Indigenous populations have long faced barriers in pursuing higher education and Minnesota's new free college tuition program could help put some of these dreams within reach.

This fall, the state launched its North Star Promise initiative, where households earning below $80,000 qualify for free tuition at state colleges and universities. Experts said limited scholarships are one of the many obstacles Native Americans encounter in the world of higher education.

Anna Sheppard, president of White Earth Tribal and Community College, does not sense the new program will lead to a big enrollment boost but for students receiving aid, it could take their college journey to greater heights.

"What I really appreciate is that they're not going to have to graduate having debt," Sheppard emphasized. "Maybe they're going to pursue a master's or doctoral, so then they don't have to worry about that."

She noted juggling student loans and other college debt often limits Indigenous populations from obtaining advanced degrees. Research from the Postsecondary National Policy Institute shows that between 2010 and 2020, there was an 18% decrease in graduate enrollment among Native Americans.

At White Earth, Sheppard noted the possibility of more students from tribal areas means they could be learning about in-demand careers and technology, such as solar energy.

"On top of that, we do have a solar array on campus, so they get to see one that's actually an operation," Sheppard explained. "Right now, that powers our extension-customized education building."

She suggested the solar classes they provide, including learning how to install panels, put the students in a better position after graduation with more projects coming on board in Minnesota. Industry leaders said they are having a harder time filling jobs, increasingly offering good pay and benefits.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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Some North Dakota community colleges and technical schools have had success when it comes to student enrollment but they have not been able to avoid challenges seen nationwide in hiring enough faculty.

The National Education Association said across the U.S., the number of faculty at two-year institutions declined 5% in the past decade, with two in three community colleges seeing declines averaging 17%.

Lisa Karch, executive vice president of academic affairs at the North Dakota State College of Science, said they have had ups and downs with staff retention, noting there were a few unfilled openings to start this academic year. She argued it is vital to have enough instructors to keep specialized class sizes smaller.

"For our labs, it really comes down to a safety issue," Karch pointed out. "Whether it's a welding lab or a diesel lab or HVAC or plumbing."

She stressed they have accelerated efforts to have succession planning with more faculty retirements expected in the near future. The school also launched a new program where existing staff get additional training support on innovation related to their course material, making their professional development demands less of a burden.

Bismarck State College, which offers a mix of two-year and four-year degree options, reports difficulty in competing with the private market.

Dan Leingang, vice president of academic affairs at the school, said certain faculty are being wooed by job opportunities too hard to pass up.

"What we're seeing is a salary differential," Leingang observed. "Especially in highly technical fields, where the industry is paying very strong wages because of the demand."

Public schools have a harder time matching such offers. But Leingang added they are taking advantage of higher enrollment numbers and reinvesting the revenue into faculty salaries and bonuses. Like the State College of Science, they are also leaning on industry leaders within the region to serve as part-time faculty to help fill gaps and ensure students get a comprehensive learning experience.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.

As the economy continues to struggle with inflation and ongoing fears of a potential recession, a new report found the nation's labor market will add more good jobs in the next decade.

Skilled trades will offer solid career pathways and are even more promising due to massive public and corporate investment in infrastructure and the transition to green energy.

Artem Gulish, senior federal policy adviser in the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University and co-author of the report, said most good jobs will require bachelor's degrees or specialized credentials.

"Sixty-six percent of good jobs will go to workers with a bachelor's degree or higher, and 15% will go to workers with a high school diploma or less," Gulish reported.

A good job is defined as paying at least $43,000 a year and a median annual salary of $74,000 for workers age 25 to 44. West Virginia is among five states with the greatest expected share of jobs for workers with a high school diploma or less, according to data from the Center.

The mass exit of baby boomers from the workforce and artificial intelligence in the coming decade will cause shifts in many sectors of the economy. Gulish pointed out blue-collar jobs such as construction, health care, maintenance and repair will increasingly require postsecondary training.

"Those jobs are increasingly going to be shifting to middle-skills workers with more specialized skills," Gulish emphasized.

The report also pointed to job quality beyond salary in the future jobs landscape, including access to health care plans and retirement benefits. The data show 89% of workers in the highest wage bracket have access to health care plans and retirement benefits, compared with only 30% of workers in the lowest bracket. Flexible work schedules and access to wellness programs are more common among in higher-income jobs.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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SUNY Morrisville recently wrapped up its first classes as part of New York's Offshore Training Wind Institute.

The state-funded program is part of efforts to build up the clean energy workforce. Along with training courses for wind technicians, the program offers hands-on lab and real-world experience for students.

Benjamin Ballard, professor of renewable energy at SUNY-Morrisville, said the goal of the Offshore Wind Training Institute is building capacity.

"Building capacity means developing training specifically for the wind technicians but also developing a pipeline of students coming from K-12 institutions," Ballard explained. "The training that we proposed in our offering starts with career exploration at the K-12 level, offering some micro-credentials."

He pointed out the micro-credential courses provide a good introduction to renewables. Other courses include electrical theory for renewable energy systems, tower climbing safety and how wind systems work. Ballard noted the school is pursuing workforce development funding to make it a more economically available long-term program. This can help students afford the school's tuition and transportation costs.

While Morrisville's program is still relatively new, student feedback has been positive.

Malcolm Ivers, a former Morrisville student currently working as a wind technician for the firm RWE, said the most helpful thing he learned are industry standards and practices. He advised students to build a versatile skill set.

"Take elective courses, take unnecessary courses just to see what's out there and to build your resume," Ivers urged. "Being able to put EPA 608 certification on your resume might not feel valuable but it's all about making yourself a well-rounded candidate."

Ivers added high job prospects drew him to the field. New York State's clean energy jobs have grown more than 8% between 2020 and 2022, a trend expected to continue as the state continues its clean energy transition. Wind energy jobs specifically have grown 52% from 2016 to 2022.