In this week’s roundup:
New projections on college admissions’ “demographic cliff,” colleges prepare for the coming coronavirus vaccine, and athletes at HBCUs file a class-action discrimination lawsuit against the NCAA.
As 2020 mercifully winds to a close, we’re taking a break over the next two weeks to enjoy the holidays. Our next weekly higher ed news update will be posted on January 6.
December 10 – 16
- The latest projections by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education show the looming “demographic cliff” won’t be quite as steep as previously thought -- but will still be a challenge for college admissions.
- New data collected by The New York Times shows that American colleges have had nearly 400,000 cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
- With death rates rising faster in counties with college-age populations than elsewhere, many communities are worried that colleges still plan to bring back more students in the spring.
- Robust testing and contact tracing have been key to successful reopenings, but an American College Health Association survey found vast differences among institutions’ testing strategies.
- Vaccinations are on the way, but it’s unclear when there will be enough doses available to vaccinate college communities.
- A new survey of college presidents shows continuing worries about institutional finances and student and staff mental health.
- A Gallup poll of U.S. college students finds many give high marks to the quality of their education, but fear pandemic pressures will hurt their ability to stay in school.
- A new report by the Urban Institute argues that universities with more racial segregation within certain majors graduate fewer Black students into high-paying jobs.
- Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) introduced the “Protect Women’s Sports Act,” intended to keep students who are assigned male at birth from participating on women’s sports teams, under the auspices of protecting opportunities for female athletes. A similar measure was introduced in the Senate in September.
- Athletes at historically black colleges and universities have filed a class action lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association over its rules, which they say discriminate against Black college athletes and HBCUs.
- Top leaders at a majority of University of California campuses urge a tuition increase for fall 2022.
- At many colleges next semester, spring break is out and “wellness days” are in.
We hope you have a happy and healthy holiday season!
