As colleges and universities across Florida and Texas are forced to shudder their DEI offices, higher education leaders in other states whose lawmakers threaten to propose similar legislation are voicing their opposition—before it becomes too late.

At least 14 nonprofit colleges announced they were closing last year. New York had the most institutions to close with three, followed by Wisconsin with two. Notre Dame College's closure marks the first in Ohio since then.

In the business of running a liberal arts school like Furman University, the most cherished metric to study success is student satisfaction. For President Elizabeth Davis, the key is a strategic plan agile enough to adjust to student interest and leveraging a dedicated team ready to adapt to new needs. 

In an area with fewer educational and professional opportunities, women and minorities are feeling the squeeze the worst. Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce explains just how higher education reverses the trend and leverages the region's track record of resilience.

Even more promising is the fact that this uptick in enrollment is mainly driven by students coming from economically disadvantaged groups. 

“The societal changes unfolding before us, fueled by technological innovation and our evolving needs, compel us to reimagine educational paradigm designed for a bygone industrial age," said Garrett Smiley, CEO and co-founder of Sora Schools.

More than 60% of undergraduates who began college between four and six years ago are either enrolled in a graduate program now or are seriously considering taking the next step, according to a recent report from Spark451, a Jenzabar Company.

These two institutions are connecting students with eager alumni to show them the ropes of what it means to be the next version of themselves: adults.