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The changes happening at community colleges will ultimately drive change across the US higher education sector. Too much attention is focused on what “elite” institutions are doing, vs paying attention to the transformations occurring at the grassroots. Community colleges are the barometer of education in the US. https://lnkd.in/eFrfse4F

Recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reveals that more than 36 million U.S. adults have some college experience but no credential, a population known as "some college, no credential" (SCNC). Despite a 2.9% increase in SCNC students between July 2021 and July 2022, only 2.6% re-enrolled in higher education, highlighting ongoing challenges in re-engaging these individuals. First-generation students are particularly at risk of leaving college, reflecting broader trends of changing enrollment and low confidence in higher education. https://lnkd.in/d8EeEWM2

Small colleges are at the most risk of closure due to enrollment declines. This former university president suggests that small colleges could join forces, structured to reduce operating costs and further develop their strongest programs. #GreatCollegeAdvice #HigherEd #SmallColleges #CollegeConsolidation

Small colleges are at the most risk of closure due to enrollment declines. This former university president suggests that small colleges could join forces, structured to reduce operating costs and further develop their strongest programs. #GreatCollegeAdvice #HigherEd #SmallColleges #CollegeConsolidation

Continuing to follow the variety of approaches institutions, systems, and states are taking to decrease time to value for students including equitable, well-planned dual enrollment, improved transfer policy/practice, workforce aligned community college baccalaureate degrees, and accelerated or 3-year bachelor's degree programs. Each of these have the potential to improve outcomes while reducing cost to learners.

Emotions on college admissions are running high. A recent NY Times article, The Misguided War on the SAT, discussed that while colleges leaned away from standardized tests during the pandemic, research indicates scores play a crucial role in predicting various aspects of success. Standardized test scores can have a significant impact on shaping the academic journey of aspiring students. Even the President of Brown University, Christina Paxson, highlights their significance, asserting that standardized test scores outperform high school grades as a predictor of academic success. At Huntington Learning Center, we support a balanced perspective that acknowledges the potential benefits of standardized testing in promoting diversity and transparency in the admissions process. By evaluating test scores alongside other factors and recognizing the resilience of students who have overcome challenges, we aim to contribute to a fairer and more inclusive future. We will continue to empower students to unlock their potential and give every student the best education possible. Learn more about how we can help your young teenagers navigate this process and prepare: https://bit.ly/3OdejQK #HuntingtonHelps #EmpoweringStudents #SATPrep #TestPrep

Standardized testing is only one factor in admissions. But now 63% of the Ivy League returned to requiring it. Cornell now joins Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, and Harvard in requiring standardized tests. However, they ivory tower in Ithaca, NY, will remain test optional for this upcoming application cycle (for Fall 2025 enrollment). Afterwards, the new policy will be adopted by all of its colleges. That leaves just Penn, Princeton, and Columbia (which has extended test-optional indefinitely). Cornell’s argument is that 91% of its Fall 2022 students took a standardized test, but only 28% reported them. Source: https://lnkd.in/gwUCGYZ3 According to Cornell’s chart below, they claim it’s harder to make the class more diverse without students reporting their test scores. 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲? Source: https://lnkd.in/gqmP_2Y7 “𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘔𝘐𝘛, 𝘠𝘢𝘭𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳-𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦.” Source: https://lnkd.in/g8R4wsTm

A Plan to Save Small Colleges Via @Inside-Higher-Ed Increasing the probability of survival for many small colleges involves groups of colleges affiliating under a particular structure that would facilitate both (1) a significant reduction in operating costs for each college and (2) a rationalization of each college’s academic offerings to concentrate on its strongest programs. https://bit.ly/3W2PSbQ

Over the last several weeks I've been fortunate to be included in discussions organized by Jeff Doyle as part of a class he is offering on the Future of Higher Education. This week we were looking at predictions/trends in higher education. Based on the readings and discussion, here is a little more detail on the third hot topics/trend that I feel will be front and center for the 24-25 academic year. Would love to hear thoughts from others: 3️. Attracting the "Some College No Credential" Population by Making Programs More Accessible and Attractive to Adult Students The push to engage the "Some College No Credential" population is growing, with institutions offering more certificates and microcredentials to attract adult learners. Additionally, some schools are exploring three-year (90 credit) baccalaureate degrees, which have already received approval from NWCCU and HLC. This shift aims to make education more accessible and aligned with career advancement. With the demographic cliff, challenging the value and ROI of a 4-year degree, and other pressures, those in enrollment and academics that ignore this population do so at their own peril. For more details, read the report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center: Some College, No Credential. https://lnkd.in/eH47uJcp

NEW PAPER ALERT: As Congress considers reauthorizing the Higher Education Act (HEA), it's critical that Titles III and V are updated to better meet the needs of 21st-century students—particularly for students attending minority-serving institutions or MSIs. Our latest report dives into actionable steps for policymakers to make this vision a reality. By reimagining how we support students and strengthening accountability for institutions, we can ensure every student, regardless of race or income, has the opportunity to go to and complete college. Now is the time to build a higher education system that centers equity and access for all. Read more: https://edtru.st/3YGKZYo #HigherEdEquity #HEA #EduReimangined #EdPolicy