Catch up on the latest developments and insights from the world of higher education — from admissions right through to career placement — in less than five minutes!
Illinois becomes the fourth state to outlaw legacy admissions, three strategies from the IHEP to support returning learners, and gender differences in how recent U.S. college graduates are handling the current job market.
Transcript:
Hello and welcome to the Momentous Campus Media podcast! We’re here to keep you informed on the newest developments and insights from the world of higher education — from admissions right through to career placement. Let’s jump in!
Legacy admissions, which is the practice of favoring applicants with alumni connections, is facing growing scrutiny, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against race-based admissions in June 2023. Illinois recently became the fourth state to outlaw legacy admissions at its public universities. Signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker on August 9, 2024, this legislation prohibits universities from granting admission based on family connections. Critics of legacy admissions, like New York Senator Andrew Gounardes, have argued that legacy admissions are essentially affirmative action for the privileged, perpetuating inequality. Illinois joins Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland in banning this practice, as more states are considering similar measures, including New York, California, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.
Next, over 40 million Americans have earned some college credit but haven’t completed a degree, revealing both a gap in higher education support, and an opportunity to boost enrollments. A survey by UPCEA and StraighterLine found that of Americans who had some college but no degree, 57 percent of respondents had completed half or more of their degree, and 61 percent wanted to return to higher education to earn a degree.
The Institute for Higher Education Policy recently released a guide titled “Evidence-Based Practices to Increase Postsecondary Access and Success for Returning Learners” which outlines three strategies to support returning learners:
- Offering financial assistance
- Providing tailored student support
- Fostering an inclusive culture of access and success.
Affordability remains a top concern, with programs like MassReconnect offering free community college as a potential solution. Tailored services, such as credit for prior learning and personalized advising, can help students re-engage and complete their degrees. Institutional commitment to these strategies is crucial for closing attainment gaps and supporting returning students.
And finally, let’s turn to today’s challenging job market. There is a noticeable gender divide in how recent U.S. college graduates are navigating their careers. Bloomberg News reports that while many young men are opting to pause their job search and wait for the right opportunity, their female peers are showing more flexibility. Data reveals that 1 in 5 male graduates under 25 are neither employed nor actively seeking work, a trend contrasting with the steady workforce participation among female graduates. Women are more likely to accept part-time roles or jobs outside their field to stay employed, leading to slightly lower underemployment rates compared to men.
Another factor pushing some men to delay their job hunt could be the fact that Technology and Finance have been hit particularly hard in the job market slowdown, and those industries tend to be more male-dominated. Meanwhile, the rise in young adults living with family is offering a cushion to some college graduates, allowing them to wait for the ideal job. According to the Census Bureau, 73.2 percent of adult men under the age of 25 were living with relatives last year compared with 68 percent for women. Excluding the pandemic years, those are record highs for both genders.
Marcie Merriman, a cultural insights leader at E-Y who studies Gen Z attitudes, explains that “There’s increasingly less stigma of staying at home or letting Mom and Dad continue to support you.” Only time will tell whether all these Mom’s and Dad’s will have the patience to wait out this less-than-ideal job market with their college graduates at home.
That’s all for this episode of the Momentous Campus Media podcast. The show notes contain links to all the news items discussed. If you like the pod, the best way to support it is to share it with someone who will also find it helpful. Thanks for listening.
Sources:
Campus Reform | New Illinois bill outlaws ‘legacy status’ college admissions
Three strategic actions to help students return to college (insidehighered.com)
Young Men With College Degrees Have Quit Looking for US Jobs – Bloomberg
