HEADLINES: Top Higher Education News for the Week

September 20

Many young individuals’ lives are in limbo as DACA applicants await an appeal of a federal court ruling that the program is unlawful, the Chicago Tribune reports…Inside Higher Ed releases its annual survey of admissions officials…The Hechinger Report looks at a 15-step program aiming to “erase equity gaps” in college completion… The University of Texas hit a record percentage of Hispanic undergraduate students enrolled this year.

Young Lives at Pause as First-Time DACA Applicants Await Federal Appeal of Court Ruling That Declared Program Unlawful
Chicago Tribune (sub. req.) | September 20, 2021

Admissions Survey in a Wild Year
Inside Higher Ed | September 20, 2021

Colleges Sign On for a 15-Step Program to “Erase Equity Gaps” in Completion
The Hechinger Report | September 17, 2021

University of Texas Hits Record Undergraduate Hispanic Student Enrollment
The Austin-American Statesman | September 20, 2021

September 17

Inside Higher Ed reports on the tuition-free community college plan in the upcoming Build Back Better Act currently being crafted in Congress by Democrats . . . The Chronicle of Higher Education examines the student data collection efforts at Amarillo College, which has nearly doubled its graduation and transfer rate in the past five years . . . The New York Times looks at the new FAFSA form.

Here’s What Free Community College Might Look Like
Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 17, 2021

This College Is Asking Personal Questions — and the Answers Have Helped Boost Completion Rates
The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) | Sept. 16, 2021

What’s Changing in the New FAFSA and What’s Not
The New York Times (sub. req.) | Sept. 17, 2021

September 16

The Washington Post looks at the incentives some public universities are giving to students to encourage vaccinations . . . Inside Higher Ed reports on the merger between Northeastern and Mills College . . . A new survey finds that community colleges play an outsize role in providing job-focused education . . . Universities across the University of North Carolina System have more students at their campuses this fall than ever before, despite the uncertainty of the pandemic . . .The Washington Post writes that a string of dismissed federal investigations has amplified concerns about whether prosecutors have been overzealous in pursuing researchers of Chinese descent.

Largest Colleges Push Student Vaccines With Mandates, Prizes
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | Sept. 15, 2021

Northeastern Acquires Mills College
Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 16, 2021

Report: Community Colleges Drive Workforce Education, Training
Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 16, 2021

Even With All the Pandemic Uncertainty, UNC System Sees Record Enrollment Growth — Again
The News & Observer | Sept. 15, 2021

China Initiative Aims to Stop Economic Espionage. Is Targeting Academics Over Grant Fraud ‘Overkill’?
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | Sept. 15, 2021

September 15

Colleges and universities are waiting for clarification on what the Biden administration's vaccination order means for their campus communities . . . The Senate has confirmed James Kvaal as under secretary for the Department of Education, the top post overseeing higher education . . . Work slows to a crawl in the House on the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, which has a number of provisions for higher education . . . Inside Higher Ed looks at how the new Texas voting law will affect college students, including stricter registration and voting rules when casting ballots on campus . . . The Chronicle of Higher Education writes on the takeaways from the new federal data on how colleges fared during the pandemic.

Days After Biden’s Vaccination Order, Most Colleges Are Still in the Dark
The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) | Sept. 14, 2021

Colleges Are Struggling With How To Handle Vaccine Mandates
NPR | Sept. 14, 2021

Senate Confirms James Kvaal to Ed Dept's Top Higher Ed Post
Higher Ed Dive | Sept. 14, 2021

Democrats Put Off Hard Decisions on $3.5 Trillion Spending Plan for Now
The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | Sept. 14, 2021

Texas Law Poses Threat to Student Voting
Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 15, 2021

3 Things New Federal Data Reveal About How Colleges Fared During the Pandemic
The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) | Sept. 13, 2021

September 14

Doubling the maximum Pell Grant to $13,000 would result in substantial reductions in future student loan debt, according to a new report from the Gender Equity Policy Institute . . . Preliminary data on fall 2020 from the Department of Education confirm declines in college enrollment and retention . . . A new study that looks at long-term survey data found that food insecure college students were 43 percent less likely to graduate . . . The California legislature has passed a measure that would extend federal food assistance benefits to more college students in the state . . . A Hechinger Report op-ed looks at the prevalence of microcredentials and the role they will play in the future of higher education.

Biden Could Slash Student Debt in Half for the Average Borrower if Congress Doubles the Pell Grant, Report Finds
Business Insider | Sept. 14 2021

Not Coming, Not Staying
Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 14, 2021

College Students Experiencing Food Insecurity Less Likely to Graduate
The Hill | Sept. 10, 2021

California Bill Would Extend Food Benefits to More Students
Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 14, 2021

OPINION: Meet Certificates and “Microcredentials” — They Could Be the Future of Higher Education
Hechinger Report | Sept. 13, 2021