Yale Report Finds Colleges Deserve Blame for Higher Education’s Problems

Stop letting Ivy Leagues speak on behalf of all higher ed 🗣️

While I think some of their findings MAYBE have some merit a 10-person committee report at a selective institutions being elevated by The New York Times as representative of all US higher ed is wild to me.

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/u...

A Lifeline for Rural America via @aacu.org

“Federal funding changes are endangering many [rural] students’ education.”

www.aacu.org/liberaleduca...

UK Department of Educational Policy Studies & Evaluation represent today at the University of Kentucky College of Education Research Day! 💙🤍

Workforce Pell Can’t Leave Rural Areas Behind (opinion) We need federal leadership to build on short-term Pell Grants and expand rural middle-skills pathways.

Workforce Pell Can’t Leave Rural Communities Behind

“We need federal leadership to build on short-term Pell Grants and expand rural middle-skills pathways.”

www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...

Q&A: Lisa J. Smith on Supporting Rural Student Parents  | The Daily Yonder Editor’s Note: This interview first appeared in Path Finders, an email newsletter from the Daily Yonder. Each week, Path Finders features a Q&A with a

Q&A: Lisa J. Smith on Supporting Rural Student Parents  dailyyonder.com/qa-lisa-j-sm... via @dailyyonder.bsky.social

So great to see you today, @drkevinrmcclure.com! You did amazing talking to us in the University of Kentucky College of Ed about insights from your book, The Caring University! 👏

Are you an LGBTQ+ Resource Practitioner at a public college or university in the U.S.? I would greatly appreciate your consideration as a potential participant in my capstone study.

Survey link: usmuw.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

How Land-Grant Institutions Can Better Serve Indigenous Students by @edtrust.bsky.social

edtrust.org/wp-content/u...

Let's work to get some rural perspectives in this important study on a research study on how the recent changes in state/federal policy are influencing experiences of students, faculty, and staff at U.S. colleges/unis! Review the flyer and complete demographic survey qualtrics.ou.edu/jfe/form/SV_...

I'm fortunate to be on the advisory board for @nchems.bsky.social's project on the rural US, land-grants, extension, & workforce nchems.org/project/serv... Excited to share a project-related brief "Recognizing Extension Learning: Pathways to Credit and Career Advancement" nchems.org/wp-content/u...

Chair: Organizes and moderates the session by introducing speakers, managing time, and facilitating audience discussion. They ensure the session runs smoothly and adheres to AERA’s professional and procedural norms.

Discussant: Reviews papers in a session and provides integrative, critical commentary that highlights key contributions, raises questions, and suggests connections across the presentations. Their role is to deepen the scholarly conversation and offer constructive feedback to authors and audiences.

- Chair: Reframing College Access: Student Agency, Readiness, and the Politics of Preparation

- Chair: Understanding Test-Optional Policies and Promise Programs for Educational Equity

- Discussant: Neurodivergent and Disability Discourse in Higher Education

- Discussant: Reframing College Access: Student Agency, Readiness, and the Politics of Preparation

- Discussant: Navigating Transitions: Equity, Belonging, and the First-Year Experience

As folks' plans for @aeraedresearch.bsky.social Annual Meeting have shaken out, Division J - Section 2a is looking for individuals to fill the roles below for paper sessions. If you are attending AERA and able to serve in any these roles, comment and I will DM you directly 🙂 Thank you in advance!

Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research The Handbook provides thorough and integrative literature reviews on a diverse array of topics to the higher education scholarly and policy communities.

The Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research Vol 41, edited by Laura Perna and published by @springernature.com, is now available! link.springer.com/referencewor...

Please check out Shadman Islem's, Austin Van Horn's, & my chapter on measuring and defining rurality and the other chapters!👏

Part 2 of special issue Queering Rural Ed jointly published through Journals of Research in Rural Ed and Queer and Trans Studies in Ed, co-edited by Darris Means, Leia Cain & me! Pt 2 traditional research scholarscompass.vcu.edu/jqtsie/vol3/iss1/ / Pt. 1 arts-based scholarship jrre.psu.edu/volume/41

Congress moves to reject Trump plan to slash Education Department funding A bipartisan 2026 spending proposal from both legislative chambers would preserve funding for a litany of student support programs.

Congress moves to reject Trump plan to slash Education Department funding

“A bipartisan 2026 spending proposal from both legislative chambers would preserve funding for a litany of student support programs.”

www.highereddive.com/news/congres...

“Building Momentum for Rural Institutions and Learners” by @stephaniesowl.bsky.social from the ECMC Foundation

www.ecmcfoundation.org/news/foundat...

Presenting Part 1 of special issue "Queering Rural Education," jointly published through Journals of Research in Rural Education & Queer and Trans Studies in Education, co-edited by Darris Means, Leia Cain, & me. Part 1 centers arts-based scholarship. Stay tuned for Part 2. 🙂
jrre.psu.edu/volume/41

One of Higher Ed’s Emerging Growth Areas Is One It Struggles to Serve Rural regions are expected to see increases in high-school seniors. But the sector has had trouble reaching them.

Rural America, Growth Area? One of Higher Ed’s Emerging Growth Areas Is One It Struggles to Serve via @chronicle.com

www.chronicle.com/article/rura...

@mdrc-news.bsky.social's National Rural Higher Ed Research Center to host inaugural Rural Research Mentorship Network cohort, offering opportunities to grad students and early-career researchers interested in conducting #ruraled research. $1000 honorarium. mdrcfed.gov1.qualtrics.com/CP/File.php?...

Honored to have this chapter in our field’s handbook Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research! Thanks to Drs. Laura Perna and Nick Hillman for the invitation! Thank you as well to Shadman Islem and Austin Van Horn for their collaboration on this chapter! 👏

link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/...

Yes I’m so excited for this! 👏 Thanks so much for sharing!

Thanks so much for letting folks know! 🙂

I’m super excited to engage in this book talk for @eddesignlab.bsky.social! Can’t wait to discuss my book, published by @routledgebooks.bsky.social, and how we can better support rural, poor and working-class students in higher education! 🙂

Register at ruraltogether.circle.so/c/community-...

FFA Students from 11 States Advocate for Secure Rural Schools Act in Washington D.C. - National Rural Education Association A delegation of Future Farmers of America (FFA) students from across the nation recently converged on Capitol Hill, advocating for the Secure Rural Schools Act. Students from 11 states met with each o...

FFA Students from 11 States Advocate for Secure Rural Schools Act in Washington D.C. via @nrea.net

nrea.net/ffa-students...

Rural students shouldn't have to leave home to succeed edsource.org?page_id=744167 via @edsource.org

So good seeing you, friend! Super stoked about this work we’re doing together! 👏

Hold onto your hats! Just kicked off the RTL @ruraltalentlabs.bsky.social w. @arrc.bsky.social @drandrewk.bsky.social @proftyson.bsky.social @tycmcnamee.bsky.social Ready to hit the road to conduct community listening tours across the country. As always, I'm here to hear. #RuralTalent #ListenUp