Daily Lumina News 092123

Too often, the value of a college education is expressed solely in dollars and cents. Money matters, of course, and research shows that Americans with graduate degrees have incomes more than triple those of workers with only a high school diploma; bachelor’s degree holders, more than double.
But it’s about more than money. Education beyond high school helps people take ownership of their lives—and find satisfaction in living them, writes Lumina Foundation's Jamie Merisotis in this perspective piece.

Unpaid internships have long faced scrutiny for their inaccessibility, especially for lower-income students who can’t afford to work for free.
Now the National Association of Colleges and Employers is taking a firm stance against unpaid internships, arguing in a new campaign—called Unpaid Is Unfair—that such internships should be outlawed nationally.

Tiara Hall is studying early childhood education at Miami Dade College. She is a returning student after leaving college 10 years ago. But motherhood eventually changed her mind on the value of a degree, she says.
Going back to school as a single mom hasn't been easy, but thanks to the unwavering support provided by MDC, she is on track to success. Her story illustrates the resilience of the human spirit—and that those who dare to believe in their dreams will achieve them.

It's been a tumultuous year for defenders of anti-racism in higher education. Between 2022 and 2023, government entities introduced 57 measures to restrict the teaching of critical race theory in colleges and universities. Forty bills were brought up to limit diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. And the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the use of affirmative action in college admissions.
Experts warn that conservative attacks on higher education aren’t going away any time soon. They may be getting worse.

Mental health issues are increasingly prevalent among today's college students—and it's forcing schools to think more creatively about what they can do to meet the demand.
One institution is taking a unique approach to mental health. It has created a program designed to address student distress before it manifests into a crisis. Jim Gash of Pepperdine University explains more in this interview.

Sometime after the spring of their sophomore year of high school, the mailboxes of college-bound teenagers begin filling with college brochures. The glossy pamphlets promise dynamic teaching, caring professors, expanded horizons. Campus visits repeat the drill, with guides citing statistics on robust undergraduate research and experiential learning opportunities.
The message: We care about your education. Good teaching is important to us. But is it?