Here are some new resources and news for the field of higher education.

Positive View of Higher Ed, With Lots of Caveats  National poll finds more appreciation of colleges than other surveys have. In some areas, including affirmative action, sexual assault and mental health, the public isn’t impressed. Public institutions earn more confidence than private ones.

Researchers Building a Better Way of Placing Students in Community College  A team of researchers … used the experiences of 10 Minnesota and Wisconsin colleges to come up with a “multiple measures assessment (MMA) system,” which combines results from traditional tests along with other measures to make the decision. (Campus Technology)

Gov. Brown Extends California Community College Four-Year Pilot Program California is one of 23 states allowing community colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs. (FOX 5)

Free College Goes Mainstream  A growing number of Democratic candidates at the state and federal level are running on free college. But there’s a sharp divide within the party and liberal policy circles over the concept.

Free-College Realities  Proposals for tuition-free college programs shift to meet the needs of the state while also exhibiting qualities of more successful existing initiatives.

For Students Teetering on the Edge Financially, Micro-Grants Help Them Finish College  Every semester, thousands of students drop out of college because they are a few hundred dollars short of being able to pay their bills. Many are only a few credits shy of graduation. (Hechinger Report)

Google Curriculum, College Credit  Tech giant gets hands-on with its new online IT certificate, as a growing number of community colleges and Northeastern University create credit pathways with the curriculum.