In this week’s roundup:
As we enter into a new month, eyes are on the Biden administration and what their regulations will mean for higher ed, some admissions tactics brought on by the pandemic may be here to stay and one university has transformed its campus into a one-stop-shop for COVID-19 tests, quarantine beds, and more.
January 28 - February 3
- President Biden’s appointment of Suzanne Goldberg to oversee civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education is drawing mixed reviews.
- President Biden’s executive order requiring federal agencies to examine if they are perpetuating systemic racism could have profound effects on the experiences of students from underrepresented groups at colleges and universities.
- With the continuance of the pandemic comes the continuance of temporary admissions policies at elite institutions as they extend their policies on submitting ACT or SAT scores.
- Other admissions practices, such as online college fairs and virtual tours, may be here to stay. In light of fewer barriers to prospective applicants’ participation, admissions professionals have noticed an increase in attendance, making them question the need to return to what was the status quo.
- Despite these new admissions tactics, the numbers of Latinx applicants and enrolled undergraduates have decreased after the onset of the pandemic. FAFSA applications for Latinx students have dropped as well, in a higher percentage than the collective drop for high school students.
- The Chronicle of Higher Education has taken a look at some trends for the spring semester so far, with pushing back in-person start dates and optimism around the vaccine being major themes. Will new COVID-19 variants change institutions’ plans?
- Among the many changes we’ve seen in higher ed since the start of the pandemic, more and more colleges and universities are partnering with bootcamps to offer tech classes.
- Students at Columbia University have handed over a list of demands to the administration, refusing to pay for tuition until it’s reduced and financial aid is increased, among other items.
- A federal judge recently upheld a program that enables international students to stay and work in the U.S. after graduation if they obtain a position in their area of study.
- The University of California, Davis has transformed its campus to a COVID-19 resource center for the entire community of Davis.
- Higher ed groups are asking for clarity on whether or not COVID-19 relief funds can be used for international and unauthorized immigrant students.
ICYMI: Earlier this week, we launched another blog series, The Lede: Highlights, which takes a look at three headline-making events for the month. Check out our first post in the series here.
