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.
Author: Laurie Arnston
Postsecondary Education Continues to Open Pathways to Good Jobs
A new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce examines the expanding job market by forecasting the number of good jobs in 2031 across 22 occupational groups and three educational pathways: bachelor’s degree, middle-skills, and high school.
Do Legacy Admissions Policies Impact Enrollment Equity?
In 2023, the Supreme Court ruling on the consideration of race in admissions illuminated a similar conversation about admissions equity: legacy status. The newest release of data on the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System included, for the first time, data on institutions’ legacy admission policies, and the Institute for Higher Education Policy examines this data in a new report.
Disability and Higher Education: Insights for Campus Administrators
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’s Role in Securing a Climate-Resilient Future
Higher Ed Climate Action, an Aspen Institute initiative, has released a report intended to guide the higher education sector’s approach to climate change. The plan outlines key priorities and recommendations in mounting a comprehensive, vigorous response to environmental threats.
Advancing Civic Learning and Community Engagement at Community Colleges
A recent survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center and the American Association of Colleges and Universities examines the critical role community colleges play in fostering civic knowledge and community engagement among students.
The Effectiveness of Emergency Aid Programs
During the pandemic, over 18 million students received emergency aid support from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund as part of the CARES Act. A new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center analyzes different emergency aid programs, with an emphasis on understanding how they impact students’ completion and retention.
Suicide Postvention: A Critical Guide for University Housing Managers
The Jed Foundation recently released a new emergency preparedness guidebook, offering crucial best practices for off-campus student housing managers dealing with postvention—the actions taken after the sudden and tragic loss of a community resident.
NCAA Mandates Annual Mental Health Screenings for Student-Athletes
The NCAA, in consultation with its Mental Health Advisory Group, has released a new edition of Mental Health Best Practices, which provides guidance to support student-athletes’ mental well-being. NCAA member institutions are required to offer resources and services consistent with the best practices, which go into effect Aug. 1.
College Application Trends Following the Supreme Court’s Race-Conscious Admissions Ban
A new study by Common App shows no major changes in application trends by race or ethnicity following the Supreme Court’s ban on race-conscious admissions, but long-term effects remain to be seen.
Mind the Gap: How Middle-Skills Providers Can Meet Local Labor Market Needs
The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce has analyzed how well middle-skills providers match their credential offerings with local workforce demands.
Addressing Student Mental Health by Addressing Loneliness
Active Minds and TimelyCare, two leading organizations dedicated to raising public awareness of mental health issues, have issued a report summarizing findings from a survey they conducted about loneliness among college students.