Here are some new resources and news for the field of higher education.
Student Enrollment: Gains in Minority Grad Student Enrollments. First-time graduate student enrollments were up 3.9 percent last fall from a year earlier, according to a new report from the Council of Graduate Schools. Each of the last four annual surveys has found that enrollment has increased, but 2015’s bump was one of the biggest since 2009. (Inside Higher Ed, Sept. 16)
Updated College Scorecard. ED released the updated College Scorecard to assist students in making informed decisions about college choices. Help high school students and families by making sure they know about the resource. Check out the quick and helpful video on the benefits of the Scorecard.
A Guide to Developing and Evaluating a College Readiness Screener. This guide describes core ideas for colleges to consider when developing a screening tool for estimating college readiness. A key focal point within the guide is a discussion of ways to improve how well a screening tool can identify individuals needing remedial or developmental education along with key considerations that a user or developer of such a tool must address. (Source: Southeast Regional Educational Laboratory at Florida State University)
Shaken By Economic Change, ‘Non-Traditional’ Students Are Becoming the New Normal. While colleges and universities have seen enrollment growth follow every recession since 1980, the boost in enrollment following the Great Recession was far greater than previous. And a growing number of those students enrolling are older, working, have a family—or all three. (NPR, Weekend Edition Sunday, Sept. 25)
A new Policy Analysis, Early College High Schools: Model policy components, defines early college high schools, clarifies how they differ from traditional dual enrollment programs, provides an overview of the structure and impact of early college high schools and outlines key model policy components to enhance high school and postsecondary outcomes for traditionally underrepresented students.
A new webpage on the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) website is dedicated to Advanced Placement exam credit policies at all twelve Illinois public universities. The page includes a brief overview of Public Act 99-358, requiring public colleges and universities to give students credit for any exam where the high school student received a score of 3 or higher. Each university’s listing includes links to all of the university’s AP policies and subsequent score charts.
