Here are some new resources and news for the field of higher education.
Stepping-Stone or Off-Ramp? The idea behind stackable credentials is that seamless academic programs—ranging potentially from six-credit certificates to terminal degrees—allow students to leave higher education for a job and then return later, with their credits counting toward the next certificate or degree. (Inside Higher Ed, Oct. 12)
Lumina Revises Plan for Completion Push The Lumina Foundation released a revised strategic plan for achieving its goal of 60 percent of Americans holding a college degree, certificate or other high-quality credential by 2025. The foundation has released a new plan every four years since first proposing the goal in 2008. (Inside Higher Ed, Oct. 17)
Report: Minority Students Overrepresented in Less Selective Colleges A new analysis from the Center for American Progress shows black and Latino students are overrepresented in the country’s most selective public research universities. (Inside Higher Ed, Oct. 13)
State-Federal Partnerships in Postsecondary Education Education Commission of the States is coordinating the creation and dissemination of a series of policy briefs focused on the interaction between state- and federal-level policies pertaining to higher education, with a public release event likely scheduled for early 2017. These issue briefs are composed by a diverse collection of notable educational policy and thought leaders representing state and federal perspectives from both a public and private sector viewpoint. Topics include, but are not limited to, financial aid, data policies, the “triad,” and workforce needs.
Gallup Gauges Graduate Degree Holders’ Views Three-quarters of recipients of graduate degrees said their graduate program was worth the cost and that they were applying the knowledge and skills they gained in the program in their jobs, according to a Gallup study of Americans with graduate degrees. (Inside Higher Ed, Oct. 13)
MO Pushes Initiative for Students to Take More Classes and Graduate Quicker In an attempt to address college affordability, Missouri rolled out a new initiative Wednesday morning, flanked with the legislature’s support. The “15 to Finish” initiative encourages college students to take 15 credit hours each semester, increasing their odds of graduating on time and leaving college with less debt. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Oct. 13)
