MyTextMate’s Post

It's right in the headline: States are raising postsecondary attainment rates. And Complete College America is proud to be a partner and a driver of this movement nationwide. Read more from University Business about the power of the CCA Alliance and our efforts to increase college attainment nationwide. #CCADoesTheWork https://lnkd.in/edGX8MpP

Much has been written about the weakening and decline of #highered. From demographic shifts to soaring operational costs, it’s clearly an uneasy time for many colleges and universities (to say the least!). That’s why this story matters. Because the pressures facing colleges and universities are promoting important and beautiful changes: ✨ They’re stirring imaginations. ✨ They’re prompting hard questions. ✨ They’re forcing ruthless self-examination. ✨ They’re re-centering student learning and growth. I find myself wondering if what we’re actually seeing is a period of reimagination, a rediscovery of what #highereducation can be for students and for society. So as we all figure out tight budgets, new recruitment strategies, FAFSA issues (too soon?), and academic program quality, I hope we can make time to take a step back and ask these hard questions. And let’s all join in cheering for Hampshire College. Your story brings us hope. 👏🏼👏🏼 https://lnkd.in/eV6FYrnD #innovation #change #education #education #enrollment

Community Colleges Still Struggling with Effective Academic and Financial Advising Community colleges play a critical role in providing affordable education and a pathway to four-year institutions, but many are still falling short in delivering effective academic and financial advising. And throwing billions of dollars at the issue has not resulted in the outcomes we hoped to see. Academic Advising Challenges: Some students are given program plans and follow them diligently, only to discover, upon attempting to transfer, that they need over 20 additional units. This misalignment not only delays their academic progress but also increases their financial burden. Financial Aid and FAFSA Assistance: Many students receive little to no assistance in completing the FAFSA, a crucial step in securing financial aid. Despite the promise of free community college for California high school graduates, a significant number end up paying due to a lack of guidance on necessary forms and inadequate support with paperwork. Lack of Validation and Support: Beyond these issues, there is an overall lack of validation in the form of meaningful connections, clear instructions, and personalized guidance. Students often find themselves bombarded with information but receive little in terms of actual help. It is assumed they know. They need more than just information thrown at them; they need people who will walk them through the process, answer their questions, and provide ongoing support. Generational Challenges: It is sad that the same issues facing my parents, now 80, myself, my children, and others still face the same challenges with community colleges. I remember working with Migrant Head Start and the staff had been taking classes at some JCs for more than 7 years and still did not have enough to transfer. When we examined their records, they followed the advisement of advisors and some used all of their monies at JCs and had no degree and no funds remaining to attend a 4-year. These persistent problems highlight a systemic failure to evolve and address the needs of students effectively over the decades. Why isn't this criminal? The Need for Improved Support Community colleges must prioritize enhancing their academic and financial advising services to ensure students can navigate their educational journeys smoothly and affordably. Without these critical supports, and the necessary validation and connection, students are left to struggle, undermining the very mission of community colleges to provide accessible and equitable education. #communitycolleges #advisement #lackoftheory #lackofevidencedbasedpractices #moneywasted #lackingoutcomes https://lnkd.in/gUHT_5me

Education at the University of Pennsylvania, the importance of shifting focus from driving enrollments to driving completion in higher education is emphasized. Finney highlights the economic and competitive significance, addressing the challenge of the U.S. lagging behind in educational attainment compared to other countries. She believes a focus on retention and success is unlikely to negatively impact enrollments, as students appreciate institutions with clear plans for degree pathways. To address the issue of 31 million Americans with some college credit but no credential, Finney suggests targeting those close to completing a degree, understanding their reasons for discontinuation, and providing tailored support. Tutoring platforms offer personalized academic support, aiding students in navigating their coursework and maintaining engagement. By utilizing such tools, higher education institutions can provide additional resources to address individual learning needs, potentially contributing to improved student success, higher retention rates, and ultimately, increased degree completion. https://lnkd.in/eyBcChxa #enrollmentmanagement #postsecondaryeducation #studentretention #students #nimbuslearning #tutoringservices #tutoringsupport

A college education is often called the great equalizer for income, social mobility, wealth, and a generational transformation. I am proud to say that at the California State University we are delivering on those lofty ideals. #CSU #Education #SocialMobility

The latest report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center brings a wave of optimism for higher education, with undergraduate enrollment increasing by 2.5% this spring. This marks a significant milestone as it's the second consecutive year of growth, building on last fall's 1.2% rise. Working with in the higher education space on a daily basis, it's incredible to see the resilience of these institutions as they adapt and thrive in such challenging times! #HigherEducation #EnrollmentGrowth

"There are a few ways dual enrollment can pay off for community colleges in the long run, even if they’re offering these courses at a loss, according to the working paper. If overall enrollment is down at a college, enrolling high school students is more cost-effective than leaving those seats empty, Fink noted. Dual-enrollment students may also increase funding in states with funding formulas that take into account student success metrics because of their high academic outcomes. Lastly, these programs can increase overall enrollments down the line if they serve high school students who otherwise might not have considered college and pique their interest in further education." #studentsuccess #dualenrollment #equity #collegeaccess https://lnkd.in/gSUhptPX

While the national debate about the value of higher education is ongoing--and highly politicized--most can agree that cost is a primary concern for many. More and more states are putting "free college" programs into place to help learners access public education. These programs are varied in terms of the specifics, but they are all aimed at increasing postsecondary access and attainment rates, typically with last-dollar tuition strategies like those that are now in place in Minnesota, Massachusetts, and other states. Some institutions have gone even further, like Austin Community College, where they are now piloting a first-dollar promise program--a less common model that covers a student's full tuition ahead of any other financial aid or scholarships, so that students can then use that money toward living costs. This is an exciting, poverty-informed, forward-looking model that has a lot of promise for moving beyond access to a focus on true student success. While we continue to experiment with these models--and questions about how to create the same level of affordability and access for private colleges necessitate equal consideration--research continues to indicate that the jobs of the future will increasingly require a postsecondary credential. Solving the affordability crisis is simply mission critical, to both close equity gaps and to build the workforce of the future. #highered #access #affordability #studentsuccess #promiseprograms #freecollege

Community college enrollment among Black, White and Asian students increases when state governments distribute higher education funding through a hybrid model based on both previous allocations and on enrollment and performance-based incentives, a recent study suggested. #communitycollege #eduenrollment #advance360education Higher Ed Dive https://hubs.li/Q02lDqGf0

Undergraduate enrollment increased by 2.5% this past spring. A chunk of that was due to dual enrollment. "High school dual-degree enrollment continued its meteoric post-pandemic rise this spring, with another 10 percent increase—the same as the fall—accounting for 28 percent of undergraduate enrollment increases, and largely driving the community college boost." This rise in interest in dual enrollment may cause high schools to fight harder to keep students in their classrooms instead of spending time in a community college. https://buff.ly/3WXhFwB