Higher Education / Public News Service

Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking before the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers in Houston, revved up the crowd by chanting

Friday, July 26, 2024

Harris addresses educators at national convention in Houston

Thousands of teachers, support staff, school nurses and bus drivers heard from Vice President Kamala Harris> on Thursday at their convention in …

Advocates with California Competes met with lawmakers in Sacramento to press for passage of AB 2458, known as the Greater Accessibility, Information, Notice and Support (GAINS) Act. (AJ Johnson)

Thursday, July 25, 2024

CA legislation on tap to help college students who are parents

Groups that advocate for equity in higher education are speaking out in favor of a bill in the California Legislature to make sure college financial a…

Eastern Oregon University is located in the northeast Oregon town of La Grande.(IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

OR university helps region avert rural 'brain drain'

A university in eastern Oregon is figuring out ways to prevent rural 'brain drain.' Eastern Oregon University was officially designated "Oregon's Rur…

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten called on members to defend democracy, voting rights and public education in the run-up to the presidential election this November. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

MN educators join national calls for democracy, better working conditions

Politics and education reform are among the major topics at a national convention of more than 3,500 teachers union members this week, including some …

New York is facing a shortage of 180,000 teachers, which will only grow due to a steep retirement cliff the state faces in the coming years. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

NY teachers union launches pro-public education campaign

New York's United Federation of Teachers union is launching a campaign to bolster public education. It comes as public schools' role as a social …

In a Pew Research survey conducted in April, 77% of teachers said their job was frequently stressful and 68% said it was overwhelming. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Ohio teachers voice concern over educator stress, burnout

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, is arguing for the continued role of unions in addressing economic inequality and …

More than 3,500 delegates from across the country are attending the American Federation of Teachers national convention. (kasto/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Teachers rally at national convention in Houston

School teachers and staff members, nurses and health care workers from around the nation are meeting in Houston this week for the American Federation …

Gov. Ron DeSantis approved $1.25 billion in the state budget for teacher pay. The average teacher salary in Florida, according to the National Education Association, is $53,098, more than $16,000 below the national average of $69,544. (Yan Krukau/Pexels)

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Florida educators rally at convention to address 'critical challenges'

Florida took center stage at the American Federation of Teachers national convention in Houston this week, as educators rallied to support and …

The University of Montana is using traditional gender stereotypes in its marketing materials to attract male students, whose numbers have been down in recent years. Administrators say the campaign seems to be having an effect. (University of Montana)

UM 'leans in' to gender stereotypes to attract male students

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Big Sky Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Service C…

This week, the Biden administration announced $1.2 billion in student debt forgiveness for 35,000 public service workers, following the Supreme Court's rejection of Biden's broader student loan forgiveness plan last year. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Expert provides student loan repayment tips for Tennessee grads

Tennesseans who graduated from college this summer may be celebrating now but they have also just joined the millions of Americans facing student loan…

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten will deliver her 'State of the Union' keynote address on Monday, July 22. (dragonstock/Adobe Stock}

Thousands of teachers expected in TX for their annual convention

Thousands of educators from across the nation will be in Houston starting this weekend for the American Federation of Teachers annual convention…

In 2022, Florida's Republican state legislators passed the Stop WOKE Act but a federal judge later ruled it violates the First Amendment as it applies to businesses and is impermissibly vague. A similar case is ongoing regarding lessons on race in higher education. (Pixabay)

Fighting for academic freedom, profs challenge FL's ‘Stop WOKE’ Act

Advocates for academic freedom are battling in court against Florida's claim a professor's speech is government speech, allowing them to prevent …

In 2021, more than 40% of the nearly four mil�lion stu�dent par�ents nationwide were attending a community college. (foxyburrow/Adobe Stock)

Community college program helps first-generation students, others

Postsecondary enrollment data for 2023 shows community college enrollment increased nationwide by more than 100,000 students, and a large percentage …

Only 47.8% of Alabama's graduating high school seniors have completed the FAFSA form, according to the National College Attainment Network. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama group receives grant to boost FAFSA submissions

The nonprofit group Alabama Possible has received a U.S. Department of Education grant to help increase FAFSA completion rates among students in the …

Student Fellows, Lorena and Camila, participating at a community event in Tyler, TX. (photo courtesy of Este Poder)

East TX nonprofit works to register young voters of color

The nonprofit Este Poder has a goal of helping more young people of color in rural east Texas exercise their right to vote. The organization holds …

At its June 1 commencement, 83 students received diplomas as part of the second graduating class of the Erie County Community College class of 2024. Commencement speaker First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor underscored the importance of continued community support for the school. (Peopleimages/Adobe Stock)

Erie's local college foundation helps students with unexpected expenses

As some colleges in Pennsylvania and nationwide close their doors, one school in Erie has taken a big step toward making higher education more …

Mental health professionals said therapy can play a crucial role in helping ALICE populations cope with mental health issues. (ibreakstock/Adobe Stock)

Financial strains create mental-health issues for AR ALICE population

By LaGanzie Kale for KLEK-FM.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for the KLEK-FM-Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation-Publi…

In a 2024 report from the National Education Association, South Dakota ranked 49th in the U.S. for average teacher salary, at about $53,000 a year. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Opponents: Ballot measure would have 'drastic' impacts on SD schools

A coalition of South Dakota groups is voicing its opposition to a ballot measure intended to end a state sales tax on consumables. If passed this …

As universities begin implementing a new tenure law, debate continues over its potential effects on academic freedom and the preparation of future educators in Indiana. (Adobe stock)

New IN law requires five-year tenure reviews of professors

With just over a month before Indiana university students return, a new law affecting college professor tenures is in full effect. The law targets …

In virtually identical court declarations, professors involved in a lawsuit against the Biden administration said they will not honor any student's demands to be addressed by the singular pronoun

Texas professors wage war on Title IX, threatening students' rights to abortions

By Shoshanna Ehrlich for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

Organizers say the Swingman Classic is the closest a modern-day fan can get to the historic Negro Leagues. (Danny Hooks/Adobe Stock)

HBCU students highlighted during MLB All-Star Week in TX

Major League Baseball's All-Star week kicks off tonight at Globe Life Field in Arlington with the Swingman Classic featuring 50 student athletes from …

Inaccessibility isn't just a huge stumbling block to student learning; it's also against the intent of U.S. law, which requires a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities, according to Utah State University. (Adobe Stock)

Utah State University to open center for digital accessibility within education

A new center coming to Utah State University this fall will provide accessible digital materials to students with disabilities. Cynthia Curry…

Mississippi allocates about $40 million annually to college student financial assistance. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Expert offers tips for smart student-loan repayment

Mississippians who have just graduated from college this summer may be celebrating now but they also just joined the millions of Americans facing stud…

Ohio House Bill 183 would also restrict students from using overnight accommodations with those of a different gender. (Andre/Adobe Stock)

Controversy continues over Ohio 'Bathroom Bill'

By Eduardo Miranda Strobel / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Concerns of …

Four projects across Washington were chosen to receive AARP Community Challenge grants this year. (AARP Washington)

WA projects receive $68,000 for community project upgrades

Four projects in Washington state were selected to receive grants from the AARP Community Challenge program. Combined, the organizations will …

Using the data and maps, Bastrop County Cares has been convening different stakeholders to identify areas of need to help develop solutions to address the broadband shortage in rural Texas areas. (tippapatt/Adobe Stock)

Retired TX geoscientist uses talent to connect rural community to the web

By Kristi Eaton for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

Alabama community colleges will receive an additional $35 million in state funding for 2025. (Adobe Stock)

AL universities, community colleges to receive increased funding in 2025

Alabama's universities and community colleges will receive increased funding for 2025. The state's universities are set to get a 7% boost equivalent …

Virginians ages 35-49 have the most student loan debt in the state, with $16.7 billion in outstanding loans. (Adobe Stock)

VA student borrowers affected by courts pausing SAVE program

Virginia student loan borrowers will feel the effects of federal courts blocking more student loan forgiveness. The Biden administration forgave …

The average college scholarship recipient in New Mexico is under 25 years old, female and Hispanic. (Julie/Adobe Stock)

New Mexico earns high marks, boosts enrollment with no-cost college

New Mexico consistently ranks low in childhood educational achievement, but its path to a college degree is being recognized at the highest levels…

Some 24% of people with student-loan debt say they do not expect they'll ever be able to pay it off, according Bankrate. (Adobe Stock)

NV nonprofit calls Biden's student debt initiatives economic justice

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have different views on most issues, and student loan debt is no different. In the Reno-Sparks …

More than 30 tribal nations are represented at the University of South Dakota, according to the institution. (Wikimedia Commons)

USD threats to fire staff part of larger trend

The University of South Dakota threatened to fire staff members in what some see as an ongoing attack on academic freedom, according to reporting in …

The majority of enrollees in the U.S. Department of Education's Saving on a Valuable Education program today have $0 payments, while borrowers who still owe a payment are saving an estimated $102 a month, according to the department. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Dept. of Education should improve student loan outreach

Policy analysts are concerned the Department of Education is not reaching and engaging with low-income and disadvantaged student loan borrowers in the…

One in eight undergraduate students at Virginia public colleges is also a parent. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA public college policies can help student parents

A new report examines how Virginia public colleges can help student parents. The Urban Institute report reviews three policies schools can …

More than 40 U.S. colleges and universities now obtain 100% or more of their electricity from renewable energy sources while at least 76 schools get at least 50% of their energy from renewables, according to the Public Interest Network. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Dartmouth decarbonization plan preps students for climate-related future

Officials at Dartmouth College say a massive campus decarbonization project will serve as a real-world classroom for students interested in sustainabi…

Studies have found that approximately 26% of all female undergraduate students and nearly 7% of all male undergraduate students have experienced sexual assault, according to the American Association of University Women. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio advocates: New rules strengthen protections for sexual-assault victims

Ohio advocates said the Biden administration's new Title IX regulations better protect victims of sexual assault, even as a group of states …

Administrators says the comprehensive pathway will allow students to seamlessly transition from high school to higher education and complete a degree in record time. (ktsdesign/Adobe Stock)

Texas Tech, TTU K-12 offer six-year degree plan

Texas Tech University and the online public-school TTU K-12 are teaming up to offer high school students an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in…

About 1.3 million public school educators and 100,000 college and university professors have been affected by educational gag orders from 2021 through 2023, according to a new report from the American Association of University Professors. (Adobe Stock)

University of Wyoming dealing with state’s cuts to diversity office

The University of Wyoming is scrambling to address a major funding cut state legislators passed in a footnote to the state budget. During this …

From July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023, Direct Subsidized Loans had a 4.99% interest rate with a maximum of $5,500, while Direct Unsubsidized Loans for undergraduates had the same interest rate and can go up to $20,500, minus any subsidized amounts received. (Small Smiles_dimple/Adobe Stock)

Rising interest rates prompt higher loan costs for MO students

Federal student loan interest rates have surged to their highest levels in over a decade, posing yet another challenge for Missouri students and …

Merit America's goal is to drive $1 billion in wage gains by 2025, by retraining low-wage workers for better-paying jobs in the tech sector. (BullRun/Adobe Stock)

CA tech job-training program expands with $15 million grant

Help is available for people looking to break out of a low-wage, "go-nowhere" job because the nonprofit Merit America is expanding its training …

The Summer Earn and Learn program in Texas helps thousands of students with disabilities jumpstart their careers and gain familiarity with different working environments. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

TX students with disabilities gain workforce training through summer internship

Teens and young adults in Texas who have disabilities have an opportunity to get a paid internship this summer. The Texas Workforce Commission …

CICPIndiana.com reports the average wage in the life sciences industry, $108,800, is twice that of the average-wage worker in the private sector. (Adobe Stock)

Top Indiana industry leaders team up for youth STEM careers

Companies are consistently looking for fresh talent in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. A central Indiana organization is …

The number of Arkansas children living in poverty remained the same as last year. (bonniemarie/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas receives mixed results in annual Kids Count Data Book

Arkansas is ranked 45th in the 2024 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The annual report ranks states on the overall condition …

MassEducate would invest $75.5 million in new spending to cover tuition and fees for all residents, and offer an up to $1,200 stipend for books, supplies and other costs to students who make 125% or less of median income in the state. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

Free community college plan in MA burdens underpaid, overworked staff

The Massachusetts Senate has proposed free community college for all residents, but educators say an influx of new students could overwhelm the …

Prison-to-College Pipeline Program Director Patrick Alexander, far right, and PTCPP teaching assistant, Juyoun Jang, far left, celebrate with PTCPP students who completed the Summer 2022 course titled,

Prison-to-College Pipeline Program empowers men at Parchman

A program in Mississippi is increasing access to educational opportunities for those behind bars. The University of Mississippi's Prison-to-College …

Ohio House Bill 285, the Nurse Workforce and Safe Patient Care Act, was introduced in Sept. 2023. (Rob/Adobe Stock)

Ohio Nurses Association declares 'Code Red' hospital staffing crisis

By Mara O'Malley / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. The Ohio Nurses Association …

Alabama has experienced one of the largest declines in FAFSA completion rates, with a staggering 23% decrease in the number of students completing their applications. The state now ranks 50th in terms of year-over-year change. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Alabama group works to increase college access with summer support

Advocates for higher education in Alabama are mobilizing to ensure students have the support they need for federal student aid applications this summe…

A new Interdisciplinary Arts degree at William Peace University will be a Bachelor of Arts and replaces the university's Bachelor of Fine Arts, theatre, musical theatre, and arts administration degrees. (Adobe Stock)

NC university introduces customizable degree program

A North Carolina university wants to break the mold for people studying the arts. A new degree program will not require students to narrow their …

Semiconductor manufacturing openings are growing in Oregon. (Acronym/Adobe Stock)

Report: OR workforce grows, but gaps should be addressed

A new report analyzes the workforce dynamics in Oregon and how the state can address gaps for workers and industries. The 2024 Talent Assessment …

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