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

Research and Evaluation

Industry certifications offer clear path to jobs during the COVID recovery—and beyond

Americans struggling to find and keep jobs amid the global pandemic are discovering a clear path to employment: high-quality credentials that prove both knowledge and skills.

Frank Swanzy Essien, Jr.Nov. 9, 2020

Research and Evaluation

States are building better connections between education and work—here’s how

Even before COVID-19 hit, higher education was falling short of providing the skills needed for good jobs, a recent study shows. Now, amid the global pandemic and economic crisis, those skills gaps are growing wider.

Courtney BrownNov. 5, 2020

Research and Evaluation

Prior learning credits help students cross the finish line to earn degrees

College students lucky enough to know about it are embracing the growing movement toward prior learning assessment, and many say credits earned in this way helped them complete a degree or program they otherwise would not have.

Wendy SedlakJuly 29, 2020

Research and Evaluation

Stronger Nation Overview—July 2020 update

Twelve takeaways from the July 2020 data update. The nation’s educational attainment rate after high school is 51.3%.

Courtney BrownJune 30, 2020

Research and Evaluation

Adults can thrive amid the pandemic—and flourish when economic recovery comes—by earning short-term credentials

A global health crisis hurts even those who don’t fall ill, especially people with no formal education beyond high school who are caught in the economic riptide of soaring unemployment.

Courtney BrownJune 29, 2020

Research and Evaluation

New data show 51.3% of U.S. adults hold degrees, certificates, or industry certifications

Lumina Foundation’s A Stronger Nation measures industry certifications for the first time, shows disparities in attainment persist among people 25 to 64 who are Black, Hispanic, and Native American

June 29, 2020

Research and Evaluation

Behavioral science and ‘nudging’ research can help students succeed in classes suddenly moved online

The nation's colleges and universities, disrupted with the rest of society by the fast-spreading coronavirus, have remade the instructional experience almost overnight with the move of millions of students and faculty online. And one of the most promising innovations getting an emergency trial by fire is the concept of "nudging" to help students succeed in…

Courtney BrownApril 20, 2020

Research and Evaluation

College credit where credit is due – the move toward ‘recognition for prior learning’

With a little help, nearly 36 million Americans who spent some time at college but never finished could be encouraged to resume their studies and get their degrees.

Frank Swanzy Essien, Jr.Dec. 11, 2019

Research and Evaluation

Census fight isn’t over. Nonprofits need to help everyone stand up and be counted.

With border camps drawing scrutiny, the threat of federal immigration raids in major U.S. cities, and a recent focus on the 2020 census, it’s likely those who feel most threatened will be afraid to respond to the once-a-decade collection of individual data.

Courtney BrownJuly 16, 2019

Research and Evaluation

Now is the time to unleash the talent in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has plenty of talent – but too few opportunities to unleash it. I saw this first-hand on a recent visit to the island for a conference aimed at increasing education beyond high school for all Puerto Ricans.

Courtney BrownMay 20, 2019

Research and Evaluation

Adults hold the key to increasing national attainment numbers

As a kid, I loved numbers. I loved the certainty they provided when counting items and comparing groups. Even today, my love for numbers – and data, more broadly – has not wavered.

May 15, 2019

Research and Evaluation

It’s what you know and how you apply it that matter … not whether you sat through the class

Competency-based education programs are growing in popularity and are seen by schools as an important way to reach adult learners and emphasize job readiness among graduates, a new study shows.

Frank Swanzy Essien, Jr.May 13, 2019

Research and Evaluation

Goal-exploration tool highlights paths to educational progress

For 10 years Lumina Foundation has been documenting America’s growth in educational attainment through its signature report, “A Stronger Nation.” Now we’re adding a powerful new section to the report that I think you’ll find informative and helpful.

Courtney BrownApril 24, 2019

Research and Evaluation

Stronger Nation data visualization can aid the effort to boost education levels

INDIANAPOLIS – A Stronger Nation, Lumina Foundation’s signature online report tracking the share of adults 25 to 64 with education and training after high school, has added a new goal-exploration tool to its national and state data that can be used by policy officials and journalists.

April 4, 2019