Lumina Foundation is committed to increasing the proportion of Americans with high-quality degrees, certificates and other credentials to 60 percent by 2025.
Colleges and universities across the nation are launching numerous initiatives—including courses, research projects, and strategic plans—to meet the rising demand for an artificial intelligence-ready workforce.
But those offerings can vary widely depending on an institution’s resources and industry connections. It’s a divide leaders of community colleges, which typically serve high proportions of low-income and first-generation students, are acutely aware of and want to change as AI’s popularity soars.
A new survey of college leaders shows deep concerns and some stark divisions about how well they believe their institutions are preparing students and faculty members to use generative AI. Senior administrators are also divided as to whether the impact of the technology on their colleges will be more positive than negative. The vast majority believe it could enhance learning, but virtually all are worried about its impact on academic integrity.
The responses collectively paint a picture of a sector not yet ready to handle the changes that generative AI is bringing to higher education and society at large.
After a challenging few years, community colleges celebrated a comeback in 2024 with notable gains in enrollment, retention, and persistence rates. These successes are worth celebrating, especially as students and institutions navigate long-standing barriers to achievement—including food insecurity, talent shortages, and unpredictable budgets.
To maintain this forward momentum, experts say community colleges must stay ahead of key trends that could impact the sector, both positively and negatively, in 2025. Here are six trends to watch closely this year.
Effective collaboration between higher education and industry is vital to addressing workforce challenges and preparing today's learners for evolving economic demands.
In this interview, Washington State University's Narek Daniyelan discusses the current state of collaboration between higher education institutions and industry partners, the importance of these strategic partnerships, and the metrics needed for success.
The fires in Southern California are far from over. And as first responders continue their battle, there's also renewed attention around a lesser-known group on the front lines: incarcerated firefighters.
More than 1,000 of the firefighters who have been battling the Southern California wildfires are part of a long-running state program that is estimated to save California tens of millions of dollars a year. Supporters say the effort offers a pathway out of prison and the possibility to train to become certified firefighters. However, critics say the work and pay are exploitative.
Throughout her 20-plus years in education and technology, Naomi Boyer has consistently remained passionate about community engagement, educational transformation, and the personalization of learning. Today, as senior vice president of digital transformation at Education Design Lab, Boyer leads initiatives on digital microcredentials, skills-based learning, and competency frameworks.
On this podcast, Boyer shares her thoughts on the need for trust and transparency in the talent marketplace, how to better align education with workforce needs, and what must happen to empower individuals to take control of their learning journey.
