STEM DIVERSITY

Introduction The H-1B visa program has long been central to the U.S. technology economy, allowing employers to recruit foreign workers in specialty occupations where domestic talent is in short supply. In fiscal year (FY) 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved approximately 400,000 H-1B applications . These workers are often highly skilled engineers, programmers, and scientists who contribute to the success of leading firms like Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. Many of these companies — and indeed, much of Silicon Valley — have relied on global talent to fuel innovation. Recently, however, the Trump administration proposed a significant change: adding a $100,000 fee to every H-1B application. Officials promoted this move as a way to “protect American jobs” and encourage employers to hire more U.S. workers. On the surface, the logic seems straightforward: make it more expensive to hire from abroad, and companies will turn inward for talent. But the reality i...

  Introduction Higher education in the United States has become increasingly unaffordable, leaving behind millions of talented students — especially from underrepresented minority groups — who could thrive in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The traditional bachelor’s degree structure requires about 120 credit hours (40 classes) spread across four years. With tuition, fees, and housing costs climbing every year, many students are either priced out or graduate with crushing debt. This article proposes a bold solution: reforming the four-year degree into a two-year model with a streamlined curriculum, lower costs, and a stronger focus on career or graduate readiness. Rethinking the Four-Year Model American colleges have historically been built on a liberal arts foundation , where the first two years emphasize general education requirements — courses in the humanities, arts, and social sciences — before students specialize in their chosen field. While designed ...