Adult Pathways Colleges buck enrollment trends by increasing their supports for students More than 40 million people in this country have attended college but stopped before completing a degree, and I can understand why. Jamie MerisotisMay 29, 2023
Research and Evaluation How do we bounce back from the enrollment plunge? Four colleges show the way. A new National Student Clearinghouse report says 40.4 million Americans have some college but no degree, up from 39 million a year ago. Courtney Brown May 24, 2023
Today's Credentials Think carefully before deciding to delay the path to or through college Taking a break between high school and college, or in the middle of your studies, is tempting. After all, the learning process can be hard, and exhausting. But the times we are in call for caution when it comes to any delays in education. Jamie Merisotis May 15, 2023
Quality Assurance Community-based programs, first-year seminars, learning communities: How to assure equity and quality in higher ed New research emerging from a recent project led by the National Association of System Heads provides some useful insights into how, even during the enormous challenges of this pandemic moment, we can assure both equity and quality as we seek to grow the number of people with learning beyond high school. Debra HumphreysFeb. 9, 2021
Quality Assurance Colleges Must Attend to 3 Crucial Areas In higher ed's pivot during COVID, let's focus on them to ensure quality and equity—and avoid repeating past mistakes. Debra HumphreysAug. 17, 2020
Quality Assurance Lumina announces grants to 9 states to advance quality and equity Lumina Foundation is supporting efforts in nine states as part of a new national grant program to help develop next-generation approaches to higher-education quality assurance and improvement. Debra Humphreys, Terri TaylorFeb. 20, 2020
Quality Assurance An iconic travel company sinks – and there’s a lesson here for higher ed Ever since I returned from a six-month sabbatical in London this year, I’m naturally more inclined to follow news developments in the UK. Interestingly, what caught my eye this week wasn’t just Brexit or the Supreme Court’s ruling that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to discontinue Parliament was illegal. Jamie MerisotisSept. 27, 2019
Quality Assurance Higher-ed quality shouldn’t be about elitism—it should be about addressing learning and opportunity We all know that we have a legacy as a nation of defining educational quality based far too much on prestige and exclusivity. Our systems of quality assurance assumed a particular type of student on a particular type of path. Those assumptions are misaligned with the way students go to college today—who those students are… Debra HumphreysSept. 9, 2019
Quality Assurance Lumina Quality Credentials Task Force Unveils New Approach to Assure Quality of Post‒High School Learning A new report, Unlocking the Nation’s Potential, calls for collaboration across sectors to ensure equitable access to quality programs. Sept. 9, 2019
Quality Assurance As frustration with higher education grows, states have to step up For years, opinion polls have suggested a declining confidence among the general public about higher education. One recent poll found that fewer than half of Americans have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in higher education. Debra HumphreysMay 21, 2019
Quality Assurance Innovation, quality outcomes must be top concerns for college boards Important changes in our approaches to learning after high school are being led by many college educators and urgently demanded by lawmakers, policy leaders, and the public. Debra HumphreysFeb. 22, 2019
Quality Assurance National education, policy, and workforce experts join Lumina’s Quality Credentials Task Force Lumina Foundation is convening a new Quality Credentials Task Force comprising 20 leaders in education, policy, and workforce development to explore new ways to assure the quality of a college education and other forms of learning beyond high school. The group will meet periodically, starting with a two-day launch meeting that begins today. Sept. 5, 2018
Quality Assurance Podcast: Quality assurance and the future of accreditation Lumina VP Debra Humphreys discusses the vital role accrediting agencies, federal and state policymakers, public systems, and community colleges play in improving student outcomes. Debra HumphreysAug. 9, 2018
Quality Assurance Defining and delivering on quality in higher education Quality in postsecondary education, a growing concern for students and families, is getting a fresh look on several fronts, including in discussions around a proposed overhaul of the Higher Education Act and in several state-level discussions. Debra HumphreysJune 25, 2018
Quality Assurance The UMBC hype was great, but now we need to focus on broader issues of quality and equity in higher education The stunning NCAA upset by UMBC should boost admissions—and create a new cool factor—for a school that already deserves attention for its laudable focus on student success. Debra HumphreysMarch 30, 2018
Quality Assurance Next-generation quality assurance for tomorrow’s talent How do we know people are graduating with the skills to get good jobs? As education beyond high school evolves, a new Lumina-supported group is working to define the Essential Employability Qualities necessary to succeed in today's job market. Debra HumphreysSept. 19, 2017
Quality Assurance Merisotis gives odds for edtech innovation under Trump Lumina president Jamie Merisotis sees the potential for trends that emerged during the Obama years to continue under President Trump, including competency-based learning, and the EQUIP program–a pilot project would allow students to qualify for federal financial aid at selected non-accredited schools. Jamie MerisotisFeb. 20, 2017
