President Joe Biden is issuing another wave of relief for student loan borrowers.

For the past three years, the labor market has been drastically changing. According to Crunchbase News, over 151,054 workers at tech companies in the U.S. have been laid off in 2023 so far. In the midst of the mass layoffs, AfroTech is playing its role in supporting the community. As previously reported, AfroTech’s first-ever SaaS platform, Talent Infusion, launched in April 2023. Talent Infusion features tools such as AfroTech’s Resume Book that gives direct access to a growing group of diverse talent. To learn more about Talent Infusion, click here.

Joe wants folks to know that he’s out here doing it! According to Complex, the Joe Biden administration has managed to cancel a total of $15 billion in student loan debt since taking office in 2021. A press release from the Department of Education also confirmed that more than 675,000 borrowers have come out on the winning end of his student loan forgiveness program. The news comes on the heels of President Biden’s move to extend the pause on student loan debt payments until May of this year. “Given these considerations, today my Administration is extending the pause on federal student loan repayments for an additional 90 days – through May 1. 2022 – as we manage the ongoing pandemic and further strengthen our economic recovery, ” he wrote. “Meanwhile, the Department of Education will continue working with borrowers to ensure they have the support they need to transition smoothly back into repayment and advance economic stability for their own households and for our nation.”

It’s time for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to get what they deserve. After a 2016 Duke University research paper revealed that HBCUs pay more for loans than other colleges and universities, Congress has decided to revisit the issue at hand and it looks like the change that is needed could soon come. Professor Bill Mayew — one of the researchers on the topic at hand — told AfroTech via email what all of this means for our beloved HBCUs. “Specifically, in an analysis of almost 1,000 colleges, about 10% of which were HBCUs , issuance costs for HBCUs were about 20% more than non- HBCUs because it’s harder for those underwriters to find buyers,” said Professor Mayew in regards to those exact findings. “As an example, our estimates suggest that to issue a $30 million bond, it costs an HBCU about $290,000, versus about $242,000 for a non- HBCU . This $48,000 difference is a significant financial burden.  And this effect is much stronger in states that are known to...

Science, and facts, have returned to the White House — and not a moment too soon. Award-winning researcher Dr. Alondra Nelson was appointed one of the key members of President Biden’s science team, according to the Institute for Advanced Study. Dr. Nelson joins other luminaries like Narda Jones and Dr. Frances H. Arnold on the seven-person team. “Science, at its core, is a social phenomenon. It’s a reflection of people, our relationships, and our institutions. There is an incredible window of opportunity ahead of us to approach our science and technology policy in ways that are accountable, inclusive, and trustworthy,” Dr. Nelson said in a statement. “I am honored to be entrusted with this important role in public service at this critical time in this nation’s history.” As part of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) — as Biden’s “science team” is officially called — Dr. Nelson will be tasked with the responsibility of delivering “accurate, relevant, and timely...