Notes in the Margins: Film grads, minorities and a race ban

Public colleges tap private funds as state support dwindles As state subsidies for higher education are dwindling, public colleges in the Washington region and elsewhere are learning they must tap private funds to survive. (The Washington Post)

College Board Finds Minority Men Continue to Lag Academically A report highlights an ongoing achievement gap, then recommends working toward a goal: that the percentage of Americans aged 25 to 34 with an associate's degree or higher increase to 55 percent, from 42 percent, by 2025. (The New York Times)

Mich. ban on race in college admissions illegal A federal appeals court Friday struck down a state referendum that bans affirmative action in college admissions, employment and contracting. (USA Today)

Will a college savings account inspire college attendance? A pilot program will give students at KIPP urban charter schools college savings accounts — along with education about college readiness — in hope that college savings will inspire them to go to college. (The Washington Post)

For Film Graduates, an Altered Job Picture As home-entertainment revenue declined in the last five years, studios reduced spending on scripts from new writers, cut junior staff positions and severely curtailed deals with producers who once provided entry-level positions for film school graduates. Yet applications to university film, television and digital media programs surged in the last few years as students sought refuge from the weak economy in graduate schools and some colleges opened new programs. (The New York Times)

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