financial information by the Department of Education called verification, a process that has proven to be burdensome for both students and institutions.

College access advisors and financial aid administrators say data sharing and changing how the Education Department selects students for verification could go a long way in providing relief.