Daily Lumina News 102122

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says transcript withholding is often illegal—and that it's time for colleges to find more supportive approaches or face consequences.
Ithaka S+R has been a leader in finding alternative solutions to transcript holds. Their proposals include re-enrollment programs, especially those that encourage regional collaboration between institutions, the forgiveness of small debts, and enhancing support for student basic needs to reduce the number of students forced to stop out.

Rahsaan “New York” Thomas and David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez both graduated from college while serving a life sentence. They credit those educational experiences as their salvation.
In this interview, Thomas and Gonzalez talk about fighting the system and the role of education in prison when you think you’re never getting out.

Google is making a bigger push into higher education, partnering with name-brand universities to offer more advanced credentials that build on its signature Career Certificates program. It’s a blending of industry and academic expertise—with an eye toward helping more Americans get high-demand jobs.
The four new industry specializations—for fields like construction management and financial analysis—are co-designed by Google’s technical experts and university faculty with subject matter expertise.

Undergraduate college enrollment is continuing its years-long decline, though at a much less drastic rate than during the pandemic.
Some bright spots in the preliminary data released this week from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center include increased undergraduate enrollment at historically Black colleges and universities, and at primarily online institutions, where more than 90 percent of students are generally remote.

As the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program hangs by a thread, undocumented students represent an increasingly vulnerable population.
This week, higher ed leaders from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brought together experts to discuss how to help these students. Among the suggestions: increase financial resources, implement more check-ins with advisors, improve one-on-one counseling, and provide additional legal support.

Jared Goldberg is one of many students across the country fighting for their colleges and universities to cancel classes on Election Day, Nov. 8.
Advocates say that having the day off encourages young people not only to vote but also to participate in the election by, say, working at the polls or watching the election results with other students. Plus, supporters argue, it sends a message that the university considers voting and civic engagement high priorities.