Daily Lumina News 022423

The way many states choose to dole out financial aid could have the “unintentional consequence of disproportionately excluding Black and Hispanic students,” new research shows.
Because the demand for aid far outweighs available dollars, states are forced to ration need-based financial aid through different eligibility restrictions. A new Urban Institute report examines how these requirements can impact who ultimately receives—and benefits from—that aid.

Employers are growing increasingly interested in alternative credentials as a way to find qualified candidates and grow the skills of current employees.
At the same time, they may be having trouble navigating a vast market filled with offerings from higher education institutions and alternative providers. That creates challenges and opportunities for colleges and universities, say education watchers.

Applications for President Joe Biden’s student debt relief were more likely to come from Democratic states and congressional districts than from Republican ones—but not by that much, particularly given the highly-charged partisan battle over the program.
That’s one takeaway from a new analysis of federal data that provides the most detailed portrait yet of which neighborhoods across the country may benefit from the sweeping debt cancellation effort.

Local workforce development boards are often called the engine driving growth and prosperity at the community and regional level.
In this interview, Melanie Anderson of the National Association of Workforce Boards discusses why community colleges are valuable and integral partners in this process.

Many people on both sides of the debate are anxiously awaiting the oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court next week about whether President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan is constitutional.
Three student loan experts offer their take on the debate and what it means for the future of college costs and debt.

A new report by the Community College Research Center underscores the relevance of work-based learning and its impact on helping college graduates land jobs.
The research also helps inform an ongoing debate about the role colleges can and should play in preparing students for work and increasing economic mobility.