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One million acres of forest protected under The Conservation Fund, including in OR; Trump seeks to set aside his New York hush money guilty verdict after Supreme Court immunity ruling; 'Share the Pennies' weatherization program tackles climate solutions, reduces cost; Utah feels the impact of California's ban on gestation crates.

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SCOTUS gives former President Trump a huge win in terms of immunity, which might apply to charges of election interference. A new poll finds future court appointments are crucial for voters, and President Biden continues to face post-debate calls to leave the race.

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Ugly, imperfect produce destined for the landfill is being upcycled by a California candy company, a Texas volunteer uses his Navy training to map the gaps in broadband, and Pennsylvania has a new commission tasked with reversing its shrinking rural population.

With national support, MN rural community college can reshape its future

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Monday, May 20, 2024   

A Minnesota community college serving rural students is getting a lift as it works to bring more innovation to its campus.

The school was selected as part of a national effort to ensure smaller institutions have the tools to thrive.

Riverland Community College, with locations in greater southeastern Minnesota, was chosen for support from the Accelerating Equitable Outcomes initiative.

It's part of an organization known as Achieving the Dream.

The group's President and CEO Karen Stout said rural community colleges tend to work with tight budgets, making it hard to access outside expertise, and their contributions are often overlooked.

"Sometimes, our community colleges in rural communities are the largest employer," said Stout. "They are sometimes the cultural hub for the community, they can be the social services hub for the community, you know, they can be the recreational hub for the community."

Stout said many students at these schools also lack key resources, and improving their campus experience might propel them to better outcomes.

Just across the border, Chippewa Valley Technical College in Wisconsin was also chosen to join the support network. The program offers a three-year engagement process where school leaders work with coaches and each other on various strategies.

Stout said a lot of these schools are the only post-secondary education option for miles around. She noted they hope to make them ready to adapt to the changing needs of their surrounding communities.

"Some of them are bringing digital skills into their general education work," said Stout, "so that every graduate of that rural community college is digitally savvy."

Stout added that as smaller towns become more diverse, these schools are likely to be serving many first-generation college students in the years ahead.

Understanding what those individuals need to succeed is viewed as a top priority. This initiative is funded through a donation from private philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.


Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.




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