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Lumina Foundation is working to increase the share of adults in the U.S. labor force with college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity.

May 6, 2026

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TOP STORIES

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Higher Ed's New Crisis Managers

Lee Gardner, The Chronicle of Higher Education

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If your college isn’t already feeling financial strain, it could be soon. The wealthiest and most-selective institutions may be insulated from the worst financial turbulence, but many colleges that must compete for a limited number of traditional-age students are falling short of enrollment and revenue goals. That's where interim chief financial officers come in.

 

As more colleges face tough financial challenges—and the job of the chief financial officer becomes tougher—interim finance officers are being called on more often not just to babysit the budget but to turn things around. Such experiences give them unique insight into institutions at their worst and how to transform them.

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As Small Mass. Colleges Struggle With Finances, Students Grapple With Cost-Cuts

Kirk Carapezza, GBH News

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The recent announcement of Hampshire College’s plans to close its doors surprised many students, faculty, and education watchers. But it's far from alone. While elite institutions grow more competitive and better-resourced, regional public universities and tuition-dependent private colleges are trimming programs, cutting staff, and in some cases—like Hampshire—running out of wealthy donors to stay afloat.

 

Students and parents say staffing and program cuts are affecting the quality of education and undermining public trust in higher education, and they want college accreditors to do more to protect consumers and hold institutions accountable.

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States Lack Policies on Dual Enrollment Quality

Johanna Alonso, Inside Higher Ed

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Over the past decade, dual enrollment has become an increasingly popular strategy for states to increase access to college coursework and strengthen workforce pipelines.

 

However, a new report from the association for dual-enrollment programs warns that “piecemeal” policies guiding the quality of dual-enrollment programs across the United States are preventing those programs from being as effective as they could be, leading to inconsistencies in educational outcomes and limiting the benefits that students could gain from these programs.

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Do Career 'Pathways' Work? Delaware Offers Early Clues

Jill Barshay, The Hechinger Report

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Career “pathways” programs have become a major focus in high school reform. The goal is to give all students a structured sequence of courses in a career field, along with early exposure to the workplace and opportunities to build practical, job-related skills.

 

But are the millions of dollars invested in these programs actually helping students prepare for college and careers? That question can’t be fully answered yet. But a new research report from Delaware—a national leader in the pathways movement—offers some early clues.

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Strategy Before Technology

Muddassir Siddiqi, Community College Daily

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Across higher education, artificial intelligence is already present in classrooms and advising centers and students’ everyday lives. However, many learners have uneven experiences. In one course, faculty members encourage students to use AI tools to support research or coding. In another, students are warned that any use of AI could be considered academic misconduct. Elsewhere, many students struggle to find timely advice or tutoring support, even though AI could help extend services beyond traditional hours.

 

This disconnect highlights a deeper leadership challenge, writes the president of the College of DuPage in this op-ed.

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For Asylum Seekers, the Path to a California Education Is Costly

Andrea Baltodano and Chrissa Olson, CalMatters

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Asylum seekers face steep costs when pursuing their dreams of college in California, especially due to a massive court backlog that can drag their cases for years.

 

Asylum-seeking students in California often face two challenges: they are charged higher tuition as nonresidents and excluded from most financial aid. For students and their families, this can mean thousands of dollars paid out of pocket and years of financial stress while their immigration cases remain unresolved.

HUMAN WORK AND LEARNING

College Students Are in Search of 'AI-Proof' Majors. But No One Knows What They Are

The Associated Press

From Momentum to Maturity

Taylor White and Maegan Godoy, New America

Higher Education Is Being Evaluated on Experience

Tess Diver, The EvoLLLution

Blog: Gas Prices and Commuter Schools

Matt Reed, Confessions of a Community College Dean

EQUITY IN EDUCATION

Two Generations, One Path: Chicago Program Sends Students, Parents to College Together

Nandita Raghuram, Stanford Center on Longevity

An HBCU Canceled Its MAGA Commencement Speaker, Now Republicans Want to Defund It

Alecia Taylor, Capital B News

Amid Trump's Immigration Crackdown, These Future Lawyers Are Undeterred

Daniel Zawodny, The Baltimore Banner

'The Price of Exclusion' Book Reveals How Segregated Medicine Still Shapes Black Health Outcomes

Rose Scott, WABE

COLLEGE ENROLLMENTS

College Life on the Decline? Not Here.

Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, The Philadelphia Citizen

Wright State Cuts Low-Enrolled Programs and Creates New Majors

Eileen McClory, Dayton Daily News

College Decision Season: Where California's Public High School Graduates Enrolled

Yuxuan Xie, EdSource

Xavier University Enrollment Jumps 36% After Drop in 2025; How Was It Done?

Sydney Asher, Cincinnati Business Courier

COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY

Education Department Will Restrict Student Loan Forgiveness Credit Under New Repayment Plan

Adam S. Minsky, Forbes

In Its Third Year, North Star Promise Helping Minnesotans Obtain Free College and Boost Enrollment

Nina Moini and Ellen Finn, MPR News

Higher Ed's Affordability Problem Isn't Just the Price

Michael T. Nietzel, Washington Monthly

How Federal Graduate Loan Limits Will Impact Borrowers and Shift Pressures to States

Tihirah Ruffin, Noppakan Sirikul, Tionna Ellis, and Brianna Huynh, EdTrust

NEW REPORTS AND EVENTS

Transforming Mental Health Culture in Higher Education: Understanding Trends and Changes Through a New Lens

Ruderman Family Foundation and Public Good Projects

Next-Generation Developmental Education Reform: Developing Practices to Reduce Disparities and Improve Outcomes

Community College Research Center

Webinar: State of Higher Education: What Learners Say and Employers Want

Lumina Foundation and Gallup

Webinar: The State of Higher Education Opportunity: 2026 Indicators Report

The Pell Institute

luminafoundation.org
Daily Lumina News is edited by Patricia Brennan.

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