Jamal Scott Jamal Scott has been named the tenth president of Highland Community College.

On The Move | Jamal Scott has been named the tenth president of Highland Community College

“Students don’t leave because support doesn’t exist.
They leave because it isn’t delivered in time.”

That line should reshape every retention strategy.

#edusky #retention #studentsuccess #highered

College Enrollment Rises for First Time Since 2012, But Per-Student Funding Hits a Wall While state and local appropriations hit a record $130.7 billion in 2025, a 3.6% surge in enrollment has stretched resources thin. For the first time since 2012, per-student funding is on the decline ...

College Enrollment Rises for First Time Since 2012, But Per-Student Funding Hits a Wall

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Higher Ed Stakeholders Pushing Back on Government’s Anti-DEI Stance Despite ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to root out campus-based initiatives that foster diversity, equity and inclusion, institutional leaders should not confuse the administration’s anti...

Despite ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to root out campus-based initiatives that foster diversity, equity and inclusion, institutional leaders should not confuse the administration’s anti-DEI rhetoric with the law of the land.

Trump Administration Proposes New 'Earnings Premium' Accountability System Under the newly proposed accountability system, undergraduate programs must demonstrate clear economic value to remain eligible for Pell Grants and federal loans. Public comments on the draft are open...

A new accountability system by the U.S. Department of Education says institutions will have to show that graduates from their undergraduate degree programs earn more per year than a typical high school graduate.

Denise Jones Gregory Dr. Denise Jones Gregory has been named president of Jackson State University, a role she has served in as interim since 2025.

On The Move | Dr. Denise Jones Gregory has been named president of Jackson State University, a role she has served in as interim since 2025.

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We Cannot Talk About Student Success While Our Students Are Hungry Higher education must confront an uncomfortable reality: our systems are not designed for the students we claim to serve.

Views | Higher education is quick to measure GPA, persistence, and graduation rates. We build strategic plans, dashboards, and initiatives centered on “student success.”

Yet, we rarely ask a more urgent question: How can students succeed when their most basic needs are unmet?

Press Release | Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars: The EDU Ledger Names 2026 Semifinalists and NFL Draft Prospects bit.ly/4clJwxE

Ad Deadline May 14 | In our June 4 digital edition, we'll discuss the issues impacting LGBTQIA students and faculty across higher education.

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18- To 20-Year-Olds Lead Community College Enrollment For the First Time More students are earning postsecondary credentials before the age of 18, a trend that is likely due to the rise in dual enrollment programs.

For the first time, students between the ages of 18 and 20 accounted for the largest portion of people earning their first associate degree, according to a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center

Wealthy Donors Prop Up University Funding as Small-Scale Giving Fades While the total amount of money donated by alumni increased, the actual number of donors is dwindling.

While the total amount of money donated by alumni increased by 10.9% to $10.4 billion – and institutions are seeing larger gifts per donor – the actual number of donors is dwindling, especially among those who gave smaller gifts.

From Programs to Systems: What Retention Rates Reveal About Institutional Design in an HBCU Context Dr. Frederick L. Hunter, Jr. says retention is often treated as a student issue, but in reality, it is a function of institutional design and the institution’s ability to execute that design in real t...

Views | Retention is often treated as a student issue, but in reality, it is a function of institutional design and the institution’s ability to execute that design in real time.

The South Is Rewriting History Again — And This Time It’s Happening on My Campus Black spaces at predominantly white institutions were never created to exclude. They were created because exclusion already existed.

Views | The South Is Rewriting History Again — And This Time It’s Happening on My Campus

Ad Deadline May 14 | In our June 4 digital edition, we will recognize retiring leaders whose careers have transformed programs, elevated academic excellence, and championed student success.

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Mary Pearson Dr. Mary Pearson has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southern Utah University.

On The Move | Dr. Mary Pearson has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southern Utah University.

Montana Expands American Indian Tuition Waiver Starting on July 1, the so-called “quantum blood” requirement will be dropped, and eligibility will be expanded to unenrolled tribal “descendants,” the new policy states.

Montana has expanded its American Indian Tuition Waiver by removing blood-quantum and tribal membership requirements to include more students, amid concerns about compliance with federal anti-DEI policies.

University of Michigan Restarts Presidential Search as Kent Syverud Steps Aside to Fight Brain Cancer As institutions like the University of Michigan look to a shrinking pool of elite leaders, they must confront a sobering reality that the very political and regulatory pressures that make these roles ...

Kent Syverud, who was slated to become president of the University of Michigan in May, has announced he will no longer take the job following a diagnosis of brain cancer.

Ad Deadline May 14 | In our June 4 digital edition, we spotlight student‑athletes whose excellence extends far beyond the playing field through the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Awards.

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Ohio Cuts 90 Degree Programs as States Target 'Low-Value' Credentials Ohio’s cuts come at a time when colleges and universities across the country are under increased pressure to prove that their programs are paying off for graduates.

Close to 90 degree programs at Ohio’s public universities are being cut as a result of Senate Bill 1, which requires universities to scrap any undergraduate degree programs with fewer than five graduates per year for three straight years.

Mohamed Abdelrahman Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman has been named senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

On The Move | Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman has been named senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, effective July 1.

Black Women Are Disappearing from the Labor Force. That Should Alarm the South. When Black women begin to fall out of the workforce, the rest of the economy is often not far behind.

Views | As a political scientist who studies Black women, public policy, and the South, I am deeply concerned by what we are witnessing right now: the quiet erasure of Black women from the labor force.

A Number Is Not a Promise: What the FY2027 Budget Really Says About Our Commitment to Children with Disabilities We’ve seen this movie before, and *spoiler alert*: it doesn’t end well for the kids who were already being left behind.

Views | The FY2027 budget proposal increases special education funding overall, but simultaneously cuts and restructures key equity-focused programs, ultimately undermining support for the most vulnerable students. (by @kioshana.bsky.social)

Last Call! | Our May 7 edition will features stories on Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges, and our 2026 Champions Award Recipient, Dr. Michael A. Baston.

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Judge Extends Reprieve for Private Colleges in Fight Over Trump’s Race-Reporting Mandate The schools were initially required to submit the data by March 18. The new deadline is April 24.

Judge Extends Reprieve for Private Colleges in Fight Over Trump’s Race-Reporting Mandate

Our Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs edition with stories on Dr. Arnold Mitchem, civic engagement, #AI on #HBCU campuses, and much more, is available!

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Hampshire College to Close Its Doors The institution will shut down following the Fall 2026 semester, saying, it "no longer has the resources to sustain full operations and meet our regulatory responsibilities."

Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts has announced that it is closing after the Fall 2026 semester, saying it “no longer has the resources to sustain full operations and meet our regulatory responsibilities.”

From Programs to Systems: What Retention Rates Reveal About Institutional Design in an HBCU Context Dr. Frederick L. Hunter, Jr. says retention is often treated as a student issue, but in reality, it is a function of institutional design and the institution’s ability to execute that design in real t...

Views | For many institutions, retention remains largely unchanged — not because the work is not happening, but because it is not integrated into the day-to-day operations of the campus's most effective units.

Donald W. Comer Dr. Donald W. Comer has been named president of Lane College. He has served as interim since July 2024.

On The Move | Dr. Donald W. Comer was named president of the Lane College, having served as interim since July 2024.