In July 2023, the U.S. Department of Education reinstated Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students, a decision poised to reshape higher education’s impact on reentry and societal integration. A year later, this policy shift is proving transformative, fostering educational opportunities that promise brighter futures and reduced recidivism rates nationwide.
Continue readingUnderstanding the Student Experience of Automatic Textbook Billing: A Small-Scale Survey
Automatic textbook billing has spread across the country since the Department of Education’s changes to the Cash Management Rule in 2016. The updated regulations allow postsecondary institutions to automatically bill students for course materials with two main guardrails. Despite the popularity of this model and student anecdotes, public data on the lived experience of students navigating this model are limited, which this small-scale survey aims to begin to address.
Continue readingEmpowering Student Parents: AB 2458 and the Path to Educational Equity
Student parents from across California convened to advocate for AB 2458, a crucial legislation aimed at improving support systems in higher education. This initiative seeks to enhance accessibility and financial aid for student parents, addressing their unique challenges in pursuing academic success.
Continue readingIntroducing Evelyn Lucho, Michelson 20MM Student Basic Needs Senior Program Coordinator
Evelyn Lucho, newly appointed Senior Program Coordinator at Michelson 20MM Foundation, brings a robust background in social work to champion student basic needs and equity in higher education. Her journey from a first-generation college student to a seasoned advocate highlights her commitment to empowering marginalized communities in academia
Continue readingDoes Coursemarking Impact Student Enrollment Behavior? Glendale Community College Will Explore This with a Michelson Spark Grant
Glendale Community College is enhancing student engagement with Zero and Low Textbook Cost (ZTC and LTC) courses via a Michelson Spark Grant. By integrating image-based markers for these courses in PeopleSoft search results, GCC aims to increase student awareness and enrollment.
Continue readingA Global Impact: How Homeboy Industries’ Pathway to College Program Is Helping Thousands of Justice-Impacted Individuals
Homeboy Industries’ Pathways to College program is making significant strides in helping justice-impacted individuals in Los Angeles overcome the challenges of college enrollment. Through community collaboration and support via a Michelson Spark Grant, they will host an educational summit to help other organizations implement the model.
Continue readingThe Power of Data: How Chabot College Will Advance OER and ZTC Adoption
Get to know how Chatbot College is revolutionizing California Community Colleges with their innovative ZTC/OER dashboards, which will enhance student success and equity in education.
Continue readingFrom a Shelter to a Commencement Ceremony: Meet Dia James, Parenting Student and Aspiring MD
Dia James exemplifies the remarkable strength of student parents, balancing the demands of academia while nurturing her son. Her journey is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the transformative power of education. She inspires others to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams.
Continue readingArtificial Intelligence and Digital Equity: Centering Community Voices
By Cristal Mojica
The Michelson 20MM Foundation, in collaboration with SoCal Grantmakers, moderated an insightful artificial intelligence (AI)-focused policy panel titled “Understanding and Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Create an Equitable Technological Ecosystem” at this year’s SCG Policy Conference. The session brought together a diverse community of experts from the Kapor Foundation, Goldhirsch Foundation, and TechEquity Collaborative to explore the integration of community insights in AI development.
The panel emphasized the pivotal role of philanthropy in nurturing an equitable AI landscape. It also highlighted the importance of keeping community voices centered as we address the challenges, opportunities, and risks of AI. Panelists encouraged philanthropists to support research and reporting, policy advocacy, and capacity-building in communities, as well as calling for transparency and accountability from industry in the development of AI.
The discussion not only encouraged philanthropy professionals to engage in the broader AI and digital equity conversation, but also it emphasized the human challenge as much as it is a technology one. The panelists concluded the discussion by calling for philanthropic efforts to approach AI funding through the lens of ensuring communities will be meaningfully engaged in the development of AI—that they are both educated on and equipped to protect their civil rights in the digital world.
Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.
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Welcoming the 2024 Open Educational Resources Spark Grantees
Explore how the 2024 open educational resources (OER) Michelson Spark Grants will advance textbook affordability. Chabot College, Generation Up, and Glendale Community College will create data-driven solutions, make ZTC courses more accessible, and mobilize students.
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