Daily Lumina News 112223

On this particular day, most students in the California State University, Chico library are silently poring over books or computers, but one group is tucked into a corner, peppering university president Stephen Perez with questions.
This mostly lighthearted mixer has a serious purpose: getting university leaders to see and support rural students. It’s part of a small but growing effort on some campuses to create a stronger sense of belonging for rural students, who drop out at higher rates than their suburban counterparts.

Today's students seem to value passion as much as practicality when it comes to preparing for a career. And they expect moderate-to-high levels of support from professors and academic advisors to help them reach their goals.
That's according to a survey of 3,000 students at 144 two- and four-year institutions. Findings also highlight students' perspectives on what career centers are doing right—and could be doing better.

Earlier this month, Joseline Leyva, 18, took part in senior night at her high school in Tyler, Texas. Dressed in a blue Army ROTC uniform, she repeated the JROTC Cadet Creed: "I am the future of the United States of America."
But that’s not how the law sees Leyva. Brought to this country as a baby, Leyva is an undocumented immigrant. Today, Leyva and other undocumented people who came to the United States as children are seeing their ambitions thwarted amid legal uncertainty, despite public support.

College in prison is a desperately needed step toward improving justice in America, writes Max Kenner, founder and executive director of the Bard Prison Initiative at Bard College, in this essay.
Still, the greatest impact of college-in-prison programs may be on higher education itself: transforming who we think college is for, how we find students, and what we imagine they can achieve.

High school seniors have been busy finalizing their college admission applications in an atmosphere of intense national conversation about what use of artificial intelligence is advisable, permissible, responsible, and detectable.
Once they press "submit" on their application, they will turn their attention to wondering what is happening inside the “black box” of the admissions office. This year, that mystery may be more nuanced than ever. Will humans or machines be deciding their fate?

Campuses have long been hotbeds of debate, protest, and political tension, but few issues have been as vehemently contested in recent years as conflicts related to Israel and Palestine.
PEN America's Kristen Shahverdian and Sam LaFrance offer advice on the steps college administrators can take to embrace free expression and delineate between speech and violence.