In this week's roundup:
student mental health is a growing concern, standardized entrance test requirements fall out of favor, and some students may receive monthly stipends.
January 27- February 2
- California State University strongly indicated that it will no longer require SAT and ACT testing scores for admission. This would align CSU with the University of California system, which criticized the standardized tests as biased and containing little value.
- Research shows that colleges and universities led by women are better at upholding gender pay equity than those led by men – yet only about one-third of college presidents are women.
- Emory University will expand scholarships to help more students graduate debt-free. The university’s president, Gregory L. Fenves, says the decision was made to “fulfill our mission of serving humanity in all that we do.”
- Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares says public colleges in the Commonwealth may not require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This opinion is reflective of Virginia’s Republican leadership which has rolled back COVID-19 protocols.
- Mental health of students is a top concern this semester, with many returning to the classroom. The increased need for care is leading many institutions to create a more supportive campus environment for students.
- California Senator Dave Cortese has proposed monthly stipends of $500 for low-income students in need in the San Jose area. Universal Basic Income programs have grown in popularity in recent years and aim to reduce student poverty and income inequality.
- Lawmakers in Washington D.C. are introducing legislation that will help make college more affordable for undocumented high school students in the D.C. area. The DC Advancing College Hopes for Immigrants’ Education and Vocational Enrichment Scholarship (DC ACHIEVES) would help undocumented high school graduates attend college through grants.
- State support for higher education has been projected to increase 8.5% in the next fiscal year. This increase marks the first time state support for higher education would surpass $100 billion.
- Former University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel, accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, may stay at the university as a faculty member. He has retained his tenure as professor in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, as well as the university's medical school.
- The City University of New York will no longer withhold transcripts from students who owe tuition and fee balances. This decision was made following the State University of New York’s recent announcement about releasing these “stranded credits.”
