Higher Education / Public News Service

Ohio State University will host events honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. all week, concluding with the Legacy Awards Reception on Jan. 28. (forestgraphic/Adobe Stock)

Monday, January 20, 2025

Celebrating Dr. King and new beginnings in Ohio

Today, Ohioans come together to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with events across the state celebrating his contributions to …

Forsyth Tech in Winston-Salem, N.C., says it's increasing student success with faculty mentors. (David Bjorgen/Wikimedia Commons)

Monday, January 20, 2025

Faculty mentor program at NC college increases retention

A college in North Carolina has developed an innovative model that lets faculty mentor students. Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-…

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. (Jon/Adobe Stock)

Monday, January 20, 2025

Tennesseans honor legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today marks the nationally recognized birthday of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It's a day for college students in Tennessee to …

Alabama Senate Bill 129 prohibits state agencies, schools and universities from requiring students, employees or contractors to engage in training, coursework or activities that promote

AL educators, students sue over state law's effect on higher education

Alabama professors and students, along with the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 129…

The Manhattan School of Music's Precollege Program faculty pay has increased 15% since 2017. However, the president and the school executive's salaries have risen 78% and 87%, respectively. (MSM Precollege Union)

NYC music school hits sour note in union contract negotiations

The faculty of a New York City music school is planning to strike after contract negotiations stalled. The Manhattan School of Music's Precollege …

Gov. Gavin Newsom's state budget proposal maintains a deferral of funds for the University of California and California State University systems, even through the state is projecting a modest surplus of $363 million. (Amerique/Wikimedia Commons)

Governor's budget proposal may lead to higher-ed cuts at UC, CSU

Leaders of the University of California and California State University systems are warning a proposed budget cut of almost 8% for next year could lea…

Students at the University of Nebraska are designing and constructing small, single-family homes to be erected on vacant lots in Omaha for seniors. Omaha's zoning laws restrict multifamily housing on 80% of currently vacant lots. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska university students address affordable housing shortage

Some University of Nebraska students are gaining career skills as they work to address the state's affordable housing shortage by making small…

In a newly released book, Adriana Romero Olivares, assistant professor of biology at New Mexico State University, shared her not-so-perfect journey to a science career. (NMSU)

NM biology professor's success recognized in award-winning book

A New Mexico professor who was once encouraged to pursue a "more ladylike" career is now featured in a book about high-achieving women in STEM fields…

The University of Idaho is the state's second most populous university, behind Boise State. (knowlesgallery/Adobe Stock)

ID's latest anti-diversity push in higher ed meets pushback

Despite pushback, Idaho is again targeting diversity and inclusion efforts on college campuses. Over the holiday break, the Idaho State Board of …

In 2024, North Carolina schools started the year with more than 3,100 teacher vacancies, according to the North Carolina School Superintendents' Association. (Adobe Stock)

William Peace University student breaks new ground in math education

A North Carolina university student is breaking new ground in math education. Megan McAnany is an elementary and special education major at William …

National studies show when people leave prison, they face a range of obstacles in advancing through the world of postsecondary education. Right off the bat, a key deterrent is an application question about their past criminal history. (Adobe Stock)

With college application change, MN aims to reduce higher-ed barriers

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 …

Ball State linebacker Kieonte Newson holds a rose for his mother on Senior Day, a moment of restoration after earning the number nine. (T Slaughter/Daily News)

Ball State captain turns Indiana struggles into triumph

By Kyle Smedley for the Ball State Daily News .Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Ball State Daily News-Free Pr…

More than 40% of undergraduate students in the U.S. are pursuing an associate degree. (Adobe Stock)

AL higher-ed conference to address workforce, boost student transfers

Alabama faces a critical workforce gap, with only 38 available workers for every 100 open jobs, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. To …

Education Data reported there are 507,200 student loan borrowers in Connecticut, with an average debt amount of $36,672. (Adobe Stock)

CT Student Loan Reimbursement Program begins Jan. 1

Connecticut is launching its Student Loan Reimbursement Program Jan. 1. The program was created through legislation passed by the state's General …

In 2022, around 63% of Republican voters in the U.S. did not have college degrees, compared to 49% of Democratic voters, highlighting the educational divide in political affiliation. (gguy/Adobe Stock)

Has Ohio lost its battleground state status?

By Vanessa Davidson / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. “As Ohio …

As of August, enrollment in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System had reached 66,114 students, representing an increase of 8.4%, according to state data. (Adobe Stock/AI generated image)

KY Community and Technical College System plans major changes

Nearly a dozen changes could be made to the Kentucky Community and Technical College system, under Senate Joint Resolution 179, passed by lawmakers …

Nearly two in five students experienced food insecurity in a survey of Washington state postsecondary students. (Mauricio Toro/Adobe Stock)

Hunger concerns on WA postsecondary campuses as holidays approach

Hunger is an issue for many students on Washington state's postsecondary campuses this holiday season. A survey of nearly 10,000 students in …

Hoosiers must first file the FAFSA to access nearly all forms of financial aid for college. (Adobe stock)

Many Hoosiers still confused about paying for college

Indiana families see value in higher education, but many are still confused about how to pay for it. A new survey by INvestEd, a nonprofit based in …

About 13 million people live in higher education

Rural WV students’ choices shrink as colleges slash majors

By Jon Marcus, Brianna Atkinson, Molly Minta and Amy Morona for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News …

Publications before 2020 will become part of the dashboard starting next semester. (Adobe Stock)

Arizona State University tool offers useful medical insight affecting Indigenous communities

Arizona State University has developed a new tool that they hope will help researchers analyze connections between illnesses and health determinants w…

For the 2023-2024 school year, Tennessee awarded nearly $577 million through 16 scholarship programs for public and select private two- and four-year colleges and universities. (Adobe Stock)

College cost still a major hurdle for Tennessee students

A new report from The Sycamore Institute reveals the persistent challenge of college affordability in Tennessee. Despite state and federal aid …

Florida Gulf Coast University student Zoe Horowitz meets the recipient of her stem cells, Kevin Mitchell, for the first time at an women's basketball game. (Sarah Passey)

University student’s stem cell donation becomes lifeline for cancer survivor

At Florida Gulf Coast University, a simple cheek swab led one student to make a life-changing difference. Zoe Horowitz, a senior at the school…

With the increased use of AI, more technical positions are available with no requirement of a 4-year degree. (Jadon Bester/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

AR community colleges create new pathways to employment

Students at eight Arkansas community colleges can benefit from new micro-courses to prepare for the workforce. The schools are collaborating with …

The Faculty Alliance of Miami, officially formed in June 2023, held a

Miami University contract talks drag on for more than 460 days

After a new union at Miami University was certified by the state in June 2023, its members are still waiting for an initial contract. The Faculty …

Jobs in community and social services fields are expected to grow by nearly 8% over the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Continuing education opportunities for KY’s social and health workers

Medicaid renewals and steps the state is taking to improve maternal health are all topics experts will cover at the upcoming Kentucky Voices for Healt…

According to the Center for Native American Youth, in each Native community, culture transfer is a multifaceted process influenced by tribal histories, traumas, resilience, cultural preservation and revitalization efforts. (Adobe Stock)

VA's Native youths call for representation, support amid systemic challenges

In Virginia, Native youths often encounter systemic barriers, including a lack of representation in school curricula. A recent report by the Center …

Balancing college expenses, and going through the student aid application process, is often viewed as a daunting task for most households. Backers of Minnesota's new free tuition program hope it removes a lot of stress for eligible households. (Freepik)

MN's free college tuition program gets early assessment

The first semester for Minnesota college students is winding down. Supporters of the state's new free tuition program - which assists low-income …

Many adults said family or professional commitments can make it difficult to return to college and complete their degree program. (Adobe Stock)

Project Kitty Hawk helps former NC students complete college degree

Hundreds of former North Carolina college students are back on track to getting their degrees, thanks to an innovative program called Project Kitty …

Valdosta State University is one of the 26 higher education institutions that make up the University System of Georgia. (Adobe Stock)

Georgia Match program hailed as college enrollment rises in GA

Georgia higher education officials are crediting a program assisting high school students with a wave of new enrollment in the state's colleges and un…

Glitches last winter with federal student aid forms, known as the FAFSA, led the feds to temporarily relax document verification standards - creating fertile ground for bad actors seeking to defraud California colleges. (Piter2121/Adobe Stock)

CA community colleges lose millions to financial aid fraud

State data first reported by EdSource show that fraudsters have stolen more than $7.5 million in student financial aid from California community colle…

Education groups say censorship of course content by the UNT Administration is an example of extreme overcompliance with SB 17. (Adobe Stock)

University of North Texas accused of extreme DEI restrictions

Educators across the state are watching the University of North Texas, as the school denies it overstepped the parameters of Senate Bill 17. The …

New research says enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities is down 10% over the past 10 years. (Adobe Stock)

Report: It’s getting easier to get into college

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Maryland News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News S…

The College of the Atlantic includes a 38-acre main campus in Bar Harbor, Maine, two nearby organic farms and two offshore island research stations on Great Duck Island and Mount Desert Rock. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Student governance key to ME’s College of the Atlantic top 'green' ranking

Maine's College of the Atlantic has once again topped the Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges. The Bar Harbor-based school has been …

The Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida serves 175,000 students across 200 sites statewide, while the Association of Private Colleges and Universities of Puerto Rico represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) with a combined enrollment of more than 80,000 students. (Adobe Stock)

New Florida-Puerto Rico partnership poised to transform higher-ed landscape

In an unprecedented collaboration, the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida have partnered with the Association of Private Colleges and …

Kentucky ranks 48 of 50 in the nation for rate of new lung cancer cases at 84.8 per 100,000. The national rate is 54.6 per 100,000, according to the American Lung Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Cancer education program sheds light on Appalachian disparities

Some Kentuckians are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and more likely to die from the disease than others. Dr. Nathan Vanderford, associate …

Building generational wealth is the goal behind New Mexico's proposed

Child advocates want NM to eradicate poverty through 'baby bonds'

New Mexico child welfare groups are behind an initiative they plan to introduce in the next legislative session to create a so-called baby bonds progr…

Colorado has been working to remove cost as a barrier for students, and many certificate and degree programs are zero-tuition. (Adobe Stock)

7 CO colleges cited for students' workforce-readiness success

Gov. Jared Polis has designated seven Colorado colleges and universities as Career Connected Campuses for their work getting more students from all …

The California Undocumented Coalition for Higher Education took part in an advocacy day in Sacramento in January 2020. (California Campaign for College Opportunity)

CA undocumented student groups worry about incoming Trump administration

As President-elect Donald Trump announces immigration hard-liners as his deputy chief of staff and border czar this week, groups supporting …

The number of certificate or microcrediental earners younger than age 18 jumped by 18.8% in 2022-23 compared with the prior year, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia launches microcredentials to open up paths to jobs, careers

CORRECTION: About 180,000 West Virginians have completed some college, but received no credential. An earlier version of this report incorrectly …

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announces a $1 million grant to establish a cybersecurity research and education center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. (Song_about_summer/Adobe Stock)

UA Little Rock wins grant to expand cybersecurity education

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will use a $1 million grant to create a research and education center for cybersecurity. The Cyberspace …

A course at Ohio State University critically evaluates evidence the human capacity for hope and the human desire to believe in a supernatural deity evolved because they helped our ancestors survive. (M-SUR/Adobe Stock)

Ohio State course bridges science and faith in polarized times

In a time of heightened polarization, particularly as the nation waits for election results, many Ohioans find themselves grappling with differences …

Some pro-Palestinian first-time student voters said they had a hard time grappling with casting a ballot for any candidate in the election given the U.S. military support for the war in Gaza. <br />(Adobe Stock)

WI protest on Gaza war planned in downtown Milwaukee

pro-Palestinian groups are hosting a demonstration today starting at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee. The groups Students for a Democratic …

Some experts predict the student vote in Wisconsin will be a determining factor in Tuesday's election. (Adobe Stock)

WI’s voter ID law can be a nightmare for student voters

Wisconsin law states a student ID can be used for voting, but only some schools issue state-compliant identification. On some campuses, students …

DISCOVER students at Cedars-Sinai observe a rotation of the Women's Guild Simulation Center for Advanced Clinical Skills. (Cedars-Sinai)

Cedars-Sinai in LA uses college internship to diversify health care workforce

Lack of diversity in the medical field is a big problem. Data show fewer than 6% of active physicians in the U.S. are Black and fewer than 7% are …

Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing, such as those with chronic conditions like asthma. (coltsfan/Pixabay)

VA program tackles shortage of breath therapists

Amid a nationwide shortage of respiratory therapists, an "earn while you learn" initiative is underway to build a skilled workforce in Virginia to …

Voting infrastructure has been an important topic in the lead up to the 2024 election. (wolterke/Adobe Stock)

Voting vulnerabilities spotlighted in UW course on 'How to Steal an Election'

A timely course at the University of Washington explores the vulnerabilities of U.S. elections. The course is called "How to Steal an Election" - …

There are currently 7,606 active apprentices in the state of Arizona, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. (Adobe Stock)

Apprenticeship programs in AZ aim to fill employment gaps

People in Arizona who have completed a registered apprenticeship program could see an average of an almost 50% increase in earnings, according to a …

Responding to California's troubled community college transfer system, Merit America travels to job fairs around the state, offering certificate programs in cyber security, data analytics, IT support, UX design and project management. (Merit America)

Audit: CA higher ed transfer portals too narrow

It is not easy for California students to transfer between community colleges and the California State University and University of California systems…

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