Top Higher Education News for Monday
Lumina

Lumina Foundation is committed to increasing the proportion of Americans with high-quality degrees, certificates and other credentials to 60 percent by 2025.

February 3, 2025

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TOP STORIES

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How Trump’s DEI Orders May Bring Extra Scrutiny to D.C.-Area Colleges

Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, The Washington Post

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D.C.-area colleges and universities have long sought ties to the federal government, helping to run diversity trainings and educate diplomats, public administrators, and other federal workers.

 

Some officials now worry those efforts, playing out so close to the White House, could draw extra scrutiny as the Trump administration limits work on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

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Florida Board Approves Extensive Gen Ed Overhaul

Josh Moody, Inside Higher Ed

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Students at Florida State University can cheer on the Seminoles across multiple sports, but they can no longer learn about the namesake tribe of Indigenous Americans as part of FSU’s general education offerings after the Florida Board of Governors approved sweeping curriculum changes late last week.

 

That vote marks the final step in a contentious and controversial process that removes hundreds of classes, many touching on race and gender, from general education offerings at all 12 state universities.

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How Colorado Is Breaking Down Apprenticeship Funding Barriers

Lancy Downs, New America

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In the world of education and work, apprenticeships are a popular topic. Not as popular? The conversation about funding them. That’s because doing so can prove complicated: Supporting and scaling apprenticeship programs usually involves piecing together multiple local, state, and federal funding streams. Each source has different funding periods, reporting requirements, and rules about how the money can be spent.

 

Colorado is trying to address this challenge and, in doing so, make programs easier to run and scale.

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How Four of Trump’s Policy Actions Could Impact Higher Education in 2025

Natalie Schwartz, Laura Spitalniak, and Ben Unglesbee, Higher Ed Dive

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President Donald Trump's second term began with a flurry of executive orders—more than three dozen in just two weeks.

 

Those directives aim to carry out many of Trump’s campaign promises, including tightening immigration, cracking down on student protests, and stamping out diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Many of these early orders could have far-reaching implications for colleges and universities, which have found themselves navigating mandates that are often unclear in their scope.

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Compton College Addresses Student Homelessness and Basic Needs

Jayla Moody Marshall, Diverse Issues in Higher Education

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In 2016, Compton College began an ambitious campaign to support homeless students and address the basic needs of all learners.

 

Today, the school is breaking ground on a 250+ bed housing facility, becoming the first community college in Los Angeles County to offer campus housing to its students. More than a physical space, however, the multiphase project is focused on fostering community and instilling students with a sense of belonging.

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Trump Axed Support for Tribal and Hispanic-Serving Colleges. They’re Not Happy About It.

Zachary Schermele, USA Today

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Last October, Antonio Flores peered over the president’s left shoulder. Flores, the head of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, stood just behind Joe Biden as he brandished a new executive order that created, for the first time, a presidential advisory board on Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

 

Three months later, with another stroke of a different pen, President Donald Trump reversed it all.

HUMAN WORK AND LEARNING

Is College Worth It? Students of Color Don’t Shy Away From Answering This Question.

Wendy Sedlak, Lumina Foundation

Video: Tackling the Challenges of Higher Education: Insights From State Legislators

State of Play

Ensuring Economic Mobility for Students

Tabitha Whissemore, Community College Daily

Blog: Three Questions for JHU’s Ira Gooding

Joshua Kim, Learning Innovation

STUDENT SUPPORT

Deepening On-Campus Job Experience for Student Success

Ashley Mowreader, Inside Higher Ed

Virginia Lawmakers Look to Fund Solutions to Campus Food Insecurity

Megan Pauly, VPM

Fox Valley Tech Creates 'Food Locker' to Help Students Struggling With Food Insecurity

Andrew Mertins, WLUK

Commentary: Students Are Disengaging to the Point of Skipping Exams. This Is How We Can Help

Sean D'Arcy, University Business

COLLEGE ENROLLMENTS

CUNY Board Unveils ‘Master Plan’ Projecting Enrollment Bump

Jonathan Custodio, The City

Enrollment Rates Declined at Stanislaus State for Five Years. What Contributed to the Decline?

Taylor Johnson, The Modesto Bee

As Costs Increase and Enrollment Declines, Small Ohio Colleges Adapt to Survive

Conor Morris, Ideastream Public Media

STATE POLICY

Lawmakers Consider Allowing Bachelor’s Degree Programs at Community Colleges

Brooklyn Draisey, Iowa Capital Dispatch

Ohio Students and Faculty Slam Higher Ed Overhaul Bill: ‘We’re Not Going to Stop Fighting It.’

Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal

Proposed North Carolina Bill Would Change College Degree Requirements

Brandy Beard, WBTV

Wisconsin Technical College System Lays Out Budget Request During Legislative Briefing

Baylor Spears, Wisconsin Examiner

NEW PODCASTS

How FAFSA Got Fixed

Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent 

Embracing Diversity, Fostering Belonging

In the Margins

What Community Colleges Must Do to Win the Value Proposition Battle

The EdUP Experience

Keys to Launching New College Programs That Build Enrollment

Changing Higher Ed

How Ghost Students Are Threatening Higher Ed Enrollment Goals

The Higher Ed Geek

luminafoundation.org
Daily Lumina News is edited by Patricia Brennan.

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