News and views in higher education attainment from Lumina Foundation

Featured Story

Talent Development

CivicLab Chosen by Lumina Foundation to Serve and Expand Talent Hubs Network

Today CivicLab, a program of the Community Education Coalition of Columbus, Indiana, announced that it has been chosen by Lumina Foundation to assume responsibility for Lumina’s national Talent Hub network and Lumina’s Community Network.

Jan. 19, 2021

Illustration of line of humans holding hands in silhouette against a rising sun.

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 DeLaRosa Jan. 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

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

Credentials

The University of the Republic?

It is too soon to draw full and conclusive lessons from the 2020 election, but two things are beyond dispute: Joe Biden has been elected the next President of the United States, and America remains deeply polarized.

Jesse O'ConnellNov. 20, 2020

Credentials

Public libraries have always been a national treasure. COVID can help unlock their full potential

Forced by the COVID crisis to reassess how they serve their communities, our nation’s public libraries are finding new, innovative ways to enhance and expand their roles in our civic life.

Jamie MerisotisOct. 2, 2020

Credentials

Education, economic security, and the future of our democracy

Not having the education required for today’s jobs poses a threat not only to our citizens but to our democracy. There is a strong correlation between levels of education and the allure of authoritarianism.

Jamie MerisotisSept. 30, 2020

Credentials

A ‘closing argument’ for the national goal of 60% of adults having more than a high school diploma by 2025

Since its launch 20 years ago, Lumina Foundation has focused on student access and success in the field of learning that takes place after high school. Today, that focus is more important than ever as society’s need for talent—and the drive to expand the proportion of Americans with quality education and training to meet this…

Jamie MerisotisSept. 15, 2020

Credentials

College enrollment could very well go up this fall—yes up!—but the system is still broken and we urgently need to fix these five areas

Since the pandemic gained steam back in March, the drumbeat of stories about higher education’s impending demise has been nonstop. It’s true that some schools will be losers in the battle for students and resources. But don’t be surprised if overall enrollment, one of the sector’s most watched vital signs, doesn’t take a surprising turn…

Jamie MerisotisJuly 10, 2020

Credentials

In a brutal recession, education is more important than ever – here’s how to help people finish their college degrees

Few institutions in society will be spared as the worst economic, social, and public health crisis in our lifetimes unfolds. That includes higher education - but we can still seize the moment to fix a system that’s long overdue for change.

Haley GloverMay 19, 2020

Credentials

The time is right to ensure that all quality learning counts

People who want to learn but can’t afford or get access to education and training after high school should be helped with high-quality programs that result in degrees, certificates, and other credentials. As always, though, the question is, how do we ensure that new programs live up to their promise of offering pathways to new…

Frank Swanzy Essien, Jr.Nov. 12, 2019

Credentials

Inside the Big Confusing Credentialing Tent: A New Mission to Understand Non-Degree Credentials

New research is showing the growing value of credentials—but the trouble is, no one seems to fully grasp what credentials are, or how to decipher terms like non-degree and sub-degree.

Frank Swanzy Essien, Jr., Holly ZanvilleJune 28, 2019

Credentials

Innovative community colleges focus on real student success

The news sounded good at first: My 18-year-old niece is enrolling in the local technical college to become a phlebotomist, a person who draws blood from patients. But my enthusiasm turned to skepticism the more I investigated.

Wendy SedlakMay 22, 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

Credentials

The case for college data transparency

If you were making one of the most important and expensive decisions of your life, how much of the necessary information would you want to have? About 100 percent? 75 percent? Would you settle for 50 percent?

Jesse O'ConnellOct. 23, 2018

Credentials

Powerful, new technology isn’t just displacing workers. It’s uncovering learning pathways to employment in new fields.

A lot has been written about the impact of technology and whether robots and artificial intelligence will supplant humans. Far less has been said about the opportunities that advances in technology will create for building new credentialing systems that can capture and validate all forms of learning.

Jamie MerisotisDec. 7, 2017

Credentials

We Can Innovate Responsibly While Protecting Students

Lumina Foundation CEO: Report on Western Governors University shouldn't tarnish gains made in competency-based education.

Jamie MerisotisSept. 21, 2017

Credentials

“Perfect storm” skills shortage threatens economy, but we have a path forward

Change can be hard, but we’ll get there. That’s the message of hope we heard at the 2017 Education Symposium this week with Army University, Lumina Foundation and the CBE Network.

John StraussJune 22, 2017