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.
Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court banned the use of race in college admissions decisions and in the wake of the Trump administration’s attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion, colleges’ use of diversity- and identity-related supplemental essay prompts is patchy.
After a boom in prompts about applicants’ identities, several universities have scrapped the essays entirely for the 2025–2026 admission cycle. Still others, especially selective universities, have kept the prompts, saying they are the best way to get to know their applicants.
Virginia’s next chapter in higher education will be written by those willing to break out of long-standing silos, suggests K.L. Allen of Western Governors University in this op-ed. Allen believes it's time to prioritize credit transfer agreements that actually transfer, to scale employer-education partnerships that remove financial barriers for working adults, and to make skills-based instruction the norm rather than the exception.
If collaboration instead of competition takes center stage, Virginia can strengthen its workforce in ways that benefit the entire Commonwealth, not just the few who have historically had the easiest access to opportunity, Allen concludes.
Higher education is currently at a pivotal juncture. Traditional four-year degrees often disappoint employers seeking graduates with job-ready skills, and students are eagerly seeking more flexible academic programs requiring less time and money.
New micro-credential offerings from top tech companies and universities are filling this gap—providing modular, flexible, and low-cost alternatives to the traditional college degree.
Freshman Ny’esha James attends the University of Delaware, where she dreams of becoming a teacher. Jenaya Vann goes to Delaware Technical Community College; she's aiming to be accepted into the diagnostic medical sonography program.
The young women also share a bond—they both spent time in the state’s foster care system. They're also among 26 students who attend Delaware colleges without having to pay tuition, mandatory fees, or other costs, such as books, housing, and meal plans.
More colleges are hiring professionals who live outside the state where their institutions are located, with athletics and information technology positions leading the trend, according to new research.
The study by CUPA-HR found that 70 percent of higher education institutions now employ at least one professional residing out of state, up from 63 percent in 2021-22. While the overall percentage of out-of-state professionals remains small, researchers say the steady increase suggests institutions are becoming more open to cross-state hiring to fill talent gaps and meet employee demands for flexibility.
Public understanding of higher education has shifted sharply in the past decade. Emotional narratives travel faster online than measured explanations. Provocative clips outperform thoughtful discussion. Political commentary frames colleges as ideological battlegrounds or failing enterprises.
In reality, these portrayals rarely capture the complexity of campus life, education leaders and advocates say.
