Here are some new resources and news for the field of higher education.
Higher Ed Policy Forum Encourages Action on Access, Affordability, Accountability The Education Commission of the States’ Higher Education Policy Forum brought together education stakeholders for conversations about how federal and state governments and education leaders can work together on higher-ed policy recommendations, including how to align K-12, post-secondary and workforce systems. (Diverse Issues in Higher Education)
INSPIRE Graduate Survey (INSPIRE-G) UCEA is currently scheduling spring administrations of the INSPIRE Graduate Survey (INSPIRE-G) to solicit feedback from the 2018 class of aspiring graduates. INSPIRE-G is intended to gather feedback from recent graduates on their preparation program experiences, learning outcomes and career intentions. INSPIRE-G administration is free for UCEA members and strongly encouraged. Not only is INSPIRE data instrumental in program improvement, it is exceptionally valuable for inclusion in accreditation reports.
College Promise Initiatives Encouraged to Incorporate New Strategies A coalition of nonprofit organizations have partnered in a new effort to call on states, cities, and institutions to incorporate evidenced-based strategies into their College Promise initiatives. (Diverse Issues in Higher Education)
MD Governor Plans to Sign Free Community College Bill Into Law Maryland is set to become the latest state to cover the cost of community college tuition for its residents, as Gov. Larry Hogan (R) plans to sign into law a measure ushering in the program. (Washington Post)
Study: The U.S. Isn’t Doing Enough to Prepare Students for the Automation Age The spread of artificial intelligence is expected to boost demand for science-and-tech skills, as well as for soft skills such as problem-solving that robots can’t easily replicate. But only a handful of nations have taken steps to update school curricula and teacher training for the changes ahead, the study says. (Hechinger Report)
Graduation Rates for Pell Recipients Last year’s upgrade of the federal government’s primary higher education database for the first time allow researchers to track graduation rates for recipients of Pell Grants. Now Third Way, a center-left think tank, has released an analysis of the new Pell graduation-rate data. (Inside Higher Ed)
‘#CommunicationSoWhite’ Nonwhite scholars continue to be underrepresented in publication and citation rates and editorial positions in communication studies, according to a new paper called “#CommunicationSoWhite” in the Journal of Communication by researchers at New York University. (Inside Higher Ed)
New Findings: Strada-Gallup Education Consumer Survey Strada Education Network and Gallup released new findings from the Strada-Gallup Education Consumer Survey, revealing only one quarter (26 percent) of U.S. adults with college experience strongly agree that their college coursework is relevant to their work and daily life. Hear more about these findings at our National Forum on Education Policy in June.
Public School Funding and Postsecondary Outcomes in Illinois: What is Reasonable to Expect from Illinois’ School Funding Reforms? Houston’s study bridges the gap between P-12 and postsecondary research to explore how school funding policies can affect educational mobility and postsecondary outcomes. His findings demonstrate that differential public school funding patterns across Illinois’ school districts can affect college readiness, enrollment, and completion. This report is especially important in light of Illinois’ recent school funding overhaul. It sheds light on the potential short-term impact of these reforms, as well as their long-term potential for shrinking the state’s persistent achievement and attainment gaps.
Rethinking Dual Enrollment to Reach More Students This report also identifies experiences other than dual enrollment that can prepare middle- and lower-achieving students to dually enroll or raise their aspirations to enroll in college after they graduate.
