The case for Biden’s plan beyond high school
Higher education is at a point of inflection in which it must decide its purpose in America. President Joe Biden’s plan to offer the first two years of college tuition-free has created an imbalance in…
commentary
Washington Watch: House may pass stimulus bill Friday
The House Rules Committee is expected on Friday to approve the American Rescue Act, and it’s likely the full House will pass it later the same day. The higher education provisions in the bill brought…
Why traumatized students can’t learn and what community colleges can do about it
A few semesters ago, I received this email from a student in my human sexuality class whom I will call “Karla”: “Dear Professor Dennis, I am sorry that I have not been in class the past…
The next normal for colleges
March 2020 changed the world of education forever. Upon the initial emergence of Covid-19, many educational institutions were forced to close their doors completely, halting instruction for thousands of students. But in the coming months,…
Washington Watch: Poised to pass more funding for higher ed
The House Education and Labor Committee was poised to approve legislation at our press time on Tuesday night that would provide $39.6 billion in additional higher spending to combat the pandemic’s impact. The bill was…
Covid and credential attainment
For the first time since 2012-13, the number of undergraduate credential earners in 2019-20 did not increase over the prior year, according to new data released by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. However, there…
How community college students can increase their visibility with employers
Finding a job after college can be a daunting task for any student. The process is especially intimidating for community college graduates, who are often also competing against the graduates of four-year institutions, who have…
An entrepreneurial approach to deliver on the community college mission
Carrie B. Kisker It is tempting, in the early days of 2021, after one of the most harrowing years any of us can remember, to look ahead to brighter times (a vaccinated end to the…
Washington Watch: ED releases ‘CARES 2.0’ funds
The U.S. Education Department (ED) on Thursday announced the availability of new stimulus dollars provided through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) to help both institutions and students. The funds are…
Transforming 2020’s disruptions into 2021’s reforms
For the last nine months of 2020, community college administrators, faculty and staff have been forced by multiple waves of disruptions to rapidly adapt in many new ways. Beyond the massive faculty efforts to transition…