News and views in higher education attainment from Lumina Foundation

Featured Story

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

Black female IT worker, stock photo.

Work and Learning

What the COVID-19 workplace can teach us about the work of the future

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to millions of workers who have been furloughed from their jobs—or even worse, are now facing permanent job loss. The effects have been worst on those with the misfortune to work in travel, hospitality and leisure, and food service, but every American worker has been affected.

Jamie Merisotis Sept. 29, 2020

Essential worker, stock photo.

Work and Learning

Essential work is work only we can do as humans. As society shifts, more of us need to get better at it.

A recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has affirmed one of the already-enduring legacies of the pandemic: If you have a college degree, your work makes you safer from the risks that COVID presents.

Jamie Merisotis Sept. 28, 2020

Featured Podcast

Racial Equity

College Admissions (And What’s a ‘Good College,’ Anyway?)

Dakota PawlickiAug. 18, 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

“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

Credentials

Lumina Foundation joins with Army University and the Competency-Based Education Network to host education symposium

Lumina Foundation, Army University, and the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) hosts an education symposium June 20 and 21 in Kansas City, Mo.

June 19, 2017

Credentials

When looking back moves people ahead

Nationally, colleges and universities have been working with officials in their states to ensure students receive credit for the associate’s degrees they've earned while working toward their bachelor’s—even if they stop before finishing. Lumina President and CEO Jamie Merisotis writes about the game-changer called reverse transfer in the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Jamie MerisotisMay 6, 2017

Credentials

Foundations work to close higher education gap through associate’s degree-attainment effort

Six major foundations today announced results from a joint initiative to increase postsecondary attainment by easing the path to completing associate’s degrees. Over its 15-month duration, the program, Credit When It’s Due, enabled 7,000 students from 11 states to secure associate’s degrees –helping to reduce the sizable ranks of Americans with some college but no…

July 7, 2015

Credentials

Diverse Group Of National Organizations Launches Dialogue Aimed At Transforming America’s System Of Postsecondary Credentials

Lumina Foundation today released a thought piece, called “Connecting Credentials: A Beta Credentials Framework,” designed to frame the meaning of various credentials in terms of the knowledge and skills that recipients of each credential should have.

June 11, 2015