A pilot program by the Los Angeles Community College District pays $1,200 a month to students pursuing health fields. By helping with living expenses, the district hopes the guaranteed income will help more students complete their health care workforce development programs.

High school and community college students in Illinois will soon be able to earn automatic admission to most state public universities based on their GPA—without even having to apply.

If Congress signs off on that plan, campuses like UMass—which are already hurting from terminated grants—could lose more than half their federal research support.

Community college professors in Massachusetts are often forced to work multiple jobs due to low pay, sparking calls from both faculty and leadership for salary increases. As enrollment rises, advocates say better compensation is essential to recruit and retain instructors and support diverse student needs.