Higher Education / Public News Service

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the construction industry faces a shortage of 500,000 workers, prompting calls for bigger and more accessible training programs. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 11, 2025

MN tribal college looks to be key player for skilled labor training

Minnesota's unemployment rate is low, but the state still faces a skilled labor shortage. A regional college hopes to be a solution as it looks to …

Nearly 75% of all jobs in Colorado, and 95% of top-earning jobs, require a credential or degree beyond high school. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Colorado colleges tap NYC program to get homegrown talent into good jobs

Colorado educators are hoping that a successful accelerated degree program known as ASAP, grown at City University of New York, will take root in two …

In 2019-20, some 21% of undergraduates and 11% of postbaccalaureate students reported having a disability, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Monday, April 7, 2025

Blind students sue West Virginia University for discrimination

Two blind students are suing West Virginia University. They allege the school has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not providing …

The Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) grant program, created in 1979, helps Florida students pay tuition at private, nonprofit colleges. (Pixabay)

FL House budget proposal threatens college access for 22,000 students

Nearly 22,000 Florida college students could lose critical tuition help under a state House budget proposal. The plan would cut $3,500 annual grants …

Since March 8, the Trump administration has attempted to arrest or deport at least six additional pro-Palestinian foreign students across four campuses, including Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown and Tufts universities. (Adobe Stock)

Arrest of U. of Cincinnati student fuels national free speech debate

UPDATE: A statement about the arrest from the University of Cincinnati has been added. (8:10 a.m. MDT, Apr. 3, 2025) A recent arrest on the …

Integrated health care programs mix traditional medicine with humanities, IT and business skills to create more well-rounded health care professionals. (Adobe Stock)

New Iowa State program combines health care, business skills

Educators at Iowa State University are creating a new major to meet what they see as a new and growing demand in the health care field: pairing medica…

While students work toward their pilots licenses at the Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences in Denton, they also gain knowledge in subjects like aviation law, weather and aerodynamics. It is the only such program in the nation geared toward women. (Craig/Adobe Stock)

Texas Woman's University trains next generation of airline pilots

Registration is open for the next information session for the Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences at Texas Woman's University in Denton, where …

Experts say student loan debt has created a ticking time bomb in the United States, in part because of legal challenges to the Biden administration's efforts to cancel student debt for some borrowers. Now, many are in limbo as services are cut by the Trump administration. (Adobe Stock)

Giving Minnesotans tools to sound off, navigate student loan fallout

Minnesota officials have launched a new portal, asking parents, students and others to share how they are affected by the Trump administration's …

Data show of all U.S. college undergraduates in 2021, 107,000 were American Indian or Alaska Native, a 40% drop since 2010. But some advocates said the numbers are off because of poor data collection.(Adobe Stock)

Former grant recipients now ambassadors for Native education opportunities

The Jackson-based group Native American Jump Start has been providing grants to Native students, interns and young workers for decades and this year…

Ohio's median home price increased by 14% from 2020 to 2024, making affordability a growing factor in migration decisions. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio struggles to retain young adults

By Vanessa Davidson / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Around 1,000 more people …

Financial pressures play a big role in resident physicians' unionization and strikes. A survey by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) found that 14% of medical residents reported educational debt exceeding $300,000. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Doctors, WMed reach agreement, avert potential strike

A strike set to begin today has been averted at Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, known as WMed. Its resident …

Joelly B. Chavez, left, encourages folks to get informed and

AZ students voice concerns about student aid, federal cuts

As Americans wait to see if Congress goes along with President Donald Trump's plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the uncertainty is …

The findings of a study on farmer's reactions to drought conditions will provide valuable insights to help shape more sustainable agricultural practices and water conservation strategies. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Grant money used to study drought practices of AR farmers

Students and professors at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock are studying farmer's reactions to drought conditions. The university received a …

A fear of missing out, and social pressure and expectations, are among the most significant drivers among teens 13 to 17 using social media, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska grad students help teens navigate social media

Graduate students at the University of Nebraska are creating lessons plans for middle and high school students to help them navigate the social media …

Lumina Foundation research predicts that by 2031, 72% of U.S. jobs will require some form of higher education or skills training beyond high school. (Marius Venter/Adobe Stock)

TN works to encourage more people to earn degrees, credentials

Tennessee is working to get more people into college and career training programs, which the state says will be needed for good jobs in the future…

Global shortages of semiconductors in 2021-22 highlighted the United States' reliance on foreign manufacturers and the need for domestic production. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

MO university powers up semiconductor workforce

A Missouri university is stepping up as America works to revive semiconductor manufacturing by helping train people to do the work. It is estimated 3…

WI nonprofit creates song to interest younger kids in soil science

A local nonprofit with a mission to advance regenerative agriculture is hoping its new video can open up an untapped world of science to a younger aud…

Between 2010 and 2018, Ohio's nonmetropolitan areas experienced a 7.6% job growth-nearly 10 times the national average for rural regions.(Adobe Stock)

Ohio's rural Gen Z faces job dilemma: Will talent stay or go?

New research indicated less than half of rural Gen Zers believe they can find a good job in their communities. Despite Ohio's predominantly rural …

The U.S. Department of Education currently manages student loans for more than 40 million borrowers. (Adobe Stock)

With Department of Education gutted, what happens to student loans?

Student loans are among the areas overseen by the U.S. Department of Education and since President Donald Trump has followed through on his threat to …

Ohio Senate Bill 1 would require all students to complete a three-credit-hour American history course. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's SB-1 parallels national administration's anti-DEI sentiment

Debates over academic freedom and diversity initiatives have intensified nationally and in Ohio. Senate Bill 1, known as the Advance Ohio Higher …

A Lumina Foundation report ranks Wyoming 38th in the U.S. for the ratio of its workforce that has a post-high school credential and is making a

More Wyomingites get degrees, but anti-DEI law could slow progress

The number of working-age Wyoming adults with college degrees or valuable credentials increased by over 18% between 2009 and 2023, according to …

PoliChic Engagement Fund says it's critical Texans make sure lawmakers are voting in their public interest. (JHVEPhoto/Adobe Stock)

Texans encouraged to use their voices during current legislative session

Many Texans feel strongly, one way or another, about the proposed school voucher bill before state lawmakers. Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed a plan to …

High school students are getting a head start on careers in the

Program trains underserved high school students for 'data economy'

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Virginia News Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News…

Among older borrowers, 28% regularly provide unpaid help or care for an adult relative or friend, according to New America. (Adobe Stock)

Education department layoffs could leave NV older borrowers in limbo

Policy analysts have been sounding the alarm on the Department of Education's ability to reach and engage with low-income, disadvantaged and older …

More than one in three older Americans who still owe debt from college live with a child or parent, according to New America. (Adobe Stock)

Dept. of Education cuts could spell trouble for UT's older student loan borrowers

Policy analysts have been sounding the alarm about the Department of Education's ability to reach and engage with low-income, disadvantaged and older …

When looking for job training, 74% of urban Gen Zers strongly agree or agree that they could access the needed training, compared with 62% of rural Gen Zers, according to Gallup. (Adobe Stock)

Data: Lack of opportunity pushes rural Gen Zers in AZ out of their communities

New research finds that less than half of rural Gen Zers believe they can find a good job in their communities. According to U.S. Census data…

Around 55% of parents of young rural Gen Zers believe their child can accomplish their long-term goals in their current area, compared with 81% of urban parents who have a young Gen Z child, according to Gallup. (Adobe Stock)

Many NV rural Gen Zers forced to seek educational, professional paths elsewhere

New research finds that less than half of rural Gen Zers believe they can find a good job in their communities. Most Nevadans live in the state's …

HBCUs significantly contribute to the national economy. In 2024, the United Negro College Fund reported that HBCUs had a $16.5 billion positive impact. (AS Photo Family/Adobe Stock)

MI study: HBCU students show better mental health, despite challenges

Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that Black students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Blac…

Faculty unionization in higher education has increased 7.5% from 2012 to 2024. (Adobe Stock)

MD bill may give faculty the right to unionize

Professors on college campuses across the country are unionizing at increasingly higher rates and a bill in the Maryland General Assembly may help the…

Attorney for rural MI college expected lawsuits over ‘Dear Colleague’ letter

An attorney for a small, rural Michigan college said she expected lawsuits over the "Dear Colleague" letter schools received last month from the U.S…

Rutgers Law School offers students free legal consultations through the Rutgers Immigrant Community Assistance Project. (Adobe Stock)

NJ educators respond to ICE expanded reach on campus

With Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents now permitted to make arrests at colleges and universities, immigrants' advocates are raising …

About one-quarter of all higher ed students in Utah, roughly 54,000, are international students or first or second-generation immigrants, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. (Adobe Stock)

Higher ed experts advise campuses on how to prepare for ICE

On President Donald Trump's second day in office, his Secretary of Homeland Security rescinded a Biden-era rule barring Immigration and Customs …

Lumina Foundation will continue monitoring progress for its original 60% goal through its Stronger Nation website and will now add new data to its collection. (Adobe stock)

Hoosier Ed: Lumina targets 75% credential rate

Indiana-based Lumina Foundation has set a goal of 75% of U.S. working-age adults having college degrees or valuable credentials by 2040. The …

Protesters in California and across the nation came together for a day of action on Tuesday to underscore the importance of making higher education more accessible and affordable. (Matt Hardy/California Federation of Teachers)<br />

Hundreds march in Sacramento for more education funding

Several hundred protesters marched to the Capitol building in Sacramento on Tuesday, calling for better funding for education. The event was part of …

University campuses are being told to create best practices for faculty and staff to assist immigrant and international students. (Sabrina/Adobe Stock)

Changes in U.S. immigration policy affect AR college campuses

Arkansas colleges and universities are trying to ensure learning is not disrupted because of executive orders by the Trump administration. President …

A policy from the Biden administration originally restricted federal immigration officers from conducting raids in

Higher ed leaders talk preparation for immigration officers on MD campuses

An executive order from President Donald Trump allows immigration officers to enter traditionally off-limits places, like houses of worship, schools …

First- and second-generation immigrants comprise nearly a third of all students enrolled in higher education in the U.S. (Drobot Dean/Adobe Stock)

How WA campuses can prepare for ICE

On President Donald Trump's second day in office, his Secretary of Homeland Security rescinded a Biden-era rule barring Immigration and Customs …

Immigration law allows ICE agents to enter public areas of a university campus without a warrant, but students have the right to remain silent. (UNM.edu)

Higher ed leaders steer response to ICE presence on NM campuses

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are now are allowed to make arrests near colleges and universities, and higher education leaders are …

Even though Wisconsin is considered restrictive in its tuition and financial aid policies for undocumented students, more than 20% of the higher education student body is international, or first-or second-generation immigrants. (Adobe Stock)

WI colleges, universities get advice about ICE on campus

On President Donald Trump's second day in office, he rescinded a Biden-era rule barring Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from making …

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa, a public land-grant research university in Honolulu, is the flagship campus of the University of Hawai'i system. (Adobe Stock)

Teachers' union preps Hawai'i college officials to respond to ICE inquiries

Following President Donald Trump's executive order lifting Immigration and Customs Enforcement restrictions in protected areas, the American …

University of Southern California recently scrubbed many 'DEI' references from its website and sent a campuswide email saying its Office of Inclusion and Diversity would no longer be a standalone entity. (Hanson/Adobe Stock)<br />

Educators sue to block Trump anti-DEI policy

The American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association are suing the Trump administration over a threat of funding cuts and inv…

International students, who make up more than 5% of all U.S. higher education students, may be impacted by a federal policy change that newly allows ICE to make arrests on campuses. (Adobe Stock)

Higher ed experts advise campuses on how to prepare for ICE

On President Donald Trump's second day in office, his Secretary of Homeland Security rescinded a Biden-era rule barring Immigration and Customs …

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is responsible for operating, running and overseeing detention centers nationwide, and has often been criticized for detainee treatment and conditions. (danielfela/Adobe Stock)

MI teachers union guides colleges on response to ICE inquiries

Following President Donald Trump's executive order lifting Immigration and Customs Enforcement restrictions in protected areas, the American …

Nearly 750 Idahoans have graduated from the WWAMI medical education program. (allexxandarx/Adobe Stock)

Doctors, Idahoans rise up to protect state's medical education program

Idaho legislation that would end the state's participation in a regional medical education program is facing a groundswell of opposition. WWAMI - …

The 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities served by the American Indian College Fund have a combined enrollment of nearly 22,000 students across 13 states. (Adobe Stock)

ND tribal colleges share positive numbers, but uncertainty looms

A new report says North Dakota's five tribal colleges contribute nearly $170 million to the state's economy. But any positive news is overshadowed by …

Participants in the Nebraska RAICES teacher training program receive leadership development and mentoring designed to support them in their teaching careers. (Adobe Stock)

Federal cuts jeopardize rural NE teacher training program

The future of a teacher training program in rural Nebraska is in danger since the Trump administration has cut diversity-related grants in its effort …

Research shows community involvement is key to decreasing absenteeism. Mayors, employers and other community leaders can help students recover. (AnnaStills/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR students still struggle with COVID-19 learning loss

Arkansas ranks 23rd among states in terms of the change in math achievement between 2019 and 2024, and 19th in reading, according to the Education …

According to the site datausa.io, about 60% of theatre workers are white, nearly 13% are Black, 5% are Asian, and less than 1% are Indigenous. (Photo courtesy University of Michigan)

MI university professors address diversity gaps with online makeup tutorials

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collabor…

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