Mainstream media and industry news shapes, reinforces, and redresses commonly held narratives - those underlying beliefs and attitudes that drive human behavior - about higher education and the workforce.  Dr. Rita Parhad and Emily Keane from Protagonist discuss the major narratives and counter narratives that exist in America today, what drives them, and the implications these narratives have on individual and institutional behavior.  Show Links:   Economic Opportunity and Social Mobility Landscape Report

Understanding Public Narratives About Workforce and Higher Education

Institutions and non-profits across the country are providing new kinds of services and redesigning policies and practices to support more adults in higher education. In part 2, we talk with Malik Brown and Sena Owereko from  Graduate Philadelphia, and from Dr. Ed Mills and Kaley Martin at Sacramento State University about how they are changing outcomes for adult learners.

What it Takes To Return: Adults in Higher Education - Part 2

Millions of adults in the US have some college credit but never finished their degree. The path back into school a second time is much harder to navigate.  We begin a two-part series by talking with adult students and their coaches to learn about what it takes to return to school.  Listen as Juquilla Henry, her coach April Mesa, and Jamar Izzard share their stories of returning to higher education.  Show Links:   Veering Off-Track: ‘Some college, no degree’ numbers spike to 39 million Learn more about FutureMakers Navigator support in southwest Florida.

What it Takes To Return: Adults in Higher Education - Part 1

A  new study conducted by Gallup and Lumina Foundation found that three-fourths of students in bachelor’s programs and two-thirds of adults seeking associate degrees have considered taking a break from college due to emotional stress.  Dr. Zainab Okolo of Lumina discusses the growing mental health crisis across the country and explores how it is having a great impact on adults and students of color.  Dr. Jo Blondin, president of Clark State College, discusses how they are supporting students, staff, and faculty through a culture of care.  Show Links:   Pandemic Exacerbates Mental Health Issues for Black Students - Diverse Education  14-year-old earns associates degree from Clark State College  Gallup and Lumina Foundation Report Get Help Today

The Mental Health Crisis and Higher Education

Aligning the work of state agencies, colleges, universities, community organizations, and philanthropy towards common goals takes trust, a neutral intermediary, and a focus on what is best for students.  State-level networks across the country are leading efforts to make their state’s education and workforce systems better.  Ryan Fewins-Bliss of the Michigan College Access Network, Chandra Scott of Alabama Possible, and Laura Winter of the Missouri College and Career Attainment Network discuss the ways their networks build trust, advance postsecondary policy and practice, and improve equitable outcomes for students in their home states.

The Power of State Networks

States across the country are re-examining higher education laws, policies, and regulations to better serve the needs of  Today’s Students.   Scott Jenkins, Lumina Foundation’s strategy director for state policy, talks about Lumina’s  state policy agenda, the flaws with current state funding for higher education, and how he and his colleagues are supporting policymakers around the country.  Commissioner Carlos Santiago of the Massachuettes Department of Higher Education shares how his agency designed and implemented an Equity Agenda - a multi-pronged approach to addressing racial equity in higher education.  Santiago gives specific examples of policies that have been updated after a state-wide “equity audit” and shares what he has learned about higher education leadership over his 30+ year career.

Racial Equity in Higher Education Policy

Join us as we wrap up the major higher ed news from 2021 with  Danielle Douglas-Gabriel of the Washington Post, Elissa Nadworny of NPR, and Katherine Wheatle of Lumina Foundation.  Together, we talk about the important and sometimes strange stories inside higher education, and consider themes to watch for in 2022. 

2021 Wrap Up

Lumina’s Fall 2021 issue of Focus Magazine, titled Native Excellence, relied on an experienced team of Native American journalists and photographers.   Suzette Brewer and Hondo Louis join us to talk about their process, reporting during the pandemic, and about the importance of Native American representation in journalism.

Telling Our Own Stories

Marking our 30-episode anniversary, we visit the issue of campus safety and policing. Last year, the murder of George Floyd forced communities, campuses included, to examine how policing helps and harms the communities it intends to serve. We speak with  Charles H. F. Davis, III, Nadine Jones, Wisdom Cole,  Marlon Lynch, and  Jael Kerandi to learn about how communities are working together to address campus safety. Lumina Strategy Officer, Katherine Wheatle, joins as co-host. Resources discussed during the show:   Racist Roots of Campus Policing by Dr. Eddie R. Cole’s Washington Post Op-Ed  NAACP Toolkit  Michigan State University Reorganization of Policing

The Current State of Campus Policing

Nearly 1 in 4 college students today have children or care for dependents. Colleges and universities are often not set up to support parenting students.  Nicole Lynn Lewis of Generation Hope, and Buffy Tanner and Janet Hubbard of  Shasta College join us to talk about what is being done to support parenting students.  To learn more about student parents, check out the following resources:   Who are Today’s Students?  Read the  2020 Hope Center Report, surveying the views of more than 23,000 parenting students.  Check out “Pregnant Girl”, Nicole Lynn Lewis’ memoir.  Learn more about Shasta College’s award winning  ACE program.  Enter the lives of parenting students through  Rachel Bujalski’s photojournalism work.

Supporting Parenting Students

Short-term credential programs are rapidly expanding around the country, and the trend is likely to continue through new federal and state investments in workforce development. Yet concerns about racial and gender inequity, and concerns about program and credential quality surround this growing postsecondary option. We talk with experts, policymakers, and practitioners on today’s show to understand the current landscape of short-term credential programs and the key issues that need to be addressed while these programs expand. Guests include:  Kermit Kaleba, Strategy Director at Lumina Foundation; Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA);  Jesse O’Connell, Strategy Director at Lumina Foundation; Randy Stamper, Assistant Vice Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System; and, Dr.  Monique Ositelu, Senior Policy Analyst at New America and Founder/Data Strategist at Itàn.   To learn more, read  Kermit’s recent post about state-wide programs and check out Dr. Ositelu’s report on the  Landscape of Short-Term Credentials.

The State of Short-Term Credentials

Stark differences by race and ethnicity in student borrowing trends are well known, but real progress depends on setting up a different conversation.  Dr. Amanda Tachine and  Amanda Martinez offer insights on how we can better understand the experiences of Native and Latino student loan borrowers. Co-host Dr. Katherine Wheatle dives deep into truths v. tropes of borrowers of color. Learn more by visiting  here. 

Changing the Narrative on Borrowers of Color

Innovation is a buzz word we can’t get away from.  But with so much “innovation” happening in higher education, how do we know what is truly unique and impactful?  Professor Youngbok Hong, journalist Paul Fain, and president Dr. David Wilson share their ideas on how institutions can use what they have to make what they need. [00:01:54] Professor Youngbok Hong [00:25:15] Paul Fain [00:47:57] Dr David Wilson

Innovation: Using what we have to make what we need.

“I think it’s fantastic that we are seeing equity creep into conversations about what higher education policy should look like. But, I’m really concerned that I’m already seeing it creep on out,” Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Jesse O’Connell, and Amanda DeLaRosa offer their optimism and concerns about higher education in 2021.

Looking Ahead to 2021 w/ Danielle Douglas-Gabrielle, Jesse O’Connell, and Amanda DeLaRosa

The GI Bill provides education, housing and other supports to veterans, but not everyone benefits equally.  On this Veterans Day show we talk with veterans, historians, and advocates focused on improving education opportunities for those who have served. Hear from Joe and Joey Cyrus, a father and son duo that served in the US military and used their benefits to earn higher education while balancing work, raising a family, and separating from the armed forces.  Dr. Eddie R. Cole, associate professor at UCLA and author of  The Campus Color Line discusses the historic exclusion of Black veterans from GI Bill benefits.  Carrie Wofford, president of Veterans Education Success, also joins us to talk about modern issues faced by veterans and the role federal policymakers can play in improving education outcomes.

Supporting Veterans and the GI Bill: A conversation with the Cyrus family, Dr. Eddie R. Cole, and Carrie Wofford

Authors Jeff Selingo, Melissa Korn, and Jennifer Levitz join Dakota and expert commentator Andre Phillips in a discussion about what’s working, what’s broken, and what’s illegal in college admissions. This episode aired live on August 18, 2020.

College Admissions (And What’s a ‘Good College,’ Anyway?)

To understand the impact of COVID-19 on communities across the nation, we talk with three guests responsible for responding to student needs and preparing for recovery.  Guests include: Cathy Longstreet, a high school counselor from Hastings, Mich.; Chancellor Juan Salgado who leads the City Colleges of Chicago; and Dr. Harrison Keller, the Commissioner for Higher Education in Texas.

Responding Today, Preparing for Tomorrow – Harrison Keller, Cathy Longstreet, & Juan Salgado

Education in the United States uses time as a measurement for learning. My guests talk about changing this paradigm to value knowledge, skills, and abilities over how long it takes to learn. Dr. Charla Long of the Competency-Based Education Network, Natalie Schwartz of Education Dive, and Dr. Zainab Okolo of Lumina Foundation discuss the current state of competency-based education.

It’s what you learn, not how long it takes: Competency-based education with Charla Long, Natalie Schwartz, and Zainab Okolo

37 million adults in the United States have some college credit but have yet to earn a degree.  The first step in re-engaging these adults is to listen and learn from them. On today’s show, I am joined by Johnathan Williams and Charletta Thomas, two people who returned to school to complete their degree.

Going back to college after 30 years - Johnathan Williams and Charletta Thomas

College affordability, education for justice-impacted populations, the continued growth of mega-universities and the closure of small institutions are some of the issues likely to dominate education policy and generate headlines in 2020.   Jesse O’Connell, strategy director for federal policy at Lumina Foundation, shares his six higher ed predictions for 2020.  

Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent

Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Talent

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