Daily Lumina News 051922

As the pandemic continues to drag on, many college students report being disengaged and disconnected. Faculty and staff members say they feel burned out and demoralized. And college enrollments are down overall.
Several academic leaders offer their take on the current state of higher ed: what's working well, what should change, and what can be done to better support students.

The campaign to improve graduation rates throughout the 23-campus California State University system is making progress even during the pandemic. But challenges loom as schools grapple with more low-income freshmen dropping out.
All campuses are employing various strategies and reforms to get those students back on track, including financial assistance to take summer classes, early warning systems of grades and attendance records, extra advising, and tutoring help.

Some 45 million people carry a collective student loan balance of $1.7 trillion. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is expected to announce a decision soon on whether to forgive some of that amount for those who owe.
Many people are calling for a total debt cancellation program. Others believe cancellation won't solve the root cause of the student loan debt issue. Jerusalem Demsas, a policy reporter at The Atlantic, weighs in.

Nine college presidents who are stepping down soon or have left their post over the past year reflect on the nature of leadership, the changing demands of running a college, and their concerns about the increasing headwinds facing higher education.

Two bills pending in California aim to make it easier for more undocumented and international students to qualify for in-state tuition.
Advocates say the bills would reduce equity gaps and increase access to an affordable higher education. The move is especially critical, they contend, when the state is enjoying a record budget surplus and students are recovering from a global pandemic.

The pandemic’s impact on this year’s high school graduates is captured in new survey data showing that one in four seniors changed their future plans because of COVID.
Less access to college and career counseling could be one reason for the shift in attitudes. English learners, LGBTQ youth, and students of color were more likely to reconsider their next steps, according to the report.