Spring 2021 issue of Focus magazine shows how college advising is moving to the next level, in three student stories.

Entering the fall 2020 term, higher education was reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. Enrollment was down—particularly among students most at risk of basic needs insecurity; fewer students had completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid; and college retention rates had dropped. Students and faculty were stressed and anxious. And by the end of the…

Postsecondary education is widely seen as a necessity in the modern economy. Yet students at community colleges often face steep odds when it comes to completing a degree. A report from MDRC examines the progress of a program to help more Detroit high school graduates—among the nation’s most underserved students—enroll and persist in college, accumulate…

A new brief from the Community College Research Center describes the importance of nonacademic staff to the student experience and presents initial findings related to the Caring Campus initiative’s capacity to affect college culture and ground further change efforts.

Community colleges across the country are plagued with tight budgets—caused in part by state disinvestment and chronic federal underfunding. For rural community colleges, these challenges are even more acute, as their needs are greater and the costs of providing services higher. The COVID-19 pandemic has only deepened the prosperity gap between rural and non-rural communities,…

This report from the American Council on Education proposes key strategies and practical approaches to help institutions create lifelong relationships with international students and to ensure that they not only thrive academically and socially while on campus, but are also well prepared for careers and life upon graduation.

To better understand the untapped opportunities available to individuals who have yet to complete college—and for postsecondary institutions, employers, and the state—a report from California Competes examines the characteristics of this population, from their location and current employment to the challenges they face in accessing higher education. The student further compares potential graduates with those…

Student veterans say they need more support because of the pandemic, according to a study from Operation College Promise and the Texas A&M University system. Students surveyed specifically reported concerns studying and learning, plus a lack of face-to-face support from their institution.

A report from the Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness discusses how community college systems in four states—Indiana, Virginia, Texas, and Washington—supported large-scale changes to student placement practices in reaction to challenges associated with the COVID pandemic.

What works to help rural students succeed in higher education? This report from MDRC summarizes thoughts from experts across the country to examine the realities of rural life and how to address the educational challenges facing rural communities. This includes low college enrollment rates, inadequate access to broadband internet, and lack of funding for rural…