Monday Musings

Higher education is navigating another round of significant policy and student-success changes. This week, Title IX takes center stage, alongside Workforce Pell implementation, longer paths to completion, changing expectations from adult learners, and a reminder that sometimes student success starts with simply listening.

More students are earning diplomas, but many remain unsure about what comes next. This week, we look at how colleges can strengthen career readiness, rethink support for today’s students, use AI strategically and remove barriers that stand between students and success.

There are some encouraging signs for higher education this week, with new data showing modest improvements in college enrollment and persistence. But beneath the headline are persistent equity gaps, alongside growing thoughts on disability support, career readiness and how institutions serve changing student populations.

Colleges are rethinking how they reach students, deliver learning and connect education to opportunity. This week, we look at AI-powered early intervention, the staying power of online education, support beyond the first year and new approaches to workforce pathways.

The demographic cliff may be looming, but some colleges are posting record enrollment by focusing on affordability and workforce relevance. This week, we also look at new approaches to student support, a consequential federal tax proposal, graduate loan limits, and what dual enrollment failures can teach us about student success.

Sometimes the biggest obstacles to student success have little to do with academic ability. This week, we look at how colleges are addressing basic needs, strengthening reading comprehension, expanding direct admissions and making higher education easier for students to navigate.