Daily Lumina News 060820

They come from rural towns and inner cities. They enrolled in college at 18, at 28, and at 48 years old. Some received full scholarships; others worked full-time jobs. Many became the first member of their family to earn a degree.
The stories of 20 new graduates serve as a reminder of why it’s so important for schools to eliminate barriers and create pathways that help students flourish.

In this Q&A, Satra Taylor of The Education Trust discusses the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on students of color and low-income students, as well as the impact of the current unrest spurred by racial violence on Black students. Two students also join the conversation.

As protests and unrest roil the country following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, more than a dozen colleges have publicly responded to outrage over racist social-media posts by incoming students—and several, mostly private institutions, have swiftly rescinded admission offers.

Many police officers in California are trained through programs offered by the state’s community colleges. Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley reflects on why it’s important to take a hard look at whether the courses address cultural differences and racial biases—and for the community college system to use its leverage for changes.