Research + News

My College Students Are Not OK

This college professor isn’t the only to report poor attendance, little discussion, missing homework and failed exams. Read the article here.

Rising Parental Expectations Linked To Perfectionism In College Students

Researchers found that young people’s perceptions of their parents’ expectations and criticism have increased over the past 32 years and are linked to an increase in their perfectionism. Read the article here.

I Came To College Eager To Debate. I Found Self-Censorship Instead

We need more classrooms full of energetic debate, not fewer. But when criticism transforms into a public shaming, it stifles learning. Read the article here.

Burned Out College Student, You Belong To God

The expectations for achievement—get good grades, an internship, and a good job—seem impossibly high. Read the article here.

Survey: 55% Of High Schoolers Don’t Think College Is Needed For Successful Career

A recent survey of 2,000 American high school students found that although a third of respondents have no post-graduation plans, 82 percent agree the most important thing to them is to do something they’re passionate about, regardless of what career they choose. Read the article here.

Many Idaho Teens Want A Break Before Going To College. I Did.

Should we expect teens fresh off the podium to have it figured out? Read the article here.

U.S. College Enrollment Dropped Again In The Fall Of 2021, Despite The Arrival Of Vaccines

Total undergraduate enrollment dropped 3.1 percent from the fall of 2020 to the fall of 2021, bringing the total decline since the fall of 2019 to 6.6 percent — or 1,205,600 students. Read the article here.

College Enrollment Continues To Decline

Colleges are experiencing an intense drop in the number of students enrolling in classes to receive undergraduate degrees, showing a trend that might not taper off with the end of the pandemic. Read the article here.

Teens Are Facing Uncertainty During College Acceptance Season

This time of year can be very stressful for students hoping to land their dream school. Read the article here.

Long Disparaged, Education For Skilled Trades Is Making A Comeback

Skilled trades are making a comeback. Read the article here.

1 In 3 College Freshmen Has Depression, Anxiety

Starting college can be a time of fun, new experiences and growth. Yet it can also be a rough transition for many students who struggle with mental health issues. Read the article here.

What If I Realized I Didn’t Have To Be Perfect In High School?

Paul, academic performance, anxiety, righteousness, and how the Gospel brings peace, freedom and comfort. Read the article here.

More Sleep Leads To Better Grades And Well-Being, Study Shows

Students who get a good night’s sleep night in and night out earn higher marks and feel a stronger sense of well-being than those with fluctuating sleep schedules. Read the article here.

E-mail Is Useful, But Texting Is Transforming College Campuses

University Of Pittsburgh Issues Non-Sexist Language Guidelines – Including Term ‘Yinz’

Pitt has published a gender-inclusive language guide that includes a set of “non-sexist language guidelines and resources” to help students and faculty avoid “unintentionally creating a sexist and homophobic classroom environment.” Read the article here.

4 In 5 College Students Have Trouble Concentrating After Switching To Remote Learning

Now, a new study reveals the switch to remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic has made earning a college degree even harder. Read the article here.

He, She Or They? PA University Equity Officer Says Students Could Be Punished For Misusing A Person’s Pronouns

The pronoun flap is happening at Point Park University, where the pointed memo put it very plainly that students using the wrong pronouns to “misgender” a fellow student could result in punishment. Read the article here.

Marijuana Use At ‘Historic High’ Among College-Aged Adults

You may soon be in the minority if you’re of a college-age adult and not using marijuana, according to a new national poll. Read the article here.

Daily Marijuana Use Reached All-Time High Last Year Among College Students

Researchers at the University of Michigan found daily marijuana use rose to 7.9% among college students last year — an increase of 3.3% over the past five years. Read the article here.

The New Chief Chaplain At Harvard? An Atheist

The elevation of Greg Epstein, author of “Good Without God,” reflects a broader trend of young people who increasingly identify as spiritual but religiously nonaffiliated. Read the article here.

University Of Alabama Sorority Rush Has Taken Over TikTok. Users Can’t Look Away.

Many of the videos, which in the last week have flooded the feeds of TikTok users across the country, show potential new members — or PNMs, as they are called in the sorority and fraternity community — showing off their outfits for themed events and naming the brand or store each item comes from. Other videos show behind the scenes of how they get ready for the events and, in some cases, attending them. Read the article here.

When Is The “Best” School Not The Best?

Leonard Sax provides a guest blog for the Institute of Family Studies. Read it here.

Parents, Take Note Of The Spiritual Practices Common To Kids Who Flourish As Adults

Research indicated that children who remained faithful as young adults (identifying as a Christian, sharing their faith, remaining in church, reading the Bible, and so on) grew up in homes where certain practices were present. Read the article here.

CCCU Says LGBT Lawsuit Is Frivolous

Evangelical association names itself as co-defendant to defend religious exemptions. Read the article here.

Parents Expect To Pay At Least $26,000 Annually To Send Their Kids To College

Seven in 10 parents are feeling nervous about paying for college this year due to the financial impact of COVID-19. Read the article here.

‘Existential Threat’: CCCU Fights LGBT Students’ Title IX Lawsuit Targeting Christian Colleges

A leading association of over 180 Protestant colleges and universities is coming to the defense of Christian colleges amid a lawsuit filed by former and current LGBT students who seek to revoke religious schools’ exemptions to Title IX discrimination law. Read the article here.

Many U.S. Colleges Will Mandate Vaccines On Campus Next Fall

Over 100 American colleges will require that students get coronavirus vaccines if they want to be on campus in the fall, a new survey shows. Read the article here.

Vocation: Discerning Your Calling

An article adapted from a leadership training session at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in 2007 by Timothy Keller:

As Christians we are stewards of the resources God gives us for serving the human community. Our vocations are one avenue for doing God’s work in the world.

Download and read the full article here.

Vocation Needs No Justification

An article from Comment Magazine by Steve Garber:

The Pandemic’s High – And Largely Overlooked – Toll On ‘In-Betweeners’

The pandemic’s toll on the “In-Betweeners,” those on the cusp between Gen Z and millennials, has been significant — and largely overlooked. Read the article here.

Almost 40% Of University Students Surveyed Are Addicted To Their Phones

A team of researchers at King’s College London has found that nearly 40% of students surveyed exhibited symptoms of addiction to their smartphone. Read the article here.

‘Destination College’ Webinar Schools Parents, Helping Guide Their Teens Through Next Steps Towards College

A new program is schooling parents on how to better help their teens prepare for life after graduation while guiding them through the college admissions process. Read the article here.

Depression, Anxiety, Loneliness Are Peaking In College Students

New nationwide survey data uncovers college students’ current mental health challenges and needs. Read the article here.

Evangelical Colleges Consider The Future Of Online Education After COVID-19

New Study Suggests That College Campuses Are COVID-19 Superspreaders

College campuses are at risk of becoming COVID-19 superspreaders for their entire county, according to a new vast study which shows the striking danger of the first two weeks of school in particular. Read the article here.

Stressed Out In Lockdown, America’s Young Adults Are Overeating

Researchers found that nearly half of the 1,820 students who were surveyed were using food to cope with the pandemic. Read the article here.

Pandemic Has Cut Into College Kids’ Drinking, Study Shows

Among students who used alcohol, the number of days they drank per week fell from 3.1 to 2.7 for those who moved from living with peers to parents, but rose from 3 to 3.7 for those who remained living with peers, and from 2 to 3.3 for those who remained living with their parents. Read the article here.

How To Deal With Stress In College During Covid-19

College can be a stressful period in your life, and especially so during the Covid-19 pandemic. This guide will help you identify and deal with sources of stress that are common in college students. Read the guide here.

Why College Students Around The Country Are Going On Tuition Strikes

College tuition is a large financial burden—especially now—and students want to see change. Read the article here.

College Students Who Moved Home Due To Pandemic Are Drinking Less

A new survey finds college students who moved home due to the COVID-19 pandemic are drinking less alcohol, HealthDay reports. Read the article here.

Is Online Learning Worth It?

Juggling jobs and remote schoolwork, college students have started to wonder about the value of finishing their education. Read the article here.

4 Reasons Why A Gap Year Might Be The Best Way For Students To Build SEL Skills (Even During A Pandemic)

A blog post from Steve Moore of Growing Leaders. Read the post here.

The First Semester Of College Has Never Been Stranger

The pandemic has made it harder to meet people. Classes and clubs have moved online. Students often eat alone. But they’re making the most of it. Read the article here.

How Parents Can Support Teenagers In The Pandemic College Process

With college admissions significantly altered this year, pay attention to what your child wants and needs. Read the article here.

Gen Z Gap Year

Gen Zers are repurposing the gap year, trading in travel for service work, interim jobs and internships. Read the article here.

A Majority Of Young Adults In The U.S. Live With Their Parents For The First Time Since the Great Depression

The share of 18- to 29-year-olds living with their parents has become a majority since U.S. coronavirus cases began spreading early this year, surpassing the previous peak during the Great Depression era. Read the article here.

Strong Relationships Within Church Add To Resilient Faith In Young Adults

Barna shares how churches and parents can come alongside young people to support and encourage them in their spiritual walk through strong connections. Read the research here.

‘Nomophobia’: 9 In 10 College Students Battle Fear Of Being Without Smartphone

Researchers conclude that “nomophobia,” or the fear of being out of smartphone contact, is “extremely common” among college students. Read the article here.

Christian Colleges Are In Crisis. Here’s What That Means For The Church

‘Frats Are Being Frats’: Greek Life Is Stoking The Virus On Some Campuses

Universities are struggling with how to prevent tightly packed sorority and fraternity houses from turning into virus clusters. Read the article here.

Hotels Housing College Students In Effort To Social Distance

Hotel chains, including Wyndham, Hilton and Graduate Hotels, are working with universities to house students during the coronavirus pandemic, matching the need of the hotel industry to make money and alleviate low occupancy numbers and universities’ attempts to safely bring students back to campus. Read the article here.

College Teens Shun Exercise And Healthy Food, Study Finds

Older teenagers may be setting a course for lifelong obesity through inactivity and poor diets, according to a new study. Read the article here.

What To Do About School This Fall?

Party Killers: Colleges Hope New Rules Slow COVID-19 Spread, Students Aren’t Convinced

The University of Texas at Austin has banned parties both on campus and off, saying they put “the health and safety of our community at risk and raise anxiety levels.” Read the article here.

Colleges Spent Months Planning For Fall, But A COVID-19 Surge Is Changing Everything

How is the COVID surge changing plans on college campuses? Read the article here.

Teens Can Get Ready For College Or A Career With A Leg Up From The Library

With COVID-19 still keeping us all at a social distance for the time being, Teen Librarians put their heads together to help connect teens with college and career readiness resources as they graduate, move into summer employment, or think about college. Read the article here.

12 Ways To Prepare For Your Freshman Year Of College

Students should follow these steps so they’re ready when classes begin. Read the article here.

Pandemic ‘Silver Lining:’ Better Sleep For Some

The COVID-19 pandemic may be stressing out most people, but it has had a surprising upside for college students: They’re sleeping better. Read the article here.

Dozens Of Christian College Faculty Eliminated In Spring Budget Cuts

Gen Z Career Futures

The pandemic has thrown gen Z dreams and ambitions up in the air as economies shrink and the world becomes a more dangerous place. Read the article here.

The College Experience This Fall: What To Expect

Students should anticipate taking some classes online and complying with coronavirus prevention guidelines. Read the article here.

In Person, Online Classes Or A Mix: Colleges’ Fall 2020 Coronavirus Reopening Plans, Detailed

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, which is tracking more than 860 institutions’ plans, two-thirds of colleges are planning to welcome back students in person, while only 7% are planning to hold classes only online. Read the article here.

Facing A Broken Mental Health System, Many U.S. Teens Fall Off A Dangerous ‘Cliff’ In Their Care

An 18th birthday is what some mental health providers know, anecdotally, as “the cliff,” the cutoff at which teens with mental health conditions are flung into adulthood, often without any preparation for the challenges to care ahead. Read the article here.

Video Games May Sabotage Fitness Among College Students

Video games often stand in the way of exercise and healthy eating among male college students, a new study shows. Read the article here.

Dear Youth Minister Of A COVID-19 Senior

Chelsea Kingston Erickson blogs about our graduating seniors for the Rooted Ministry blog. Read her helpful post to youth workers here.

How To Help A Student Who Just Lost Their Senior Year

Tim Elmore blogs from the Growing Leaders website about helping those graduating in this pandemic. Read the post here.

Will Students Show Up For College In Fall 2020? Community Colleges Offer A Hint. It Isn’t Pretty

Ask a community college president about what school will look like in the fall and be prepared for an eye roll, lots of shrugging and even a baffled look or two. Read the article here.

Reinventing Graduation: 3 Ways To Honor Milestones In The Midst Of Pandemic

This year, seniors wait in anticipation not of walking across the platform in cap and gown, but of news about what, if any, replacements will be arranged for this important rite of passage. Read the blog post from Fuller Youth Institute here.

The Big Question For Colleges: Will There Be A Fall Semester On Campus?

With Senior Year Is Disarray, Teens And Young Adults Feel Lost. Here’s How To Help

For many young people sheltering at home means missing milestones and public recognition of their achievements. This is especially true for seniors graduating from high school and college. Read the article here.

The Pressures Of A 2020 College Graduate

You had it all planned out. Then, this virus came along and changed everything. Read the article here.

College Students Feeling The Strain Of Social Distancing

The lives of college students have been turned upside down due to the coronavirus pandemic, so an expert offers some advice to help them cope with the situation. Read the article here.

‘I’m In High School Again’: Virus Sends College Students Home To Parents, And Their Rules

Their college campuses closed, crestfallen students have journeyed back to their childhood bedrooms — and to chores, revived sibling rivalries and curfews. Read the article here.

A Pandemic Is A Terrible Thing To Waste

Neuroscientists tell us that it’s during times of boredom our brains develop empathy and creativity. Read the Growing Leaders blog post from Tim Elmore urging us to take advantage of the time we have during this pandemic.

US Colleges Scrambled To React To The Coronavirus Pandemic. Now Their Very Existence Is In Jeopardy

In the span of roughly two weeks, the American higher education system has transformed. Its future is increasingly uncertain. Read the article here.

College Students Can Eliminate Stress By Spending Just 10 Minutes Outdoors

Recent research shows that spending as little as 10 minutes in a natural setting can help relieve students of their college stress. Read the article here.

Many Children, Teens Suffer From ‘Test Stress,’ Psychologists Say

It’s that time of year when students of all ages face finals, standardized testing and college entrance exams. Read the article here.

High School GPAs Are Stronger Predictors Of College Graduation Than ACT Scores

Students’ high school grade point averages are five times stronger than their ACT scores at predicting college graduation. Read the article here.

The Grim Reality Of Millennials Who Rely On Their Parents For Money

Despite a decade-long expansion and record-low unemployment, studies suggest that between 60% and 70% of 18- to 34-year-olds rely on their parents for financial assistance. Read the article here.

College Students Picking Pot Over Drinking In States Where It’s Legal

In states where pot is legal, college kids use it more, but binge-drink less. Read the article here.

Too Many Teens Aspire To Be Teachers And Lawyers

Doctors, teachers, lawyers and architects continue to dominate among the top career goals for the majority of high school students. Read the article here.

I Killed My Teenager’s Fancy College Dreams. You Should, Too.

Forty-five million Americans owe a collective $1.6 trillion in student debt. One columnist describes why her daughter won’t be one of them. Read the article here.

Teenagers Don’t Use E-mail – Colleges Do. That’s A Problem During College Admissions Season

Email is not the default for most teenagers, but it remains the primary avenue for colleges to communicate with prospective and current students. Read the article here.

Concussions Strike College Students Far More Often Than Thought

On college campuses in the United States, students suffer concussions twice as often as believed, and most of those injuries occur off the playing field. Read the full article here.

Help Teens Plan For Life After High School

New Year’s resolutions aren’t only for adults. You can help your teen organize life after high school by getting them to plan now. Watch the video here.

More Testing Means More Stress For Teens – And There’s No Solution In Sight

tudents today face mounting pressure not just to get into college, but to figure out how to pay for an increasingly unaffordable education by working or by setting themselves so far apart from their peers that they’re awarded scholarships. Read the article here.

Final Exams, College Essays, Family Pressures: Here Are 6 Ways To Help Your Teen Manage Stress

Helicopter Parenting Impact Can Last As Long As College Years

A new Florida State University (FSU) study finds helicopter parenting continues well into young adulthood and can have devastating impacts on college students. Read the article here.

Why Colleges Should Not Drift From Their Original Mission

Tim Elmore blogs on an evolution taking place on college campuses. Read his post here.

College Major Regrets… And What To Consider Instead

The most-regretted college majors, according to ZipRecruiter’s College Grads Survey. Read the article here.

How To Get Teens To Fly The Nest And Prepare Them For The Real World

Record numbers of young adults in their twenties and thirties are still living at home, official figures reveal. Read the article here.

College Students Say Ditching Their Smartphones For A Week Changed Their Lives

College students went one week without their smartphones. Read the article here.

What I Did Right – And Wrong – In My Son’s First Month At College

Kara Powell shares some of her parenting errors to help parents avoid 3 mistakes she made during her son’s first month in college. Read her blog post here.

Tips To Sleep In College Dorms

The statistics about college students’ sleep are grim. Read some help tips here.

Farewell, Valedictorian?

Should high school students be competing for the highest grades? Read the article here.

College Quest: Teens Go To Great Lengths To Find Perfect School

For most kids, parents may offer a helping hand and some guidance in the process. But in the end, the pressure, the work and the final decisions belong to the teenager. Read the article here.

Better Sleep Habits Lead To Better College Grades

Data on MIT students underscore the importance of getting enough sleep; bedtime also matters. Read the article here.

8 Questions To Ask Your High School Senior This Fall

This might be the first time you’ve raised these conversation topics with your child or stepchild, and that’s okay. The last year of high school is a natural opportunity to restart and revise your communication rhythms. Read the blog post from Fuller Youth Institute here.

The One Question You Never Want To Hear From Students

Tim Elmore blogs about teh college admissions scandal and questions we get from our kids. Read the blog post here.

Young Life Voted Off Campus At Duke

While the college ministry continues to operate without recognition, another university officially objects to its sexuality policy. Read the article here.