Access to college is not a given for everyone. Money and geography can both play a role in locking some people out of the promise of a higher education.

With several presidential campaign candidates pushing the idea of free college, On Campus Radio looks at how this idea is playing out in places where it’s already being offered.

We'll visit Tennessee -- a state that allows all new high school graduates to enroll in a post-secondary associate or certificate program without having to pay out of pocket for tuition.

We'll also go to Rhode Island, where the Ocean State is in the middle of a four-year pilot for a similar program.

Then, we'll hear from Matthew Chingos, who directs the Urban Institute's Center on Education Data and Policy, about how free college proposals really work and why it isn't always easy as it sounds.

All that and more on this month's episode of On Campus Radio.

The new year is often a time for reflection and looking back. But on the latest episode of On Campus Radio, we'll be looking forward at what issues the world of higher education is facing.

First, we'll review what stories you may have missed, from a lawsuit levied against Betsy DeVos by one of the nation's largest teachers unions to updates on the Varsity Blues case.

Then, we'll have an in-depth conversation with Helen Drinan, the current president of Simmons University, who will be stepping down at the end of the semester. She'll talk about the issues facing higher education, including how institutions can remain credible to the public and how schools can make the experience better for students.

Then, we'll take a look at college athletics. We'll take another look at how states student-athletes may be getting more rights to their name, image and likeness and what that means for college sports.

We'll then hear from Joseph Cooper from UMass Boston who will give insight into how he thinks this and other topics will play out in college athletics over the coming years.

You'll hear all that and more on this month's episode of On Campus Radio.

Mental health issues have reached crisis levels among college students.

From anxiety to depression, kids are feeling the pressure, in some cases from birth.

What's contributing to it? And how are schools responding?

That's what we're looking into on this month's episode of On Campus Radio.

First, we'll hear about the series "Stressed and Depressed on Campus" from WGBH News Higher Ed Reporter Kirk Carapezza. He'll explain how stress on students often starts at birth, how high achieving students often experience the most pressure, what happens to first-generation college students who are dealing with specific problems and what colleges are doing to respond to demands for action.

After that, we'll hear from Pam Eddinger, president of Bunker Hill Community College, about what community colleges are doing to keep their students mentally healthy.

Then, we'll talk to Marjorie Malpiede from the Mary Christie Foundation, which focuses on the health and wellness of teens and young adults. She'll talk about a recent study the foundation did that found a majority of parents and college students are concerned about mental health on campus, and what campuses can do.

Finally, we'll hear from Laura Horne from Active Minds, a national organization that focuses on mental health and has more than 450 chapters at high schools and colleges across the nation. She'll speak about what students are saying about mental health and what they say they need from their schools.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the *National Suicide Prevention Lifeline** at 800-273-TALK (8255) or use the Crisis Text Line by texting “Home” to 741741. More resources are available at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.*