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Lumina Foundation

@luminafoundation.bsky.social
385 followers 133 following 218 posts

We’re a private foundation committed to increasing the share of adults in the U.S. labor force with degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity to 75 percent by 2040. Learn more about our work and mission: www.luminafoundation.org/

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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 6h
"Who enrolls, where they enroll, and who completes a credential are all critical to understanding the ruling's longer-term effects." A higher ed system built for the students using it today means more than moving opportunity around.
lumfound.org
3 classes after Supreme Court's admissions ruling: What the data show
Research indicates that following the Supreme Court's end of race-conscious admissions, there has been a slight nationwide increase in first-year students reporting their race or ethnicity as...
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Better higher education finance policy requires an understanding of how policy, politics, and practice collide in the real world. That perspective is at the heart of the new edition of "Higher Education Finance Research," by Lumina's Christopher M. Mullin, Ph.D., and HCM Strategists' Martha Snyder.
lumfound.org
Higher Education Finance Research: Policy, Politics, and Practice (Conducting Research in Education Finance: Methods, Measurement, and Policy Perspectives)
Higher Education Finance Research: Policy, Politics, and Practice (Conducting Research in Education Finance: Methods, Measurement, and Policy Perspectives) [Mullin, Christopher M., Snyder, Martha] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Hig...
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
New data from CUNY found that more students earned degrees, but those degrees didn't translate into higher earnings. That's something worth our attention. If a student invests time, money, and talent with the expectation that their credential will lead somewhere great, it should.
lumfound.org
More degrees but not higher earnings: Puzzling data from CUNY's famed ASAP program
Evaluation raises questions about whether intensive support programs should be restricted to students who major in lucrative fields
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
How can anyone make good financial decisions if they’re pushed out of the SAVE repayment plan and told to choose a new one or risk higher payments? And getting conflicting notices, can't access payment histories, or find that the tools to help them decide don't work? That's an affordability problem.
lumfound.org
Student loan payments will soar if borrowers don't act soon, but glitches abound
The Education Department will put millions of people in the most expensive repayment plan if they don't exit Save, but the process has had snags.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Why are we expecting students to become experts at navigating college systems just to stay on track? Austin Community College is testing how AI can spot barriers and connect students with advising, tutoring, and financial aid. Technology is a great tool to help us get to the real goal: Opportunity.
lumfound.org
Can AI Help Colleges Reach Struggling Students Earlier?
Austin Community College is using artificial intelligence and real-time data to identify students who need help and connect them with support before problems escalate.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
What if education and workforce systems were aligned and every learner could see a clear path to a secure future? The American Academy of Arts & Sciences has new recommendations out today at 1:30 ET, and Lumina's Michelle Cooper was a member of the coalition working on this: bit.ly/4hIVP9O
bit.ly
Ways to Improve Opportunities After High School
1:30 p.m. ET
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The opportunity to benefit from AI's rapid change in work should be just as widespread as that change. Preparing people for economic change shouldn't be left to individuals to figure out on their own. We need education and training systems designed to keep opportunity within reach as work evolves.
forbes.com
As AI Reshapes Work, Congress Should Ensure Community Colleges Are Ready
America's most ambitious AI policies are still taking shape, but Congress has low-hanging fruit it should act on to build capacity of community colleges for the AI era.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It’s encouraging to see college rankings paying more attention to value. But getting a good price on a highly ranked college isn’t quite the same thing as getting a valuable education. For students, value is much more personal and can be deeply consequential. lumfound.org/4xCNrgK
lumfound.org
Best Value Schools Methodologies
U.S. News considers three variables in determining the schools that offer the best value.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella makes an important case: "Opportunity should not depend on a family's income. It should be part of what every great public university provides." Affordability is a system design challenge, not a burden students should manage on their own.
lumfound.org
OPINION: I’m a college president, and I think higher education has to do a better job of controlling costs
People are tired of hearing that higher costs are unavoidable and want more information about measurable value
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
You know what never goes out of style? Higher ed that actually works for people. That means clear costs, simpler enrollment, flexible paths to a credential, and real opportunity on the other side. Very 2040 of us.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Inevitability doesn't mean AI's direction is predetermined. That's why Lumina is proud to be a founding partner of Humanity AI, which has opened a $10 million grant opportunity for community-led work across education, labor, and the economy, and the humanities, arts, and culture. Apply now:
lumfound.org
Open Call: Help Shape the Future of AI
Open Call for Proposals: Communities Leading on AI $10M Investment in U.S.-Based Community-Led AI Initiatives Humanity AI, an initiative spearheaded [...]
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Nearly 800 grantmakers are standing together to defend their freedom to support lawful work. That principle connects directly to our mission. As Jamie Merisotis said, expanding access to higher ed isn't achievable in a "non-democratic context." "So, yeah, we're a democracy funder. Heck yeah."
lumfound.org
Facing Trump crackdown, foundations form a mutual-defense pact
MacArthur and Lumina foundations help lead Unite in Advance, a network of 800 grant makers defending philanthropic freedom from government pressure.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Exclusivity isn't what makes a college great. And yet, rankings have long rewarded a hoity-toity factor that's antithetical to why many people go to college. Washington Monthly's latest rankings remove the "snob appeal" and highlight institutions that create opportunity for students and communities.
lumfound.org
A Different Kind of College Ranking
When you stop grading by snob appeal, the truly excellent ones shine. Plus, our new ranking of the best colleges for rural America.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Sometimes, a trim is the best way to grow. With enrollment and resources under pressure, colleges, universities, and states have choices to make about where programs should grow, where institutions can work together, and where resources can be used most effectively.
lumfound.org
Pruning to grow
Higher education has room to serve more people. Preserving that opportunity will require strategic choices about what each institution offers—and what they
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Press Forward Indiana is launching with a goal to help ensure every Hoosier has access to trustworthy local news and the information they need to participate in and shape where they live. Join tomorrow's event for a conversation about local news, strong communities, and the role philanthropy plays:
lumfound.org
2026 Philanthropy Leads Dinner
Enjoy an enchanting view at the Indiana Roof Ballroom for the 2026 Philanthropy Leads Dinner, where social impact investors unite to celebrate philanthropy in Indiana.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
In fall 2027, Berea College will cover tuition, housing, food, and fees for every student without loans, along with resources such as laptops and health services. This shows what's possible with sustained investments and a commitment to meeting students' real needs. lumfound.org/4ydUCNf
lumfound.org
Financial Aid, Financial Freedom - Berea College
At Berea, our strongest desire is to help realize the unlimited potential of our students. We proudly stand as the only college in America that exclusively admits students from limited economic resour...
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Mississippi is asking a tough question about short-term credentials: Do they *actually* lead to good jobs? That focus matters as the state works to fill 100K construction jobs and prepares workers for growth in advanced manufacturing, agriculture technology, maritime trades, and AI infrastructure.
lumfound.org
FutureReady States Profile: Mississippi
"There's a lot of opportunity in the state right now and a greater expectation that these short-term credential programs can give people a real leg up for a good job."
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
International students choose this country to learn, discover, build, and connect. They strengthen classrooms, workplaces, research labs, and communities. This reciprocal relationship is one this country has long benefited from, and we should give them every reason to keep choosing us.
lumfound.org
Why Americans should care when international students stop coming
For decades, America has enjoyed an extraordinary competitive advantage that we rarely talk about: many of the world’s most talented people have wanted to
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Tennessee wants "no dead ends" for people pursuing education and training. That means making sure a short-term credential can lead to a good job today and become a building block for what comes next.
lumfound.org
FutureReady States Profile: Tennessee
"The goal is that we have no dead ends for people pursuing education and train
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Connecticut is honing in on what makes a short-term credential worth it. Employers should recognize it, workers should be able to build on it, and it should lead toward a good job. It's creating clearer, more effective connections between training, credentials, and good jobs.
lumfound.org
FutureReady States Profile: Connecticut
"We’ve been a ‘higher ed or bust’ state for a long time. But there are many good jobs across Connecticut that don’t require a four-year degree."
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
There's no playbook for better workforce credentials, but a few lessons are surfacing: A credential should lead somewhere. A good first job matters, and so does what comes next. Local economies should shape local strategies. What matters isn't how many credentials people earn. It's where they lead.
lumfound.org
Building better workforce credentials: lessons from 3 states
This year, I've traveled 18,000 miles visiting 12 states across the country to learn how education and business leaders are strengthening the connection
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The simplistic "college isn't worth it" narrative doesn't match their choices or the economic evidence. Part of the story gets lost in big-picture data, especially if people enroll and leave before finishing. Prove the narrative false by ensuring that people enroll, finish, and earn credentials.
theatlantic.com
The College Backlash Is a Mirage
Americans are more pessimistic than ever about the value of a degree—but enrollment keeps going up.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
“We’ve had a long history of saying, ‘Yeah, college isn’t for you,’ through our policies and our practices and our attitudes,” Lumina’s Kermit Kaleba said. It’s time to design a system that says something different about short-term credentials. lumfound.org/3TuEZ58
lumfound.org
The state of short-term credentials
The demand for short-term credential programs is growing, and state leaders are responding. In 2025, a total of $8.1 billion was spent across 34 states to
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Some of the most promising ideas in higher education are already out there. They just need the opportunity to grow. If your organization is building new approaches that reduce barriers and improve outcomes, we encourage you to apply: lumfound.org/3TBwdCk
lumfound.org
Request for Proposals: Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund
The Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund seeks proposals from organizations operating innovative postsecondary models that are rethinking how education is designed, delivered, financed, and assessed f...
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Not everyone needs to go to college, but everyone should know if they can. Lumina President and CEO Jamie Merisotis shows how direct admission flips the equation. When students have already shown they're ready, colleges should be the ones saying "yes," not asking students to prove they belong.
lumfound.org
Why Is Applying To College So Complicated? How To Simplify It
Direct admission reflects a larger shift toward designing higher education for students, rather than making them navigate confusing systems.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
The "I know a guy" insider-knowledge mindset should be reserved for finding a car mechanic, not for identifying the right education or training program. Yet, that's the reality for many prospective students. lumfound.org/4yIRvy1
lumfound.org
America's learning opportunities shouldn't be this hard to find
“Where can I learn to fix boat engines?” my teenage son asked one day.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
For years, colleges could count on their reputation as a proxy for value, but now? People are rightfully asking for evidence that education is affordable and that it’ll prepare students for work. This is a healthy shift. lumfound.org/4wZq80I
lumfound.org
Americans haven't given up on college. They've changed the scorecard.
For decades, colleges benefited from a simple assumption: prestige signaled value. A bachelor's degree from a respected institution was widely seen as the gold standard, while community colleges and certificates occupied lower rungs of the educational h...
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Advisors change lives. But they're often buried in paperwork instead of spending their time doing the work only people can do. Less time in bureaucracy = more time to help students stay on track and reach their goals. lumfound.org/4fp6bJB
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
The broad learning that helps students build communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills is just as important as preparation for a specific career. www.ccdaily.com/2026/07/gen-ed-is-w…
ccdaily.com
Gen ed is where the American Dream gets built
For generations, higher education has been central to the promise of a stable career, a picket fence and 2.5 dependents. It has been a pathway to opportunity and upward mobility. But for today's students, especially the students at Saint Paul College i...
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Reposted by Lumina Foundation
The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
The proportion of Americans who have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in higher education has slipped to 38% – down four percentage points from 42% last year, a survey by @luminafoundation.bsky.social and @gallup.com shows. bit.ly/3TBYWqp
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Reposted by Lumina Foundation
AASCU @aascu.org · 16/07/2026
The course schedule shouldn't be a barrier to graduation. 🎓 We're expanding our Student-Centered Course Scheduling initiative to 12 more institutions, with support from @luminafoundation.bsky.social, @gatesfoundation.bsky.social, and Ad Astra. More: tinyurl.com/5n73rma2 #HigherEd #StudentSuccess
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
College begins with whether students can see a path forward. The Postsecondary Admissions Redesign Toolkit offers lessons from states and institutions working to make admissions more transparent and simpler. It's a resource for leaders to remove barriers rather than expect students to navigate them.
lumfound.org
Getting into college shouldn’t be this complicated: Building a more human-centered path
For many students, the journey to college begins with stress, not excitement. They’re left asking fundamental questions: Do I belong in college? Can I afford it? Where do I even begin?
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
It's encouraging to see that people still believe education can change lives, but confidence is dipping as the public rightfully expects colleges and universities to demonstrate that the investment will pay off. lumfound.org/4h9Qtob
lumfound.org
Americans haven’t given up on higher ed. They’re asking more of it.
Every year, Gallup's survey on confidence in higher education generates a familiar headline: Americans are losing faith in colleges and universities.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Less time spent on paperwork means more time spent supporting students and keeping them on track to earn credentials that lead to opportunity. We're proud to support EdVisorly as it grows. lumfound.org/4f2wDKp
lumfound.org
EdVisorly Raises $13.3M Series A Funding
EdVisorly, a Los Angeles, CA-based provider of an educational technology (EdTech) platform for colleges and universities, raised $13.3M in Series A funding
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
After nearly a decade helping shape Workforce Pell, Lumina's Katie Berger and Kermit Kaleba explain why the real work is just beginning, and why the choices we make now will determine whether it transforms opportunity or simply becomes another funding program. Listen to the episode:
lumfound.org
Workforce Pell and the changes it brings
Workforce Pell takes effect on July 1 this year. The expansion of the entitlement program opens access to many more Americans seeking high-quality, short-term training programs that lead to in-demand jobs.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Do credentials actually lead to opportunity? Join us on July 23 for a conversation on how states are defining and redefining credentials of value. If you're helping shape the future of education and workforce policy, this is one you won't want to miss. lumfound.org/4vhMUQo
lumfound.org
How FutureReady States are defining--and redefining--credentials of value
Lumina webinar on how leaders from Connecticut, Mississippi, and North Carolina are defining and redefining credentials of value
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
This episode of The New York Times "The Daily" on the future of student lending is a hard indicator that the cost of college has become a defining public issue, not just a personal finance one. How do we build a system where students don't have to rely on excessive debt in the first place?
lumfound.org
Why Americans Will Get Less Help Paying for College
With new limits on federal lending, many students will need private loans and some could be shut out.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Lumina's Jasmine Haywood, Ph.D., will moderate a discussion at the Global Black Economic Forum during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture exploring how HBCUs, employers, and cross-sector partnerships can create stronger pathways to economic opportunity. gbef.com/events
gbef.com
EventsEvents
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Adults haven't given up on education. Many are still looking for ways to build new skills, change careers, or finish a credential they started years ago. The interest and ambition are there, but what's often standing in the way are the realities of everyday life.
lumfound.org
Adults want to go back to school. We should make it easier.
If millions of adults say they want more education or training, why aren’t more of them enrolling?
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
If we miss the people behind the stats, it's easy to overlook the systems that make finishing college difficult. What can we change so that fewer students have to choose between education and the realities of life? Meet Aaron, Alina, Dupree, and Sylvie: lumfound.org/4fK3LXZ
lumfound.org
Some college, no degree: the Americans who find it impossible to graduate
They all begin college with hope, and leave without the credential they believed would shape the rest of their lives due to financial instability, family, illness
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Educators matter even more as AI changes how students learn. What happens when AI supports learning instead of replacing it? "All of us—including tech providers, educators, and philanthropy—can play an active role in shaping what's next for students." lumfound.org/43Bkw0a
lumfound.org
AI Won’t Replace Educators. But It is Changing How Students Learn
The question for educators: How to know when AI supports real learning.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
The conversation about liberal arts often gets stuck on semantics. "Both words, 'liberal' and 'arts,' are a turnoff to many people, and when you put them together, it just doesn't sound appealing to many Americans," Lumina's @jamiemerisotis.bsky.social writes in his latest for @forbes.com. More:
lumfound.org
‘Liberal Arts' May Be A Troubled Brand--But Its Value Has Never Been Higher
Colleges must redefine degrees to demonstrate the relevancy and value of both the human skills of the liberal arts and the more technical skills required in most of today's jobs.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
If colleges are creating AI degrees solely to chase demand, students will be left sorting through a crowded marketplace of promises. Yet will these programs lead to credentials of value and fulfilling careers? Talent is everywhere. Meanwhile, opportunity is not.
nytimes.com
A.I. Degree Programs Surge as Colleges Seek Students and Relevance
Colleges from North Dakota to New Jersey are trying to get students to sign up for A.I. degrees. What they teach varies widely.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
There’s a lot of energy right now around workforce training, short-term credentials, and creating more pathways to good jobs, but are we making sure people have the basic math and literacy skills they need to succeed once they get there? lumfound.org/4wZS59A
lumfound.org
A fragile foundation: The skills gaps holding adults back
Workforce education has inspired plenty of enthusiasm lately, but enthusiasm can't bridge foundational skills gaps.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Even students at institutions with strong placement rates and hands-on programs are still uneasy about what comes next, so the idea of "is college worth it?" isn't just a perception issue. What needs to change so opportunity isn't left to chance? lumfound.org/4o8Sa6U
lumfound.org
Students question value of college as costs rise and AI reshapes jobs
This season's college commencement celebrations come at a sobering moment. Students are facing steep loans and dicey job prospects, especially in the AI era. That's led many to question whether a coll...
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Preparing students for the future means more than giving them access to new technology. They need support and hands-on training to learn how to use it thoughtfully, ethically, and effectively.
npr.org
This big university system is embracing AI. Students and faculty aren't all on board
The California State University system offers an early look at what happens when an administration commits to a technology that its own community isn't convinced will improve education.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
"Jokes and words of wisdom" doing a lot of heavy lifting against existential dread and impending student loan repayment... lumfound.org/4v6ypPA
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
In Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical on AI and human dignity, @jamiemerisotis.bsky.social sees a challenge to rethink progress. If AI is reshaping work, then education and workforce systems need to help people adapt, contribute, and thrive—not compete—with machines. lumfound.org/4dN5JE6
lumfound.org
Pope Leo’s Powerful Call To Center Humanity In The AI Conversation
Pope Leo XIV's encyclical reminds us that a future in which millions of people feel economically unnecessary is a civic, cultural, and spiritual crisis.
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Lumina Foundation @luminafoundation.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
"Here is the part that actually matters for the rest of your life: The degree you just earned is worth a lot more than the headlines suggest." In @usatoday.com, Lumina's Courtney Brown pushes back on the idea that graduates are entering a broken job market: lumfound.org/42SSIUL
lumfound.org
College graduates face a better job market than you think | Opinion
The degree makes you more resilient when industries shift, more likely to get promoted and more able to move across sectors when you need to.
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Reposted by Lumina Foundation
The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Among adults without a college degree, only 25% believe most people can access a “quality, affordable education,” a new joint study by @luminafoundation.bsky.social and @gallup.com shows.
theeduledger.com
Lumina-Gallup Study Finds Higher Ed Increasingly Out of Reach for Millions
Nearly three in four adults say a college degree is just as important today as it was 20 years ago, but most say they can't afford it.
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