Here are some new resources and news for the field of higher education.
Number of Colleges Declines, While Credentials Awarded Rises The number of postsecondary institutions in the United States declined by 1.8 percent from 2014-15 to 2015-16, with all of the decline occurring in the for-profit sector of higher education, new federal data show.
New Federal Earnings Data Earnings data the U.S. Department of Education released Thursday show that graduates of certificate programs at public institutions earned nearly $9,000 more than graduates of those programs at for-profit colleges. (Inside Higher Ed, Nov. 18)
Free Community College: An approach to increase adult student success in postsecondary education, discusses the growing interest in free community college policies across state legislatures, addresses the limited potential of current policies to help states reach their completion and attainment goals and offers a new, inclusive framework for including adult students in free community college policies.
How to Train 1,000 Dual-Enrollment Teachers? MN State Has a Plan Stakeholders are finalizing a plan for getting more than 1,000 teachers the graduate credits necessary to continue leading college-level courses for Minnesota high school students in 2022 and beyond. (Pioneer Press, Nov. 14)
Why the Gap Between Minority and White College Graduates Is Growing The share of Americans of all races obtaining bachelor’s degrees has increased since the 1960s, but the gap in attainment between white students and black and Hispanic students has also grown during that time, according to a report released by the Department of Education Friday. (Market Watch, Nov. 20)
Postsecondary Institutions and Price of Attendance in 2015-16; Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2014-15; and 12-Month Enrollment: 2014-15: First Look This report provides cost, completion, and enrollment data on higher education institutions that participated in federal Title IV student financial aid programs such as Pell Grants or Stafford Loans during the 2015-16 academic year. (National Center for Education Statistics)
National Skills Coalition/State Workforce and Education Alignment Project On November 16 and 17, forty leaders from seven states met in Chicago to advance the use of data tools to inform state workforce development policies. The State Leadership Forum was part of the State Workforce and Education Alignment Project (SWEAP). With the generous support of JPMorgan Chase Foundation and USA Funds, NSC’s SWEAP is creating better cross-program information that allows state policy leaders to see how these programs can work together to meet employer skill needs, and how individuals can advance through these programs over time in the pursuit of post-secondary credentials and higher-paying employment.
High School Poverty Rate May Predict a Student’s Likelihood of Attending and Completing College Students from low-income high schools―those where at least 50 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL)–are less likely to enroll in postsecondary education, persist, and ultimately earn a degree than their more affluent peers.
