Lumina Foundation is working to increase the share of adults in the U.S. labor force with college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity.
While public discourse may paint a different picture of free speech on today's college campuses, a new study from Lumina Foundation and Gallup suggests that open discussion remains a core value of higher education.
According to the study, most bachelor's degree students, regardless of political affiliation, say their university fosters an environment where free speech is welcomed and encouraged. From discussions on race, gender, and religion to broader political viewpoints, students feel they can express themselves openly and freely and that their opinions are respected.
Johnson Controls launched the Community College Partnership Program in 2021 and is on track to donate up to $15 million by the end of 2026. The program has provided 30 community colleges (so far) with funding to expand access to educational programs in the HVAC, fire, security, and digital disciplines.
In this interview, the organization's Mike Schade discusses the program and the responsibility of industry to help educate the future workforce.
When Hurricane Helene hit just over six months ago in western North Carolina, many community colleges immediately transformed into critical response centers. At Western Piedmont Community College, parking lots became staging areas for power restoration crews working to reconnect communities. Blue Ridge Community College opened its doors to essential operations, creating a coordination hub for multicounty relief efforts.
These examples illustrate the importance of investing in North Carolina's community colleges so that they have the resources they need to lead their communities forward—not just through this recovery, but toward a more resilient future for all North Carolinians, writes MC Belk Pilon of the John M. Belk Endowment in this commentary.
When she began to check out colleges as a high school student, Jacqueline Quintero noticed something many seemed to have in common. “I don’t like saying it, but they all looked so white,” says Quintero, whose parents came to the United States from Mexico. “I just didn’t feel a sense of belonging.”
That sentiment may be changing. Long neglected, Hispanic high school graduates are now getting new attention because colleges and universities need them. And so far, anti-DEI sentiment hasn’t gotten in the way.
Fatou Jallow remembers hearing her grandmother tell stories about the many funerals she attended in Gambia. Far too often, people in her country died of treatable illnesses because they lacked access to medical care.
Those stories stuck with Jallow, eventually inspiring the 27-year-old to pursue a career with the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Harvard master's degree student was eventually offered a competitive Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship. But in late February, Jallow's dreams and future career plans were abruptly cut off.
Over the last month, the Trump administration has rapidly ramped up efforts to revoke students’ visas and residency status, and it shows no sign of slowing down. In the past five days alone, hundreds of international students discovered that their visas had been revoked. Many of those terminations are happening at regional public universities and small private colleges.
Meanwhile, administrators are struggling to keep up and advise their students. Many more colleges are reluctant to publicly confirm any student visa revocations, anxious to avoid attracting federal scrutiny and uncertain how to navigate an increasingly fraught legal gray zone.
