By Johan E. Uvin During my last year as acting assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, I had the opportunity to visit College Unbound twice. The first time, I joined Lul Tesfai, my then colleague, and spent the night meeting students and participating in classes. Students shared their stories and their struggles in higher education before they got to ...| Higher Education Today
The American higher education system, despite its challenges, remains the envy of the world. But to meet the needs of future students and maintain its vaunted status, U.S. colleges and universities must address a few important dynamics. The TIAA Institute’s Stephanie Bell-Rose looks at the path forward.| Higher Education Today
Title: Online by Design: Improving Career Connection for Today’s Learners Authors: William Carroll and Brenae Smith Source: The Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice The Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice (CHEPP) recently published a report on building new career services and strengthening work-based learning strategies for the ever-growing share of adult, working, and online learners at institutions of ... The post From Non-Traditional Learners to the New Traditional...| Higher Education Today
Title: College Enrollment Patterns Are Changing. New Data Show Applicant and Admit Pools Are Too. Authors: Jason Cohn, Bryan J. Cook, Victoria Nelson Source: Urban Institute Since 2020 the world of higher education has changed drastically. Higher education has seen the effects of COVID-19, the end of race-conscious admissions, significant delays in student awards from the new FAFSA, and changing federal ... The post New Data Highlights Demographic Shifts in College Admissions Prior to Enrollm...| Higher Education Today
As Congress reshapes student aid and public benefits, working students—already balancing jobs, classes, and family obligations—may face even steeper barriers to staying enrolled and completing their degrees.| Higher Education Today
New America’s ninth annual survey on higher education in America found that despite the politicization and polarization of higher education, Americans are united in their understanding of the importance and value of a college degree.| Higher Education Today
Title: Policymakers Role in Expanding Prison Education Access Authors: Jennifer Thomsen and Shytance Wren Source: Education Commission of the States A June 2025 report from the Education Commission of the States outlined ways in which state policy actors can expand access to prison education and therefore reduce likelihood for recidivism and incarceration costs. Policymakers’ Role in Expanding Prison Education Access summarized ... The post Investing in Prison Education Saves Taxpayer Dolla...| Higher Education Today
New America’s ninth annual survey on higher education in America found that despite the politicization and polarization of higher education, Americans are united in their understanding of the importance and value of a college degree.| Higher Education Today
A new report from Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) office outlines the far-reaching consequences of the Trump administration’s efforts to defund and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.| Higher Education Today
A new report from Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) office outlines the far-reaching consequences of the Trump administration’s efforts to defund and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.| Higher Education Today
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As Cuts to Department of Veterans Affairs Loom, Our Commitment to Veterans Education Faces a Critical Test | Higher Education Today
Alternative providers are becoming a significant—if not yet indispensable—part of the U.S. higher education ecosystem. It's essential to establish a taxonomy that helps colleges and universities make informed choices about how to work with these providers, writes Louis Soares.| Higher Education Today
By Jon Riskind As ACE prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2018, this is the first in an occasional series of posts that will look at how ACE initiatives have left an impression on the higher education landscape and impacted peoples’ lives. Pictured above: 2014 Student of the Year Jeffrey Gearhart with ACE President Molly Corbett Broad. Tara Turley, a single ...| Higher Education Today
By Sandy Baum Headlines like “5 Reasons College Has Become Unaffordable For The Masses” or “Why Is College Education Unaffordable for So Many Americans Today? What Should Be Done About This?” start from the premise that many, if not most, people cannot afford a college education. Some reports have even suggested that the expense is out of reach for high-income families. ...| Higher Education Today
American Institutes for Research, in partnership with Lumina Foundation, is researching how colleges and universities can better design programs and messaging to meet the needs of Black, Hispanic, and Native American adult learners. A 2024 review of 350 institution websites highlighted promising practices in presenting key information to these learners.| Higher Education Today
Title: Variation in Community College Funding Levels: A Focus on Equity Authors: Sandy Baum and Jason Cohn Source: The Urban Institute Community colleges play a critical role in expanding access to higher education, enrolling 44 percent of all U.S. public undergraduate students. But concerns about uneven and inadequate funding for these institutions relative to public four-year colleges are widespread. A new ...| Higher Education Today
Title: More to the Retention Story: Exploring Second- to Third-Year Retention at 4-Year Colleges and Universities Authors: McCall Pitcher and Kelle Parsons Source: American Institutes for Research For many years, the higher education community has prioritized first-year retention as an indicator of potential student success. This is primarily due to its role as a predictor of completion and its extensive representation ...| Higher Education Today
The higher education landscape in the United States consists of over one million credentials offered by more than 60,000 providers. While these options hold the promise of increasing access to postsecondary education, pathways built from a mix of credentials can be confusing. A new report from Credential Engine's Equity Advisory Council aims to help.| Higher Education Today
Title: Pell for Incarcerated Students Working Group Report Source: National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) The signing of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act canceled the ban on access to Pell Grants for formerly or currently incarcerated adults. This will provide over 700,000 incarcerated adults with opportunities to pursue postsecondary education, whether on a college campus or in a prison ...| Higher Education Today
Title: College Enrollment Disparities: Understanding the Role of Academic Preparation Authors: Sarah Reber and Ember Smith Source: Brookings Institution Center on Children and Families A new report from the Brookings Institution Center on Children and Families examines how college enrollment is impacted by academic preparation, race, gender, and socioeconomic status. The authors argue that although a college degree remains a clear ...| Higher Education Today
As Cuts to Department of Veterans Affairs Loom, Our Commitment to Veterans Education Faces a Critical Test | Higher Education Today
As the VA moves to eliminate more than 80,000 jobs, ACE’s Lindsey Tepe and Michele Soires warn that veterans’ access to education benefits could be at serious risk.| Higher Education Today
Policy Proposals Lack Clarity About How to Evaluate Graduates’ Additional Degrees | Higher Education Today
Title: First-generation College Students’ Career Entry: College Perspectives Authors: Melinda Mechur Karp, Suzanne Lyons, Nancy Stalowski, and Mary Fugate Source: FirstGen Forward and Phase Two Advisory First-generation college students experience the transition from high school to college and enrollment in higher education in a unique way. While there is significant research on first-generation students’ postsecondary pursuits and how they cross the ... The post What First-Generation Stu...| Higher Education Today
Headline: How State Policies Can Support Dual Enrollment Students Title: Sharing the Cost: Insights From States Funding Dual Enrollment to Expand Access Authors: Krista Kaput, Sharmila Mann, and Carrie Hahnel Source: Bellwether Research demonstrates that participation in dual enrollment programs improves student outcomes, with the potential to increase graduation rates and college enrollment and further students’ postsecondary attainment. While these benefits ... The post How State Policies...| Higher Education Today
This post is excerpted from a forthcoming book on learning mobility to be published in July 2025 by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Every few years, they pack up their lives, move across states—or oceans—and start over. New schools, new systems, new expectations. For military learners, this isn’t a study abroad adventure or a career move; it’s ... The post Mobility Isn’t a Choice: How Higher Education Can Better Serve Military Learners appe...| Higher Education Today
Colleges are facing a volatile mix of policy shifts, polarization, and fiscal pressure, and student wellbeing is on the line. The Action Network for Equitable Wellbeing shares three proven strategies to help campuses move from guesswork to insight through real-time data, empathy interviews, and regular check-ins.| Higher Education Today
Title: Powering Potential: Using Data to Support Postsecondary Access, Completion, and Return on InvestmentSource: The Data Quality Campaign To make decisions about when and where to pursue their next educational credential, students and their families need to be able to understand the full picture of pursuing further education. They need access to real-time program information, which includes data on enrollment and ... The post Improving State Longitudinal Data Systems appeared first on High...| Higher Education Today
A new report from the University of Michigan’s National Center for Institutional Diversity examines how 40 chief diversity officers are navigating anti-DEI policies and offers strategies to sustain civil rights leadership amid growing political opposition.| Higher Education Today
A new NCAN report finds that nearly $4.4 billion in Pell Grants went unclaimed in 2024, as about 830,000 eligible high school graduates failed to complete the FAFSA—missing a crucial opportunity for students and state economies.| Higher Education Today
With public confidence in colleges at a crossroads, Ted Mitchell and Timothy Knowles call for a new social contract centered on student success—and offer the Carnegie-ACE classification as a path forward.| Higher Education Today
A recent working paper reveals many dual enrollment students experience long-term economic benefits, although outcomes vary based on race and socioeconomic status.| Higher Education Today
Misunderstanding how endowments work puts scholarships, research, and students’ futures at risk—and distracts from the real threat facing higher education today.| Higher Education Today
After examining success coaching practices at three State University of New York institutions, the authors of new analysis from MDRC offer several policy recommendations to support online learners.| Higher Education Today
Renewing the Social Contract for Higher Education | Higher Education Today
New insights from HCM Strategists highlight how continued state investments in higher education are creating pathways to economic mobility, with the majority of degree programs delivering increased earnings and a solid return on investment.| Higher Education Today
New research from Brookings shows that the rise in Pell Grant recipients at wealthy colleges over the past decade is likely due to increased application and enrollment by low-income students, rather than changes in eligibility or admissions standards.| Higher Education Today
A recent survey of 500 Republican voters nationwide conducted by Third Way and the Republican polling firm GS Strategy Group found that Republicans value and support higher education, are in favor of less invasive reforms, and largely support policies directed at college affordability and accountability.| Higher Education Today
A new report from Trellis Strategies evaluates the impact of the Parenting Students Project (PSP) at Austin Community College (ACC), highlighting the challenges student parents face and the program’s efforts to support them.| Higher Education Today
With the continued increase of alternative, non-degree credentials, education and professional stakeholders have developed quality frameworks meant to guide these credentials. The authors of a new report from PSCWP examine and evaluate criteria and data used in current credential quality frameworks.| Higher Education Today
The latest research from Handshake reveals a troubling reality in higher education: the internship landscape is becoming both more competitive and less accessible, particularly for students already facing systemic barriers.| Higher Education Today
As policymakers across both parties consider how to evaluate postsecondary outcomes and earnings data, the authors of a new brief from the Urban Institute pose a major question: How should students who earn multiple credentials be included in data collection for the college that awarded their first degree?| Higher Education Today
Pell Grant Dollars Are Left Unclaimed: What That Means for Students and States | Higher Education Today
Title: Chutes and Ladders: Falling Behind and Getting Ahead with the Simplified FAFSA Authors: Jonathan S. Lewis and Alyssa Stefanese Yates Source: uAspire Prior to the 2024-25 academic year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) underwent significant changes, mandated by Congress through the FAFSA Simplification Act. A recent uAspire survey of 274 students, parents, counselors, and financial aid administrators ...| Higher Education Today
ACE President Ted Mitchell urges the incoming administration to recognize the critical role America’s colleges and universities can play in tackling the nation’s most pressing challenges.| Higher Education Today
An October 2024 report, Beyond Sticker Prices: How States Can Make Postsecondary Education More Affordable, reviews data to evaluate affordability of postsecondary education across nine states, including Alabama, California, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.| Higher Education Today
The Department of Education has launched the 2025-26 FAFSA ahead of schedule, a major win after last year’s debacle. ACE President Ted Mitchell says this milestone, paired with the bipartisan FAFSA Deadline Act, is a crucial step toward expanding college access for low-income students.| Higher Education Today
The problems with the new FAFSA rollout caused delays and fewer students filing, which experts at the National Student Clearinghouse and the Brookings Institution say could lead to a drop in new college enrollments, based on early data and analysis.| Higher Education Today
EDUCAUSE conducted a survey of over 400 IT professionals in roles ranging from director to chief information officer to provide insights into the state of the higher education technology leader workforce. The report illuminates challenges and opportunities that can inform efforts to fortify the workforce and advance higher education in the future.| Higher Education Today
Title: 2024 Trends in Higher Education Source: Hanover Research Drawing from extensive research and experience collaborating with hundreds of higher education institutions, Hanover Research’s 2024 Trends in Higher Education report outlines critical trends and practical solutions to guide college and university leadership in facing current challenges in higher education. Trend 1: Institutions reduce enrollment barriers for a changing prospective student demographic. ...| Higher Education Today
A new analysis from the Brookings Institution examines the different funding sources that families use to pay for four-year nonprofit colleges and how these differ depending on family income.| Higher Education Today
academic credit| Higher Education Today
As the national debate on higher education heats up, state lawmakers are emerging as key players. But beyond the headlines, there's a growing opportunity for collaboration and bipartisan initiatives that strengthen communities and expand educational access. ACE's Heidi Tseu and Katharine Meyer of Brookings look at the real impact of state policies on college campuses today, from student support and institutional mission to workforce development.| Higher Education Today
By Ashley L. Gray, Jennifer R. Crandall, and Morgan Taylor For other posts on succession planning, see A Call to Action Regarding Succession Planning and Sustainability and Takeaways for Career and Succession Planning From the 2018-19 Class of ACE Fellows. The face of the college presidency has changed in recent years, moving slowly away from the monolithic profile of the past (White men ...| Higher Education Today
Making Authentic Optimism the New Normal | Higher Education Today
Colleges are shifting to better support students with disabilities, especially as Gen Z brings new perspectives post-COVID. Kara Seidel and Hollie Chessman discuss how institutions can foster more inclusive campuses by recognizing the unique challenges students face—and offer practical tips for making a real difference.| Higher Education Today
Given all the changes in the past century, how can the higher education community leverage its strengths to do an even better job of contributing to national security? Michele Spires discusses how workforce development transcends mere job training—and why it's so crucial now.| Higher Education Today
Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk and Elizabeth R. Click examine the influence of workplace culture on well-being and emphasize the importance of campus leaders in creating supportive environments. They argue for the value of investing in wellness programs and initiatives as a way to improve the health of college communities.| Higher Education Today
Amidst the flurry of acknowledgments and celebrations we see every March during Women's History Month, there's a deeper conversation to be had about how we support women on their professional journeys in higher education.| Higher Education Today
Drawing on her experience as president of the University of La Verne during active political campaigns, Devorah Lieberman offers strategies to equip students with essential skills that help foster civil discourse and build a thriving campus community.| Higher Education Today
Despite the media narrative of division and unrest, many colleges across the country are focused on building thriving communities where everyone belongs. Devorah Lieberman explores how presidents can create that environment by providing access to essential needs and empowering students to succeed.| Higher Education Today
As 2023 draws to a close, Devorah Lieberman, the former president of the University of La Verne, offers a roadmap for college and university presidents on how to support students, ensure campus safety, and foster a climate of tolerance during national and global crises.| Higher Education Today
Colorado State Chancellor Tony Frank discusses CSU Spur, a unique public campus in Denver that offers free hands-on learning to people of all ages. The goal: to address disparities in college attendance and success, ignite curiosity in K-12 students, and serve as a hub of innovation.| Higher Education Today
As we seek to bring long-overdue inclusion to higher education, it’s time to reimagine the current pipeline to the presidency and eliminate the pitfalls historically marginalized people face. Ashley L. Gray explains how succession planning is a critical part of this process.| Higher Education Today
