Daily Lumina News 052220

Just a few months ago, soon-to-be college graduates had their pick of jobs and internships.
Then the coronavirus took hold. Companies rescinded job offers and canceled internships.
Amid historic job losses, many students in California and elsewhere are now considering alternatives such as graduate school and projects until hiring resumes.

Today’s health crisis presents an opportunity for college presidents to do more than secure institutional survival, writes Joshua Wyner of the Aspen Institute in this essay.
Wyner says schools should use this moment to do three difficult things: fix transfer, increase need-based aid, and advance teaching quality.

Hundreds of institutions have pledged to return to in-person classes in August, after the coronavirus forced them to move instruction online in the spring. While some of those colleges intend to return to normal operations, others have configured their calendars with earlier start and end dates.

Three years ago, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) started setting the stage for a massive experiment: Would requiring all seniors to create a post-graduation plan before commencement day give students more direction in the next phase of their lives?
And now, in the middle of a pandemic, the requirement is going into effect. Chicago’s current seniors are the first to face this new graduation hurdle as they finish high school remotely. CPS leaders insist it’s vital, now more than ever, that school counselors talk with students about their plans.