News and views in higher education attainment from Lumina Foundation

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Racial Justice and Equity

Changes in how Lumina makes grants and awards contracts will highlight the need for racial justice and equity

Lumina Foundation has a long-standing commitment to achieving racial equity—the point when an individual’s race or ethnicity no longer predicts educational outcomes. Creating a learning system in which Black, Hispanic, and Native American people are a priority was crucial to our launch 20 years ago.

Paola Santana, Amanda DeLaRosaJan. 14, 2021

Black and white photo of marchers on campus with signs that read

Racial Justice and Equity

Lumina awards an initial round of nearly $3.2 million in grants to 11 organizations working to achieve racial justice

INDIANAPOLIS—Lumina Foundation has released the first grants from a $15 million Racial Justice and Equity Fund to national and Indianapolis-based organizations that focus on eradicating systemic racism in fields that align with or complement the foundation’s work.

Jan. 13, 2021

Rioter in crowd shouting into a megaphone.

Racial Justice and Equity

Education and active citizenship in the age of rising authoritarianism

The days between now and Jan. 20 will feel like some of the longest and shortest of our lives. We live with uncertainty, fear and a palpable amount of dread—about what President Trump may do, about the actions of those who have been radicalized by his ideas and words, and about the feckless elected leaders…

Jamie Merisotis Jan. 12, 2021

Featured Podcast

Racial Justice and Equity

Time for change in this critical moment for higher ed racial equity, cost of college

Dakota PawlickiJan. 12, 2021

Amber Garrison Duncan

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Amber Garrison Duncan

Amber Garrison Duncan is a strategy director at Lumina Foundation, where she leads a portfolio of work that supports the creation of a system in which student success and credential attainment are scaled up significantly, particularly in community colleges.

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Racial Justice and Equity

How colleges and states can help students caught in the pandemic ‘swirl’

As we discussed in our first blog post on “student swirl,” the reality that is starting to emerge is that many of today’s students’ educational journeys are changing as childcare, school openings, and jobs are still uncertain.

Haley Glover, Amber Garrison DuncanJuly 31, 2020

Racial Justice and Equity

Standing Up for Students Amid the Pandemic Learning ‘Swirl’

Higher education is in turmoil. Over the past few months, we’ve reached out to dozens of higher education leaders—presidents, policy experts, researchers, and governors, too.

Amber Garrison Duncan, Haley GloverJune 23, 2020

Human Work and Learning

In this recovery, states are leading the way with credential pathways to good jobs

Long before the pandemic and economic crisis hit early this year, states were working to prepare citizens for the workforce of tomorrow. Well, tomorrow is here. We are in the midst of the most devastating economic crisis we’ve ever known, layered on top of a deadly public health crisis.

Amber Garrison DuncanJune 4, 2020

Competency-Based Learning

As companies change hiring policies, do college degrees still matter?

At least 14 large employers (including Apple, IBM, and Google), have dropped four-year degree requirements in favor of skills-based hiring.

Amber Garrison DuncanJan. 23, 2019

Credentials

What if finding your career was as easy as finding lunch?

In Indianapolis, where Lumina Foundation is based, the historic City Market houses all kinds of places to grab a bite. From burgers to crepes to falafel, you can find it here.

Amber Garrison DuncanNov. 14, 2018

Competency-Based Learning

Conference to share CBE experiences, focus on best practices

Join the growing network of higher education leaders and innovators at this year's CBExchange conference on competency-based education, Sept. 20-22 in Phoenix.

Amber Garrison DuncanJuly 28, 2017