Here are some new resources and news for the field of higher education.
How Can Higher Ed Institutions Increase Access for High-Achieving, Low-Income Students? The report analyzed the shortcomings of higher ed as an industry in effectively enrolling students from low-income backgrounds, but it also pointed out stories of success at colleges throughout the nation; colleges like Vassar College and the University of California Santa-Barbara increased the representation of students with financial need on-campus by 8% and 7%, respectively in recent years. (Education Dive)
Hello, ‘Forever’ GI Bill. Goodbye, Time Restrictions for Vets The bipartisan legislation does away with a 15-year deadline for veterans to use education money and allows all Purple Heart recipients to get full benefits, among other expansions. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Bill Would Provide States with Grants to Expand Apprenticeships U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) has introduced legislation to boost workforce readiness by expanding apprenticeship programs and investing in public-private partnerships. (Community College Daily)
Report Finds Major Matters More for Graduate Earnings Than Institutional Brand A new report from the University of Texas System and the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce analyzed the economic ramifications of a student’s college choice, finding that the major the student selects may be more predictive of future economic success than the particular college in which they’ve enrolled. (Education Dive)
Advanced Placement Access and Success: How do rural schools stack up? This joint report from the College Board and Education Commission of the States, Advanced Placement Access and Success: How do rural schools stack up?, explores Advanced Placement (AP) in rural, suburban and urban schools and looks at data on student access, participation and performance across urban cities.
One trick for keeping kids in college: Forgive tiny debts that force them to leave Many students leave higher education before graduation over unpaid debts under $1,000. Maybe we could give them a break?
As Rural Participation in AP Courses Climbs, Average Passing Scores Hold Steady A new assessment has found that students in rural areas are rapidly catching up on Advanced Placement (AP) testing compared to their urban and suburban peers. A report by the Education Commission of the States and College Board also found that while rural student participation on AP exams has increased over the last 15 years, performance has remained steady. (THE Journal)
MA- Report: Half of State’s Labor Force Holds Bachelor’s Degrees Half of all workers in Massachusetts held a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2016, marking the first time any U.S. state has reached that educational threshold, according to a report released Wednesday by the independent Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. (Associated Press via Boston Herald)
Military Victory for Alternative Providers Though its primary goal is to help more veterans get college degrees by covering most of their tuition and fees, the law also includes a nod to the federal government’s growing interest in encouraging noncollege education providers, with a five-year “high-technology” pilot program that will pay unaccredited providers to train veterans for careers in tech sectors. (Inside Higher Ed)
Report: 15+ Hours of Work Per Week Can Hold Students Back The students who work more than 15 hours per week also tend to be from underserved backgrounds, the report says, and consequently are less academically prepared than their peers. So, obstacles posed by busy work schedules can further set back students already behind. (Inside Higher Ed)
