skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Illinois receives $750K grant to streamline college admissions process

play audio
Play

Friday, March 8, 2024   

The Illinois Board of Higher Education is among the winners of a national competition to improve the college admissions process and increase people's access to higher education.

The board received a $750,000 award from Lumina Foundation to implement a direct-admissions program for community college transfer students and recent high school graduates.

Ginger Ostro, the board's executive director, said it will streamline procedures and promote inclusivity to ensure all students have equitable opportunities.

"It's really important to emphasize that this is a key strategy towards equity and addressing the needs of historically underserved students," she said, "and really recognizing the importance of higher education in social and economic mobility."

Ostro said the direct admissions program will proactively inform eligible students that they have been accepted at a particular institution - without the student having to submit an application.

The foundation's Great Admissions Redesign competition awarded grants to seven educational institutions across the country. After reviewing more than 70 applications and using criteria to ensure fair and just outcomes for underserved students, Lumina awarded more than $3 million in implementation and planning grants.

Ostro said the Illinois program's primary goal is to change the way college admissions are conducted.

"Direct admissions would allow us to use data that we already have at the state level to identify students who are already qualified for admission at our various public universities," she said.

Melanie Heath, strategy director at Lumina, called the program "innovative and unique," and said it should simplify the admissions process so more Illinoisans have an opportunity for higher education.

"If a system is incredibly complicated," she said, "then those that have the time and resources and support can navigate it, and those that don't are disproportionately burdened with that process."

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Opponents of a South Dakota bill that would require the Ten Commandments be posted in all public school classrooms say it would be an unfunded mandate. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A South Dakota House committee takes up a controversial bill today that would require all school districts in the state to display the Ten Commandment…


play sound

Virginia ranks third behind only Maryland and Delaware among the worst states for the average amount of back wages companies owe to their workers…

Environment

play sound

Some North Dakota school districts are part of a movement that has embraced electric school buses, but the federal funding shakeup carried out by the …


Florida immigrant advocacy groups are intensifying efforts to help undocumented individuals navigate encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. (David Peinado/Pexels)

Social Issues

play sound

Immigrant advocates in Florida are ramping up efforts to help families navigate President Donald Trump's new immigration orders, which have increased …

Social Issues

play sound

The rate of U.S. high school seniors seeking higher education is on the upswing, according to research from Lumina Foundation. Although Hoosier …

Gov. Josh Shapiro's Pennsylvania state budget proposal would strengthen efforts to reintroduce vocational education into Pennsylvania classrooms, with a $5.5 million boost for Career and Technical Education. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget includes a significant increase for public education to address Pennsylvania's school funding issues and …

Social Issues

play sound

Alabama nonprofits are coming together to tackle challenges that may threaten their survival, from declining donor support to shifting federal …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Consumer advocates in Maine said the availability of enhanced subsidies have helped record numbers of people get the health care coverage they need…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021