The focus at universities in the fall is getting students started in their new semesters. But increasingly, schools are also doing more to recognize and address the mental health challenges of staying in school. According to a Lumina Foundation study, almost 70% of students in bachelor's degree programs contemplate dropping out of college, citing the emotional stress.

Alyssa Poteat, a student at William Peace University, said she has seen it firsthand. Even after the pandemic, students continue to grapple with heightened stressors.

"Definitely I've seen students be under a lot more stress than they were previously, especially from transitioning from high school to college, moving across state, moving away from home," Poteat continued. "They also take on a lot, like, being involved - so, they are very involved and they're in a new environment, therefore mental health issues are skyrocketing. And sometimes, it's hard to find good resources."

Poteat added another challenge is students hesitate to seek help due to the absence of their regular health care provider, or the inconvenience of scheduling appointments. The report also shows 59% of students consider "stopping out" of college, at least temporarily, for mental-health reasons, and 18% do so for physical health.

Alicia Wiggins, William Peace University counseling director, said the school is addressing this problem by adopting new health options. WPU partnered with TimelyCare at the start of the school year, which has expanded health resources, she said, allowing students to access on-demand and appointment-based medical and mental health care directly through their phone or other devices.

"For students who might be hesitant to make appointments, it is good to be able to have a resource where they can walk away with an appointment, or walk away having seen someone or talked to someone, so that starts the process," Wiggins explained. "And that is usually the hardest part, just starting the process."

The TimelyCare resource is free for traditional undergraduate students. She added students also have access to health coaching, a peer support community and self-care content from a diverse group of physicians and counselors.

Leaders of the University of California and California State University systems are warning a proposed budget cut of almost 8% for next year could lead to larger class sizes, fewer course offerings and staff reductions unless it is reversed.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's January budget proposal would technically defer the funding for two years.

Josh Hagen, vice president of policy and advocacy for the Sacramento-based Campaign for College Opportunity, noted schools are prepared for the proposed reduction.

"In last year's budget, the governor and legislature said, 'You need to be prepared for an 8% systemwide cut.' This budget affirmed that systemwide cut is coming," Hagen acknowledged. "The silver lining is that it's a one-time cut; it is not ongoing but that's still going to be felt."

The governor proposes to invest more than $45 billion in higher education as a whole, slightly less than last year. Community colleges will get a cost-of-living increase of just over $230 million, as a result of Proposition 98. The Legislature has until June to pass a balanced budget.

Hagen is convinced the California economy is slowly moving in the right direction.

"We're turning the corner. We're not fully around it yet," Hagen stressed. "It's about making sure colleges and universities are able to maintain program services for students as we're looking towards a multiyear economic recovery."

Hagen noted the budget proposal includes $5 million to create a coordinating council so the University of California, California State University and community college systems can better react to events like a natural disaster or financial downturn in the future.


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In the new year, college applications in Minnesota will look a little different: They will no longer feature an initial question about a person's criminal history, a move supporters said creates better futures for those seeking higher education.

A new state law just took effect, prohibiting Minnesota's public and private colleges and universities from asking about applicants' criminal past on the initial forms they fill out, except for programs such as law enforcement.

Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten, DFL-St. Paul, sponsored the bill and she said by boosting access to higher education, they are giving applicants an outlet to reconcile with their past and chart a new course.

"It's about giving people an opportunity to explain their stories and their situations and not putting them in a position where they don't even want to try," Verbeten explained. "That's really the hardest thing about when there is that box is a lot of people just give up."

The change is a recommendation from the federal Beyond the Box report of 2023. Research shows nearly two-thirds of those who disclosed felony convictions did not submit their application. Amid efforts across the U.S., some schools still express concern about public safety. Verbeten argued Minnesota's law strikes a good balance and gives schools the opportunity to follow up before a student is enrolled.

Will Cooley, policy director for the Minnesota Justice Research Center, testified in favor of the plan. He said generally speaking, similar moves have enjoyed bipartisan support, including in conservative states like Louisiana.

"I have worked on Ban the Box campaigns in the past," Cooley recounted. "One thing that really struck me was the broad swath of supporters, religious congregations, chambers of commerce, formerly incarcerated people, the list goes on."

The federal report cited findings showing no significant difference between the campus crime rates of schools emphasizing looking into applicants' criminal background and institutions which did not. The authors also noted educational achievement reduces recidivism by 48%, easing pressure on state and federal budgets when factoring incarceration costs.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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Connecticut is launching its Student Loan Reimbursement Program Jan. 1.

The program was created through legislation passed by the state's General Assembly earlier this year. With $6 million in funding, it will reduce state borrowers more than $18 billion in student loan debt. Aside from being a Connecticut resident for five consecutive years, they need to have performed 50 hours of volunteer work at an approved organization in 2024.

Michael Criscuolo, associate administrative fiscal officer for the Connecticut Office of Higher Education, mentioned some of the other eligibility requirements.

"They must have an outstanding student loan balance," Criscuolo outlined. "And during 2024, have paid towards a Federal Direct loan, a Direct Plus loan, a Perkins loan, a state-sponsored student loan or even a private loan."

The reimbursement is based on how much a person paid toward their loan this year. If they paid $100 a month, they could receive $1,200 of debt relief. Some could receive up to $5,000 dollars a year with a $20,000 cap over four years. The program is first come, first served.

Criscuolo pointed out response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive. He noted there are many frequently asked questions regarding eligibility or whether an organization counts for the volunteer requirement but he added people are looking forward to the launch.

"People think that it's a great program," Criscuolo observed. "We're anticipating hundreds of thousands of applications. It's capped at $6 million, and we're anticipating that we can pay between 1,200 and 3,000 students."

The totals will depend on how much money people have paid toward their loans. He emphasized any time people can alleviate debt from student loans is helpful. Under President Joe Biden's student loan debt forgiveness, more than 7,200 Connecticut borrowers had more than $309 million forgiven.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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