Short Takes

In a new issue brief, Louis Soares, the chief learning and innovation officer at ACE, explores the concept of a learning ecosystem for postsecondary education, with a focus on alternative providers. Alternative providers are positioned in terms of their potential advantages, such as short credential pathways, low costs, flexibility, and connections to the labor market.

In its annual report, the National Student Clearinghouse provides context in creating better outcomes for the “some college, no credential” (SCNC) population, specifically on reenrollment, persistence, and credit/degree completion. The report found that this population now consists of 40.4 million people, a 3.6 percent increase from last year, likely induced by pandemic-era challenges in higher education.

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators recently released a report providing guidance to college and university leaders on how to support borrowers waiting for their student loan repayments to resume or those beginning repayment.

e College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) has released a new report on the college admissions workforce, arguing that as higher education is undergoing unprecedented change, colleges and universities should take this opportunity to reconsider the future of their admissions departments.

In a new brief, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) shares findings from a national survey focused on student parents’ financial challenges and comparisons between student parents’ and non-parenting students’ financial circumstances, behaviors, and decisions related to funding or paying for their education.

Researchers from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) recently released a short report on considerations around direct admissions policies. Direct admissions is a method to admit students to an institution while circumventing the traditional student application process.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) released a report highlighting tenure and non-tenure employment patterns among faculty members across the United States. The report utilized data from the National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Data System (IPEDS), and National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF) to provide trends in faculty appointment type from fall 1987 until fall 2021.

The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) has released a new report that provides guidance on how colleges and universities can develop an approach to address mental health and well-being. The report discusses how different trends affect mental health services on campuses and suggests ways to improve them.

Lumina Foundation and Gallup have released a new report that provides insight into the mental health environment in higher education today. The report draws on data collected in the fall of 2022 for the Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education 2023 study.

Today’s students must often navigate higher education and its associated costs while facing increased basic needs insecurity and limited need-based financial aid to close the gap. In a new brief, The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) suggests policy recommendations and changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to better meet students’ basic needs and position them to both enroll in and complete college degree programs.

The Healthy Minds Study provides a snapshot of the state of mental health and well-being among the nation’s enrolled college students. The study seeks to “identify needs and priorities; benchmark against peer institutions; evaluate programs and policies; plan for services and programs; and advocate for resources.”

Third Way has released an update to its 2019 report examining institutional outcomes on completion, post-enrollment earnings, and student loan repayment. The organization regularly examines these key areas to better determine and map a baseline level of quality education for college students.