In today's issue, we take a Deep Dive into the financial challenges facing higher education.
We also look at
✨ MacKenzie Scott's latest donation
✨ The barriers to expanding prison education
✨ What makes Istanbul the purrfect city

Enjoy your weekend!

Moody's Ratings has issued a negative outlook for the US higher education sector in fiscal 2026, citing ongoing enrollment declines, rising operational expenses, and tightening financial margins. The agency projects that revenue growth will slow to 3.5% overall, while expenses are expected to increase by 4.4%. Smaller institutions are likely to face even slimmer revenue gains, and a growing percentage of private colleges will operate with negative earnings margins. These financial pressures are compounded by demographic changes, notably the declining number of high school graduates, making cost control and operational efficiency more critical than ever.

Being a people-pleaser at work can hinder your career advancement as you prioritize others' needs over your own goals, writes Beatriz Victoria Albina, a master certified coach, who explains that people-pleasing stems from a desire to avoid discomfort and manage others' emotions. Albina suggests building tolerance for discomfort as a way to break the habit, starting with small steps, such as saying, "Let me think about it and get back to you," to give yourself time to consider whether you can take on more work.

Connecticut's prison education programs face significant barriers to expansion despite high demand and available funding through Pell Grants, with only 320 of about 3,000 eligible incarcerated people enrolled. State officials and educators cite a lack of classroom space, internet access and technology as major challenges. Programs from Yale University, Wesleyan University and other institutions have made progress, but these logistical issues limit growth.