Daily Lumina News 050324

The first of May has long been the deadline for many students to decide where to attend college. But this year is different. For many applicants, 2024 will be known as the year when the financial aid systems in place for decades fell apart.
While picking a college is anxiety-inducing in a normal year, the government's handling of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid upended that decision-making process. For some students, the result has been life changing.

To boost college enrollment and meet workforce needs, many states are offering free community college programs. It’s a well-intentioned (and bipartisan) idea to help people get the credentials they need and give states a way to build their supply of college-educated workers.
But what does "free" really mean? Do these programs effectively bring students back to college? And does saying something’s free diminish its value?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress gave California’s public colleges and universities more than $8 billion in emergency funding to help students and schools weather the storm.
Now, as the final deadline to spend the money approaches this June, the boom is turning to bust. Most schools have exhausted the money, often through major purchases and programs. But maintaining those efforts can be costly, and with the state facing a budget deficit this year, college leaders say it’s not clear where the money will come from next.

The repercussions of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments have redefined college life on many of today's campuses, leaving some students homeless and hurting.
In this interview, students from Barnard College, which is affiliated with Columbia University, explain why this movement has become so important to them personally.

Despite growing awareness of the need for increased education, the country is lagging in efforts to meet that need, writes Lumina Foundation's Jamie Merisotis in this column for Forbes.
Everyone needs some type of high-quality education beyond high school to thrive in today's increasingly complex workforce. That means 14 years of schooling, not just the 12 we now expect. Now it's time for policy, funding, and practice to reflect this reality, Merisotis says.

For anyone who has navigated the labyrinth of college tuition payments over the past three to four decades, it’s no secret that higher education comes with a hefty price tag.
This reality is prompting a growing chorus of voices to question the meteoric rise in costs and, more crucially, to explore potential remedies.