It’s been an unpredictable month in the world of politics. For college leaders, the one piece of news that might be most relevant is the possibility of a Kamala Harris presidency after President Joe Biden announced the end of his 2024 bid. How might Harris approach higher education if she wins this year’s election?
Who is Kamala Harris?
The Biden-Harris administration has strengthened Title IX and championed student loan forgiveness. Now, Harris is gaining support from prominent education figures even in the short time she has been the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Most recently, the nation’s largest teachers’ union, the American Federation of Teachers, endorsed Harris during its national convention in Houston.
“The American People have a great choice in Kamala Harris for President,” AFT President Randi Weingarten told ABC13. “We need to stand together on behalf of democracy, human rights and economic rights for working people.”
U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona also wrote on social media that he was “all in” for Harris.
Throughout her vice presidency, she’s sought to reach younger voters by taking tours to college campuses encouraging students to vote and fight for their rights.
“There are going to be people who are going to try and shut you up,” she told students at Hampton University last fall. “They’re going to be people who literally try and turn off the mic when you’re talking. And don’t you ever let anybody silence you. Don’t you let anybody convince you that your trust is not a truth that must be spoken.”
Historically Black colleges would receive significant attention, too. Harris would also be the first HBCU grad to be elected president. During her previous campaign in 2019, she pledged to invest $60 billion in HBCUs. That support would continue during her vice presidency.
She’s frequently visited HBCUs over the past four years and the administration has since secured $16 billion for HBCUs. “As a proud graduate of Howard University, I know firsthand that our HBCUs are centers of academic excellence,” she said in May. “For generations, these anchors of our communities have played a pivotal role in building and contributing to America’s leadership at home and abroad.”
The state of college credentials
College credentials are becoming much more common in the higher ed space. Yet, the technology is still quite new and there are plenty of ways issuers can better position their programs for success.
That’s according to a new survey from Accredible, a digital credential platform, which surveyed more than 1,000 learners who participated in a course, certification program or continuing education opportunity that awarded a credential within the past two years. A second survey was also issued to 193 education and training leaders who work for organizations that issue credentials.
Here’s a brief rundown of some of the survey’s findings:
- 63% of issuers consider their credential programs to be extremely or very successful.
- 96% of those who earned a digital credential consider it valuable for their career; 78% believe it increases their chances of getting a job offer.
- 96% of learners want learning pathways to help them master a particular topic, but only 29% of credential issuers offer them.
For a more in-depth look at the report, click here.
Are college degrees becoming obsolete?
Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed a shift in attitudes toward the value of a college degree among high school graduates. Now, the trend is trickling into the workforce.
One in three companies have eliminated bachelor’s degree requirements this year, according to a recent survey from Intelligent. Another 25% of companies plan to eliminate or will continue to eliminate requirements by 2025.
According to employers, their top reason for doing so is a desire to prioritize skills over degrees. Three in four leaders say that removing requirements has been beneficial to the company.
“The trend shift shows a broader recognition that practical skills, real-world work experiences and the ability to self-learn can be more important measures of potential success than four years of formal college education in many job functions,” Chief Education and Career Development Advisor at Intelligent Huy Nguyen said in a statement.
You can explore more of the findings here.
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