Opportunity Forum with College Futures

Welcome to Opportunity Forum with College Futures, a conversation space for innovators and influencers to discuss emerging issues and equity solutions in and around public higher education. Eloy Ortiz Oakley, president & CEO of College Futures Foundation, hosts.
Vlogcast/Podcast
Episode FourWhat’s Next for the University of California? A Conversation with UC President Dr. Michael Drake
On this episode of Opportunity Forum with College Futures, host Eloy Ortiz Oakley sits down with Dr. Michael V. Drake, president of the University of California. Hear President Drake’s thoughts on expanding enrollment and transfer opportunities for Californians of all backgrounds, addressing total cost of attendance, improving postsecondary faculty and leader diversity, supporting student mental health, and other priorities as he enters his fourth year as president of the 155-year-old public university system. Read more >
Vlogcast/Podcast
Episode ThreeTaking Responsibility for College Student Mental Health
On this episode of “Opportunity Forum with College Futures,” we ask and answer the question: Who is responsible for addressing college student mental health? Guest host Dr. April Yee, College Futures’ holistic student support and mental health lead, is joined by Dr. Tiffany Herbert, the associate vice president for health & well-being at CSU, Dominguez Hills and Dr. Lindsay Pérez Huber, an acclaimed researcher and professor at CSU, Long Beach, and co-author of College Futures’ new report titled “Degrees of Distress: How Higher Education Institutions Hurt and Help Student Mental Health.” Read more >
Vlogcast/Podcast
Episode TwoThe Pursuit of a Living Wage: Career and Technical Education’s Role in Upward Mobility
Interest in Career and Technical Education programs is surging across the country; learners of all backgrounds are looking for viable, debt-free paths to in-demand careers with high earning potential and employers are searching for ways to meet their evolving needs. The nation’s leaders are heeding the call by investing billions to establish, strengthen, and expand career exploration and skill-building opportunities across the K-14 pipeline. Host Eloy Ortiz Oakley and CTE expert Peter Taylor, former president of ECMC Foundation, discuss all matters CTE on this episode of Opportunity Forum with College Futures. Read more >
Vlogcast/Podcast
Episode OneUniversal Financial Aid Application Completion in California: Next Stop, Implementation
A new California law, AB 469, requires school districts to ensure that all high school seniors complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act Application. Hear more about AB 469 implementation efforts to-date and financial aid policy issues to watch from Jaclyn Piñero, CEO of uAspire, and Manny Rodriguez, the California policy and advocacy director for TICAS. Eloy Ortiz Oakley, president & CEO of College Futures Foundation, hosts. Read more >
Vlogcast/Podcast
Pilot EpisodeA Conversation on Student Debt Relief
College Futures Foundation President & CEO Eloy Ortiz Oakley and Director of Public Policy Ria Sengupta Bhatt sat down to discuss the who, what, why, and how of student debt relief at the state and federal levels. Read more >
Stay tuned for more episodes of Opportunity Forum with College Futures.
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Do you know an individual, organization, or team doing innovative work to close equity gaps in and around higher education? Is it you? Nominate a leader—or two, or yourself—to be featured and interviewed on a future episode of Opportunity Forum with College Futures. Click here to nominate.