Final answer:
There have been changes in student demographics, concerns surrounding college affordability, the aging population, and an exploration of the effectiveness of resources in education. Educational trends also highlight a diverse student population and potential structural issues affecting student performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question centers around whether there has been a significant change in the number of students in the total group and the subgroup in recent years. To ascertain this, one would look at enrollment trends, demographic shifts, and changes in educational policy and funding. The provided excerpts highlight issues such as the affordability of college, the population of part-time students, trends in public interest group formation, aged population statistics, and the relationship between resource allocation and student performance.
Regarding college affordability, the data suggests there has been a substantial concern about high-achieving high school graduates not entering college due to financial constraints. As for changes in demographics, there has been a noted decrease in the youth population and a shift towards an aging population. Political engagement among students appears to vary, with students sometimes spearheading significant political movements even though they generally have lower participation rates compared to other age groups.
Shifting focus to the makeup of the student population, we see a diverse mix of genders and ethnicities, most of whom reside in urban or suburban areas. However, it is crucial to note that structural issues, rather than just financial ones, might be influencing student performance. This could point towards a need for reforms in educational practices and policies.