na asociación entre la educación superior y la industria está ayudando a abordar la escasez de técnicos automotrices. El programa ASSET o Capacitación en Educación de Servicio Estudiantil de Ford Automotive se encuentra en 40 colegios comunitarios. En Oregón, Mount Hood Community College alberga el programa ASSET, que capacita a trabajadores para que se conviertan en técnicos automotrices. Kristin Lima es decana de tecnología aplicada, negocios y sistemas de información de la universidad. Ella dice que los concesionarios Ford locales ofrecen pasantías remuneradas para capacitación práctica.

"Lo mejor para los estudiantes es que pueden ganar dinero mientras aprenden. Es muy similar a un aprendiz, pero un poco diferente en el hecho de que se centra cada trimestre en función de las clases que están tomando," afirmó también Lima.

Mount Hood Community College es la única universidad de Oregón que forma parte del programa ASSET y Lima explica que los estudiantes viajan desde toda la región, incluidos Idaho y Montana, para participar. Las personas pueden presentar su solicitud en el sitio web de la universidad y Ford ofrece dos millones de dólares en becas.

La gerente general de Gresham Ford, Bess Wills, agrega que contrataron pasantes directamente del programa ASSET. Señala que la profesión es más complicada de lo que solía ser.

"Para trabajar en un vehículo hoy en día, casi hay que ser un especialista en informática, por así decirlo. Quiero decir, hay algo así como cientos de computadoras y chips a bordo y muchas más cosas," aseguró Wills.

Los técnicos automotrices son escasos y se necesitarán más de 400 mil en todo el país para 2027, según un informe reciente. Wills añade que alguien que se capacitó en su concesionario pudo fácilmente llevarse sus credenciales por todo el país.

"Por una situación familiar, tuvo que mudarse al Medio Oeste. Llamamos a un concesionario y tenía un trabajo incluso antes de mudarse," contó Wills.

Apoyo para esta historia fue proporcionado por la Fundación Lumina.


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The Arkansas Space Grant Consortium at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will use an $800,000 NASA grant to train students in STEM education and aerospace research.

Across the state, 18 colleges and universities are part of the consortium.

Constance Meadors, director of the consortium, said the program trains students to work for NASA as well as preparing them to work in the local aerospace industry.

"We really focus on workforce development, skills development and training," Meadors outlined. "We look to see how we can meet the needs of NASA, but also our goal is to meet the needs of the State of Arkansas as it relates to aerospace or workforce development."

Currently, 10 Arkansas college students are participating in internships at NASA Centers.

Part of the grant money will be used to create portable planetarium programs at several of the affiliate campuses, including Southern Arkansas University and Henderson State University. Students will take the planetariums to schools and community events to introduce more people to space science education.

Meadors added a recent graduate of the consortium received a research position due to his experience in the program.

"Because of having Space Grant research and experience in rocketry, the company had bumped him up," Meadors reported. "We want to impact our local aerospace industry as well, because aerospace is the number 1 export in the State of Arkansas. And so, we want to have homegrown employees."

The consortium will hold its first NASA ASTRO Camp in Arkansas in the fall semester, to teach students and faculty members how to share space exploration with younger students.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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It is only early summer but North Dakota school districts are preparing for the fall.

As in recent years, some administrators are performing what amounts to a high-wire act in balancing resources and services. This year's legislative session saw a 2.5% increase in K-12 funding.

Leslie Bieber, superintendent of Alexander Public Schools, said health insurance costs are climbing higher and the latest national rankings show North Dakota falling further behind in average teacher pay. Bieber noted all those forces create an uphill challenge in maintaining a full staff.

"We had some teachers resign and we are choosing at this point not to replace one, just to help with budgeting purposes," Bieber explained.

Bieber pointed out she will carve out time from her administrative role this fall to help with teaching duties. She acknowledged her district is lucky because its small size does not create a lot of holes to fill but she still would like broader support. Despite misgivings about current funding, controversial plans like private school vouchers or Education Savings Accounts ultimately failed.

Public school advocates said such plans can be threats to their funding. However, North Dakota will begin welcoming charter schools, an approach long opposed by teachers' unions. Bieber stressed no matter the budget challenges in their way, she wants parents and students in her district to feel reassured educators will carry out their mission.

"Our goal is to do what's best for our students, no matter what kind of funds we have," Bieber emphasized.

Like local governments, school districts will have to adjust to a 3% cap on annual property tax increases. Supporters said the cap provides much-needed relief to homeowners, especially after voters rejected a ballot question to largely do away with local property taxes but municipal and educational leaders worry about their ability to cover operational expenses.


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University officials in Indiana are rewriting guidelines for on-campus protests to address a tense political backdrop.

More students are watching and listening to see which institution shares their values.

Last month, a court blocked parts of Indiana University's "expressive activity" policy, which restricted when protests and speeches could take place.

Data from education consulting firm EAB show 14% of prospective students dismiss schools they deem too conservative, and 12% dismiss schools seen as too liberal.

Pam Royall - head of research, enrollment services, and marketing solutions at EAB - said future students are seeking colleges that reflect their beliefs.

"They're eliminating certain institutions that they believe are misaligned with their political values," said Royall, "either because they're too conservative, or they're too liberal, they're in a blue state, or a red state."

Observers call incoming students the Anxious Generation, because more young people now experience that mental health condition.

Royall said the greater sense of anxiety can also be linked to social media usage, and pressure to make decisions in an environment with competing messages.

Protection from gun violence and sexual assault are other key points students feel are important in their college search.

Forty-five percent of students surveyed said anxiety or feelings of isolation had a "moderate to extreme impact" on their college search.

Royall added that heightened stress from adjusting to the college experience can be overwhelming.

"Now," said Royall, "it's also a matter of support for mental health and wellness that is driving students' perception of safety and their sense of belonging on campuses."

Gen Z students also define a safe campus environment as one that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, and supports free speech.