As a new college president, Lori White noticed that among the various organizations and consortiums of college presidents there wasn’t one solely dedicated to promoting antiracism. She wanted to change that reality. So, a few months after becoming president of DePauw University, she formed such a group for liberal arts colleges. 

The Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA) includes 53 liberal arts college members whose goal is to collectively address issues of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion on their campuses.

The advent of COVID-19 is spurring innovation across higher education. But there is a common thread between the initiatives succeeding better than others: a focus on getting learners back into the workforce as quickly as possible. 

Three efforts in various stages of development offer updates on their progress to connect the education and work marketplace.