Meeting young workers where they are on diversity and inclusion, social responsibility and mental health
Elizabeth Ahmed is the Executive Vice President of People, Communications, Brand and Corporate Responsibility at Unum, a disability insurance company with 11,000 global employees. In a new Quadcast, she speaks with MCI executive director Marjorie Malpiede about new approaches the company is taking in areas that are of particular interest to Gen Z graduates entering the workforce: diversity and inclusion, social responsibility, and mental health and wellbeing. Ahmed talks about the ways Unum has re-strategized corporate accountability since 2020, especially towards social justice, behavioral health, and helping Gen-Z workers find purpose in their careers. Creating sustainable work environments includes helping employees thrive, which ultimately helps customers, Ahmed said.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Mental and Behavioral Health
Main Stories
Fortune magazine reports that 14% of students say they dropped out of college because of mental health challenges. According to a new survey, conducted by Sallie Mae and Ipsos, mental health was a significant factor as to why one-third of students did not complete their degrees. Students who dropped out of college as a result of financial challenges were more likely to say they plan to return to college within 5 years, as opposed to students who left because of mental health issues or from a lack of motivation.
Inside Higher Ed reports on college students’ perceptions of the pandemic’s impact on professors. The Student Voice survey of 2,000 undergraduates found that many students have noticed faculty struggle with fatigue and frustrations, yet also newfound levels of empathy and understanding in their relationships with professors. Sixty-seven percent of students report having “at least one professor in the spring 2022 who responded positively to a request for accommodations, such as extending a deadline.”
Other News
A new paper from BMC Medical Education shows that empathy alleviates the learning burnout of medical college students through enhancing resilience.
Urban Matter features an article on the benefits of volunteering for college students. Studies show that helping others can improve mental and physical health and reduce depression.
Erudera College News reports that college students experienced long-term effects on their mental health due to the pandemic.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diverse Education features findings from a new report that offers tangible ways to address inequities. The report, conducted by Complete College America (CCA), offers insight and advice on serving the needs of minoritized students and helping them succeed. Additionally, “four pillars,” categorized as purpose, structure, momentum, and support, are outlined for institutions to take action towards equity. The report calls for a greater disaggregation of institutional data and listening to students’ needs.
The Washington Post reports on Virginia’s state budget redirecting funds from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students to historically Black colleges and universities. Over the span of two years, $10 million is allocated to go to state financial aid for DACA students, who are otherwise unable to receive financial aid. However, Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) has proposed to move the money to Virginia’s HBCUs. Critics argue that the new two-year budget plan perpetuates a false scarcity dilemma when Virginia actually has a budget surplus and “pits” the groups against one another.
Inside Higher Ed Reports on different views surrounding the role and future for Lincoln University, raising bigger concerns around the HBCU’s history and image. John Moseley, the President of Lincoln University, recently described Lincoln as an HBCU, after being founded by Black Civil War soldiers, and as a “regional university,” where the school is located in a predominantly white area. Feedback criticized the claim for minimizing an HBCU’s historical legacy. However, debate has ensued. As HBCUs become more racially diverse, questions come up on the future and role of the institutions.
Sexual Assault and Title IX
NPR reports on critics who say Title IX rules fall short when it comes to sexual assault and are in need of an overhaul. The Biden administration has postponed changing a Trump-era rule, but plans for the new proposal are expected this month. Advocates for sexual assault survivors say rules under the Trump administration discourage reporting, as it involves a cross-examination with the accused. As a result, many students may have either not have reported their abuse or alternatively choose an informal route, such as not taking classes with the accused.
Student Success
The Chronicle reports on the student-success movement at large, diverse, and public institutions, such as the University of South Florida (USF), to engineer a better student experience. Advancing communication between offices, reorienting job positions, and creating new initiatives to help struggling students has shown to improve four-year graduation rates at USF. “Higher education was originally designed to train the elite, … That’s really problematic when the landscape of higher education has changed dramatically,” said Viji Sathy, an associate dean at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Higher Ed Dive reports on which stopped-out students are re-enrolling in college. While 39 million adults under the age of 65 have stopped out of college without completing their degrees, examining the demographics of who is re-enrolling may help institutions re-strategize recruitment efforts. Women were more likely to re-enroll than men and earn credentials, and students under the age of 25 were the most likely to re-enroll. Institution type also mattered. Community colleges had the lowest rate of student perseverance, however, students there were more likely to re-enroll.
The Chronicle reports on the steady decline of enrollment in higher education over the years, as fewer high school graduates are going to college. “The sources of stress undoubtedly stem from the traumatic effects of the global pandemic, ranging from social isolation to financial hardship to academic burnout and more. All of these factors have combined with a difficult economy to make the transition to college more difficult and less feasible for many students,” said David Hawkins, chief education and policy officer at the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
College Affordability
The Wall Street Journal, GBH News, and Higher Ed Dive report on Dartmouth College removing undergraduate student loans from financial aid packages and replacing them with grants. The change can help save Dartmouth students an estimated $22,000 across their four years. Sixty-five donors contributed $80 million for the policy change to take place, beginning on June 23. Students from households receiving need-based financial aid will receive the grants.
Inside Higher Ed reports on a new Economic Mobility Index showcasing post-graduate outcomes from colleges that serve a majority of low-income students. The top 10 colleges providing the greatest economic mobility, or ROI, were hispanic serving institutions in California, Texas, and New York, according to findings by Third Way, a public policy think tank. The Third Way report aims to examine different metrics, looking at “inclusive data, instead of exclusive data,” says Deborah Santiago, CEO of Excelencia in Education.
Inside Higher Ed reports on a new poll showing that most Americans believe college should be made more affordable. Conducted by NPR and Ipsos, over half of respondents said they support President Biden eliminating $10,000 of student debt for each borrower, however, 82% said Biden should prioritize making college more affordable over forgiving debt. Higher education leaders and advocates agree, pushing for more longer-term solutions, such as reforming the student loan system, for future students.
Reproductive Rights
The Hechinger Report reports on how college campuses are preparing for a “post-Roe world. Reproductive health rights advocates are searching for new ways to support students seeking abortions in the case that they become illegal in the 13 “trigger-law” states. A final Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade is expected by July. College-aged women from 20 to 24 make up 28% of people who undergo legal abortions. The Washington Post reports on the race to teach abortion procedures in medical training prior to laws changing, since the overturning of Roe v. Wade would prevent abortion training for physicians.
