Providing stellar educations and career opportunities to a select
few? Or creating lots of opportunities for all kinds of people,
and helping disadvantaged students get into careers that can
sustain families?
Reporters who want answers can use a new free data tool that
helps identify whether colleges are opening the doors of
socioeconomic mobility and promoting equity in education.
By Lily Altavena of the Detroit Free Press for EWA
Universities are a “microcosm” of society, so the same fraught
debates happening in society over mask and vaccine mandates are
happening on college campuses, too, according to Howard
University President Wayne A.I. Frederick.
Frederick shared this insight during a virtual panel at the
Education Writers Association’s 2021 Higher Education Seminar on
Oct. 19. Moderated by Francie Diep with The Chronicle of Higher
Education, three university officials discussed the legal,
political and health care forces at work in the fight against
COVID-19 on campus.
The planned early 2022 restart of federal student loan payments
will renew the nation’s attention to the approximately 42 million
Americans who owe an estimated $1.6 trillion in education debt.
Reporters can find fresh angles and new information to help
borrowers by pursuing accountability stories, and by paying
particular attention to debt repayment, forgiveness and
collections of overdue balances, three veteran reporters said at
the Education Writers Association’s 2021 Higher Education
Seminar.
If the disparity in underfunding Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) could be told through two schools, consider
Texas Southern University (TSU) and the University of Houston
(UH). Both started around the same time with similar missions,
serving populations with similar economic backgrounds. The
colleges were even located across the street from each other.
Topics like “viewpoint diversity” and “critical race theory” have
become controversial touchstones in higher education, primarily
stemming from a September 2020 Trump administration executive
order
banning “divisive concepts” in diversity training.
From COVID-19 relief funding to massive endowments, money – which
institutions have it, which don’t and how it is spent – will be
key themes in higher education stories over the next year.
That’s the prediction Inside Higher Ed Editor Scott Jaschik gave
during his session on “The Top 10 Higher Education Stories You’ll
Be Covering This Year” at the Education Writers Association’s
Higher Education Seminar in October.
University leaders hope to take advantage of a potentially
historic influx of federal funding, re-engage students who left
during the pandemic and stave off longer-term enrollment
drops.
They face these challenges amid bitter fights over mask and
vaccine mandates, and political polarization over affirmative
action, freedom of speech and allegations of “cancel
culture.”
The pandemic’s impact on housing – driving rental prices up
dramatically, and threatening millions of Americans with eviction
– have had a surprising and under-covered impact on higher
education.
After a more than 40-year-old graduate-level, academic research
framework became the center of a national culture war that began
last year, misinformation and disinformation infiltrated the
public sphere, and internet searches increased.
In 2019, Nexis listed a total of 635 news articles
mentioning “critical race theory.” Today, the phrase is cited in
more than 5,000 pieces a month. And the vast majority of
those stories focus on how history and race are taught in
schools.
By Kathryn Palmer of the Arizona Daily Star for EWA
As students and higher learning institutions prepare for the fall
semester, lagging vaccination rates and the rise of the delta
variant present unanticipated challenges.
For reporters looking to tell stories about how the ongoing
public health crisis is affecting higher education access,
enrollment numbers are a good place to start.
The fast-spreading COVID-19 Delta variant is forcing rapid
changes in colleges’ vaccination plans and requirements. And
these changes are encountering backlash from state legislatures
and students as they roll out.
Reporters covering the vaccine and its usage among students,
faculty and staff at colleges need to provide context on how
policies comport with state laws or preemptions, how students and
local communities are affected by these decisions, and how to
track vaccine mandates’ rollout and potential outbreaks.
BY KRISTA JOHNSON OF THE MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER FOR EWA
Despite the many hardships the pandemic caused, the COVID-19
disruption also sparked – or in some cases accelerated – changes
to K-12 and higher education that leaders say should stick.
The speakers pointed to the power of flexibility, the need
to focus energy and resources that will serve the “whole
student,” and how increased outreach and new communication
strategies with students and families could be
transformative during a plenary at the Education Writers
Association’s 2021 National Seminar.
Sponsor Webinar: Data Tool Explores If Colleges Boost Alumni Paychecks
What makes a college “good”?
Providing stellar educations and career opportunities to a select few? Or creating lots of opportunities for all kinds of people, and helping disadvantaged students get into careers that can sustain families?
Reporters who want answers can use a new free data tool that helps identify whether colleges are opening the doors of socioeconomic mobility and promoting equity in education.
How to Cover the Fight Against COVID-19 on Campus
Tips and story ideas for reporters covering mask and vaccine minefields on campus
Universities are a “microcosm” of society, so the same fraught debates happening in society over mask and vaccine mandates are happening on college campuses, too, according to Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick.
Frederick shared this insight during a virtual panel at the Education Writers Association’s 2021 Higher Education Seminar on Oct. 19. Moderated by Francie Diep with The Chronicle of Higher Education, three university officials discussed the legal, political and health care forces at work in the fight against COVID-19 on campus.
5 Tips for Reporting on Student Loan Debt After the Pandemic Pause
Get advice and ideas to localize stories that go beyond covering federal student loans.
The planned early 2022 restart of federal student loan payments will renew the nation’s attention to the approximately 42 million Americans who owe an estimated $1.6 trillion in education debt.
Reporters can find fresh angles and new information to help borrowers by pursuing accountability stories, and by paying particular attention to debt repayment, forgiveness and collections of overdue balances, three veteran reporters said at the Education Writers Association’s 2021 Higher Education Seminar.
How to Put the HBCU Story in Context
Journalists share strategies for reporting on the chronic underfunding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
If the disparity in underfunding Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) could be told through two schools, consider Texas Southern University (TSU) and the University of Houston (UH). Both started around the same time with similar missions, serving populations with similar economic backgrounds. The colleges were even located across the street from each other.
Navigating Politicized Arguments Over Academic Freedom? Lessons for Reporters
Journalists offer tips on tackling challenges to academic freedom while weighing facts and misinformation
Topics like “viewpoint diversity” and “critical race theory” have become controversial touchstones in higher education, primarily stemming from a September 2020 Trump administration executive order banning “divisive concepts” in diversity training.
The Top Higher Education Stories Reporters Should Cover in 2022
The pandemic’s effects will continue to shape future coverage, policies and institutions.
From COVID-19 relief funding to massive endowments, money – which institutions have it, which don’t and how it is spent – will be key themes in higher education stories over the next year.
That’s the prediction Inside Higher Ed Editor Scott Jaschik gave during his session on “The Top 10 Higher Education Stories You’ll Be Covering This Year” at the Education Writers Association’s Higher Education Seminar in October.
Reporting on Biden’s Higher Education Policies in a Divisive Era
Tips for covering state and federal policies, enrollment declines, campus challenges and more
University leaders hope to take advantage of a potentially historic influx of federal funding, re-engage students who left during the pandemic and stave off longer-term enrollment drops.
They face these challenges amid bitter fights over mask and vaccine mandates, and political polarization over affirmative action, freedom of speech and allegations of “cancel culture.”
How is the Housing Crisis Affecting College Students and Faculty? 5 Things to Consider.
Resources to help reporters cover housing and education issues during the pandemic
The pandemic’s impact on housing – driving rental prices up dramatically, and threatening millions of Americans with eviction – have had a surprising and under-covered impact on higher education.
Covering Critical Race Theory: Resources and Tips to Debunk Misinformation
How reporters can arm themselves with knowledge to prevent the spread of intentional and unintentional incorrect information.
This story was updated on Sept. 23, 2021.
After a more than 40-year-old graduate-level, academic research framework became the center of a national culture war that began last year, misinformation and disinformation infiltrated the public sphere, and internet searches increased.
In 2019, Nexis listed a total of 635 news articles mentioning “critical race theory.” Today, the phrase is cited in more than 5,000 pieces a month. And the vast majority of those stories focus on how history and race are taught in schools.
8 Questions to Ask About College Enrollment Numbers
COVID-19 sparked enrollment declines at universities, especially among low-income students.
As students and higher learning institutions prepare for the fall semester, lagging vaccination rates and the rise of the delta variant present unanticipated challenges.
For reporters looking to tell stories about how the ongoing public health crisis is affecting higher education access, enrollment numbers are a good place to start.
How to Cover COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates and Bans at Colleges
Learn about the key players, find data, get story ideas and more.
The fast-spreading COVID-19 Delta variant is forcing rapid changes in colleges’ vaccination plans and requirements. And these changes are encountering backlash from state legislatures and students as they roll out.
Reporters covering the vaccine and its usage among students, faculty and staff at colleges need to provide context on how policies comport with state laws or preemptions, how students and local communities are affected by these decisions, and how to track vaccine mandates’ rollout and potential outbreaks.
With Schools Reopening Full-Time, What Pandemic-Driven Changes Will Last?
Get 7 story ideas to help you cover K-12 and higher education shifts that may have staying power.
Despite the many hardships the pandemic caused, the COVID-19 disruption also sparked – or in some cases accelerated – changes to K-12 and higher education that leaders say should stick.
The speakers pointed to the power of flexibility, the need to focus energy and resources that will serve the “whole student,” and how increased outreach and new communication strategies with students and families could be transformative during a plenary at the Education Writers Association’s 2021 National Seminar.