Daily Lumina News 033023

Many adult learners struggle in their pursuit of higher education. Some can’t afford hot meals or shelter. For student-parents, the issue is often an inability to afford childcare. It’s no surprise that many stop or delay their studies.
But there’s some good news. New, innovative programs can make a difference because they do two things: listen closely to students’ voices and needs, and partner with broad coalitions. A program in Maine is doing just that.

A new series is taking a closer look at the unique and innovative work of community colleges across the country.
First up is Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, Minnesota, where art, culture, and nature intersect to create a powerful and memorable education experience.

Renee Contreras is an undocumented student born in Mexico, who graduated from an Indianapolis high school. When Contreras began looking at options for higher education, she struggled to figure out which institution was affordable.
Indiana is one of 10 states with a law specifically blocking undocumented students from paying in-state tuition at public universities and colleges. Advocates argue this can prevent students from getting the education needed for a successful, self-sustaining life.

Emotional stress is causing more students to leave college and keeping others from enrolling. This comes at a time when people need post-high school education more than ever—and the country desperately needs their talent.
As the chorus over mental health grows, colleges and universities are finding new ways to extend scarce resources and build holistic networks of support for students.

At religious colleges throughout the United States, LGBTQ groups are demanding equal resources and recognition. Many institutions have not acquiesced, leaving these groups to operate underground.
“Being underground harkens back to being closeted, being forced and shoved aside. Being unrecognized. Being invisible and erased," says Erin Green, a campus and alumni organizer for the Religious Exemption Accountability Project.

Schools from Indiana to California are grappling with crippling teacher shortages today. To address the challenge, many school districts are creating residency programs to better recruit and train new teachers.
One program in Jackson, Mississippi, is already paying off.