Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 1h

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced Monday a $50 million investment over 10 years to provide gap scholarships for students at four Atlanta Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Blank Foundation Commits $50M to Atlanta HBCU Scholarships

The program is projected to assist nearly 10,000 students who have exhausted other financial aid options, including federal grants, state assistance and loans.

www.theeduledger.com

1

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 2h

Born from a gap in advocacy for students with overlapping identities, the National Institutes for Historically-Underserved Students brings together educators, leaders, and students to break down institutional silos and amplify student voices.

Beyond Single Labels

The National Institutes for Historically-Underserved Students challenges higher ed to think beyond single-issue advocacy.

www.theeduledger.com

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 19h

From Detroit to Zambia and back, Jerrard Wheeler’s journey illustrates how diverse experiences can converge into powerful advocacy for social justice and community healing. #RisingGraduateScholars

Social Justice and Service

Jerrard Wheeler’s journey to social work wasn’t direct. Like many students, he entered college with pre-med aspirations, earning a biology degree at Western Michigan University. But something didn’t s...

www.theeduledger.com

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 21h

Ad Deadline Thursday, October 16 | In our November 6 edition, we'll spotlight the future of health sciences and Native American History Month.

Join us as we explore heritage, leadership, and access across #highered and healthcare: bit.ly/4nSs4UZ

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 21h

Employees in the college access program known as TRIO, housed in a different office, were also let go. Dr. Buffy Smith shared her thoughts on TRIO's proposed cuts with us back in June:

Proposed TRIO Cut Jeopardizes At-Risk Students’ Future

A proposed budget cut to TRIO programs could shut the door on opportunity for nearly one million students and erode the strength of the American middle class.

www.theeduledger.com

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 22h

The U.S. Department of Education has terminated nearly every employee in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, a move that advocates say will devastate services for millions of students with disabilities.

Trump Administration Fires Nearly All Staff Overseeing Special Education Programs

Mass layoffs at Education Department eliminate positions responsible for administering disability rights protections for 7.5 million students.

www.theeduledger.com

1

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 23h

The EDU Ledger's free daily newsletter keeps readers updated on the hot topics, insights, and opportunities in higher education.

Subscribe today: bit.ly/4ohdwOk

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 1d

Views | In his latest op-ed for The EDU Ledger, Dr. Keith Curry (@iamkeithcurry.bsky.social) shares a motivational call to action for higher education leaders to embrace bold, collaborative, and student-centered solutions.

Unapologetic Leadership: Yeah, Uh-Huh, You Know- What it is Maroon and Gray

Practitioners and policymakers must stop engaging in the same old, same old because that’s how you yield the same results. I am done with people saying, “This is how we’ve always done it” or “this is ...

www.theeduledger.com

1 1

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 1d

Universities and colleges must fundamentally rethink how they prepare students for an AI-driven economy, as traditional four-year degrees alone may no longer provide the skills workers need, experts said at a recent Brookings Institution forum.

AI Expert Calls for Higher Education Reform to Meet Workforce Demands at Brookings Forum

Universities and colleges must fundamentally rethink how they prepare students for an AI-driven economy, as traditional four-year degrees alone may no longer provide the skills workers need.

www.theeduledger.com

1

Reposted by The EDU Ledger

InScribe @inscribeapp.bsky.social · 1d

Belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It's built by design.
This new study on Native student experience in higher ed is a must-read for every campus leader.

#edusky #studentsuccess #educationforall

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 4d

Institutional support emerged as the most powerful driver of belonging and reduced social isolation for Indigenous students, even in environments lacking formal inclusion programs, according to a new study released by the National Native Scholarship Providers.

New Study Reveals Critical Factors in Indigenous Student Success and Belonging

Tribal colleges and universities ranked significantly higher in fostering belonging, cultural affirmation, and community compared to other institution types.

www.theeduledger.com

2 1

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 3d

On The Move | Frank R. Hall has been named dean of the John W. Garland College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture at Central State University. www.theeduledger.com/on-the-move/...

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 3d

Armando Lizarraga's (@alizarraga310.bsky.social) supporters say his research as a doctoral candidate in educational leadership and policy at The University of Texas at Austin offers valuable insights into the intersection of incarceration, gender, and student debt. #RisingGraduateScholars

Making a Real-World Impact

Armando Lizarraga's supporters say his research offers valuable insights into the intersection of incarceration, gender, and student debt.

www.theeduledger.com

4 4 5

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 4d

A federal law that fundamentally reshapes higher education accountability could fail to protect the very students it aims to serve unless significant improvements are made, according to a policy brief released this week by EdTrust.

New Federal Accountability Rules Risk Leaving Low-Income Students Behind, Policy Brief Warns

EdTrust calls for stronger protections as higher education overhaul takes effect in 2026.

www.theeduledger.com

1

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 4d

Institutional support emerged as the most powerful driver of belonging and reduced social isolation for Indigenous students, even in environments lacking formal inclusion programs, according to a new study released by the National Native Scholarship Providers.

New Study Reveals Critical Factors in Indigenous Student Success and Belonging

Tribal colleges and universities ranked significantly higher in fostering belonging, cultural affirmation, and community compared to other institution types.

www.theeduledger.com

1 2

Reposted by The EDU Ledger

Jeremy C. Young @jeremycyoung.bsky.social · 4d

We got some coverage for the new Advancing Public Trust initiative in @theeduledger.bsky.social (formerly Diverse)! www.theeduledger.com/leadership-p...

New AAC&U Initiative Seeks to Rebuild Public Confidence in Higher Education's Democratic Mission

Initiative brings together college leaders, business, and civil society to address historic lows in public trust.

www.theeduledger.com

1 3

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 4d

The findings reveal widespread grassroots adoption of AI tools across #HBCU campuses, with stakeholders using technology for everything from lesson planning and personalized feedback to career preparation and administrative tasks.

HBCUs Lead in AI Adoption Despite Infrastructure Gaps, New Report Finds

Nearly all HBCU students and faculty are using artificial intelligence tools, but institutional readiness lags behind individual enthusiasm, according to comprehensive survey.

www.theeduledger.com

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 4d

On The Move | Nicholas J. Hill has been named dean of the College of Business at Jackson State University. bit.ly/3J3Wnsn

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 4d

As a third-year Ph.D. student studying Christian ethics at Vanderbilt University, Royal Todd represents a rare breed of scholar-practitioner who refuses to compartmentalize his dual callings. #RisingGraduateScholars bit.ly/42x3mRl

2

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 5d

“The Student Debt Crisis: America’s Moral Urgency” by Jamal Watson, with a Foreword by Reverend Al Sharpton, is available for purchase via The EDU Ledger Shop: bit.ly/4nH212a

1

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 5d

The American Association of Colleges and Universities (@aacu.org) has launched a comprehensive initiative aimed at restoring public confidence in higher education at a time when trust in colleges and universities has reached unprecedented lows.

New AAC&U Initiative Seeks to Rebuild Public Confidence in Higher Education's Democratic Mission

Initiative brings together college leaders, business, and civil society to address historic lows in public trust.

www.theeduledger.com

1

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 5d

Ad Deadline Oct 16 | In our Nov 6 edition, we'll spotlight Native American History Month and the future of health sciences. We'll explore heritage, leadership, and access across #highered and healthcare.

Be a part of this edition: bit.ly/4nSs4UZ

1

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 5d

Twenty years of Excelencia in Education’s Examples of Excelencia show the impact that the selected programs have had on students.

These programs have developed strategies that address academic barriers, and the data demonstrates that these strategies have greatly enhanced student success.

Examples of Excelencia 2025

Twenty years of Excelencia in Education’s Examples of Excelencia show the impact that the selected programs have had on students.

www.theeduledger.com

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 5d

Views | There’s growing pressure on higher education to conform to conservative political agendas. In Dawn M. Demps’ latest op-ed for The EDU Ledger, she asks academics to define and defend their personal red lines in the face of such pressures.

Where is Our Red Line in Academia?

While there has been some resistance to the hard-armed demands and required reverence to the trifles and narcissistic tangents of this administration, there has overwhelmingly been acquiescence and co...

www.theeduledger.com

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 6d

On The Move | Keena Arbuthnot has been named executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Rutgers University. https://bit.ly/46FvCng

The EDU Ledger @theeduledger.bsky.social · 6d

Apply Today | Assistant Professor at Bowling Green State University‘s College of Arts & Sciences

Learn more and apply via Jobs.TheEDULedger.com: https://bit.ly/3Wx7vkw