W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research’s Post

Excited to see how #Texas will achieve such a potentially #equitable approach to advancing #education #opportunities and #learners #ROI. "A critical piece of the legislation that makes it stand out compared to other states is its focus on awarding “#credentials of #value,” defined as #degrees, #certificates, or credentials that “offer purpose in the #economy, value in the labor market, and opportunities for good jobs and meaningful #careers.”

The move among many community colleges to act more like “hubs of opportunity” seems promising. The idea, as laid out by Karen Stout of ATD, is for colleges to be lifelong career-matching institutions regardless of whether they boost students' prospects through their own degree and certificate programs, apprenticeships, or third-party credentials. But for it to work, it has to be financially viable for colleges. So, it was interesting to hear that the new funding formula in Texas led Austin Community College to reconsider offering third-party credentials, Google certs and the like, in a big way. Because now it pays to do so. “That is not something ACC had a history of doing systematically,” Jenna Cullinane Hege, Ph.D. told Work Shift. “We’ve had some more informal arrangements with a couple of departments who were interested in it, especially around digital literacy. We’ve had some short-term badges. But the new funding formula is really challenging us to look at it more. "It’s back on our radar in a big way because of the policy.” #communitycolleges #highered #policy #opportunity

This is great news for #Michigan's #highschool graduates. It's a big step towards making #highereducation more accessible and affordable for everyone. The #CommunityCollegeGuarantee initiative is a smart investment in Michigan's #futureworkforce. By removing #financialbarriers, more students will be able to pursue #associatedegrees or #skillscertificates, leading to better #jobopportunities and higher #earningpotential. It's encouraging to see states like Michigan taking the lead on free #communitycollege, especially after federal proposals stalled. This demonstrates a commitment to investing in #education and #workforcedevelopment at the state level. One thing to watch is how this program will be funded in the long term. While the initial funding is secured, it's important to ensure the program's sustainability to continue benefiting future generations of students.

One of the pillars in Michigan's blueprint for growth is to build a lifelong learning system focused on future-ready skills and competencies. Making postsecondary education more accessible and affordable will make it easier for low income and first generation students to take advantage of available programs that furthers their education. Gov. Whitmer has already taken action on this by including the Community College Guarantee within the Michigan Achievement Scholarship in her 2025 proposed budget, which would provide a clear pathway for high school graduates to attain an associate degree or skilled certificate through a community college for free. Ensuring residents are prepared to enter a knowledge-based workforce is critical to restoring Michigan's healthy growth cycle. Providing these pathways for residents to attain postsecondary credentials will propel Michigan forward in becoming a top 10 state for growth. Read the opinion piece by Michelle Miller-Adams from the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research: https://lnkd.in/gHPA_pMp

Why are more people not talking about this? Free two-year college degrees for all? This is a big f***ing deal! 🥂 This effectively makes a college education attainable for all (a) in Massachusetts and (b) in any other jurisdiction that offers this. If you do two years in community college (and perform well), you could very well have a state school (or possibly even a private college) somewhere give you a scholarship for the final two years of undergrad. “Gov. Maura Healey on Monday signed into law the $57.78 billion Fiscal 2025 state budget, which in part establishes the MassEducate program, a new initiative that makes every community college in the state free for anyone who has never earned a degree.” https://lnkd.in/eaCSut8u

More Scholarships for Adults to Attend #CommunityColleges! Thanks to the City of Mesa and Mayor John Giles for inviting me to help announce the expansion of the Mesa College Promise program to include adults at Mesa Community College. Shout out to Google for the nice seed investment. It’s been estimated that #AZ has ~1 million adults with some education beyond high school, but with no degree. Education Forward Arizona knows that the algebra of attainment dictates that we support more programs that help upskill and encourage attainment among adults. Without a strong adult strategy we simply cannot reach our goals. Arizona’s #legislature would be wise to follow the lead of business in supporting adult and community college financial aid programs. The Mesa College Promise, now also aimed at adults, embodies a collective commitment to the #Achieve60AZ goal. By offering accessible pathways to higher education, programs like the Mesa College Promise play a pivotal role in allowing us to achieve this much-needed goal. By providing comprehensive support for Mesa residents to pursue #postsecondary education, we not only remove barriers to achievement but also pave the way for a more educated, skilled and competitive workforce! #CollegePromise #communitycolleges #workforcedevelopment #economicdevelopment #skills #degrees #credintials https://lnkd.in/g6Zx3nqT

The power of intentional transfer programs is getting the attention it deserves! Yes, strategic, intentional transfer programs - is intentionally, strategically said there. Through the current White House administration, under its focus on equity (from its “Raise the Bar: Attaining College Excellence and Equity” initiative), the U.S. Department of Education hosted a summit on November 9th at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) in Annadale, Virginia with HE leaders to discuss making it easier for students to transfer – saving time and money (yes, yes it does!). The DOE released a list of institutions "best promoting transfer students’ success and highlighting the most productive transfer partnerships between community college and bachelors’ degree institutions in the country.” https://shorturl.at/pwCE5 The data identified strong partnerships such as Irvine Valley College with California State University-Fullerton (13%), Heartland Community College with Illinois State University (13%), and Tri-County Technical College with Clemson University (20%). That last one should sound familar...it was my last position before we moved. The U.S. Department of Education report confirmed that the partnership between Tri-County Technical College (TCTC) and Clemson University has the highest transfer Bachelor's degree attainment in the country. Thanks for sharing, Mary Von Kaenel. Super proud of the work our teams did over the years with Bridge to Clemson and all the other transfer initiatives!!! It is nice to see the hard work acknowledged (and captured - beyond the metrics we reported from our desks!). Student advocacy means helping students navigate college structures as well as empowering them to overcome obstacles and resolve issues that they encounter to grow. This helping and empowering requires grace as well as standards. Much to be proud of, folks! Amy Cromer Chris Maddox BTC was (is) a hard working program!

Programs like Michigan Reconnect, Futures for Frontliners and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship have helped make college affordable for so many Michiganders! Check out this article about what other states can learn from these successes in Michigan:

Did you know Washington's 529 plans are incredibly flexible? They aren't just for four-year colleges and universities. Whether you're considering community college, trade schools, or even specialized training programs, Washington's 529 plans can help you cover those costs too. This means you can invest in a variety of educational pathways that suit your unique goals and career aspirations. It's all about finding the right fit and making your education investments work for you. Explore the possibilities and make the most of your 529 plan today! Check out this blog post written by Curtis Loftis, State Treasurer of South Carolina titled 529's-Not Just for Four-Year Schools https://lnkd.in/gehVKbpW #529plan #Education #careerpathways #financialplanning #wa529

How FAU is Fighting Enrollment Declines: A Focus on Reducing Dropouts 🎓 Two years ago, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) began changing policies to combat enrollment declines by addressing student success directly. Hasan Dickinson, an FAU student, nearly dropped out due to financial aid issues. A retention specialist helped him find the resources to stay in school. FAU's new approach yielded impressive results: - Graduation rates doubled from 20% to nearly 50% in six years. - Dropout rates between freshman and sophomore years fell from 25% to 18%. FAU's Assistant Provost highlighted the cultural shift: “We didn’t realize that we were selling students short until we took a deep look at ourselves." Key strategies included: 1. Personalized Support Systems: Each student gets a "success network" with an academic advisor, career coach, and financial aid counselor. 2. Incentives for Persistence: Financial aid tied to progress, with increasing scholarships. 3. Data-Driven Interventions: Programs like "How to FAU" conferences and extracurricular involvement. To further support student success, FAU implemented MyTextMate, an academic communication service that integrates with Canvas LMS and helps students meet deadlines with customizable text message reminders. These initiatives help ensure students leave with a degree, not just debt. FAU’s efforts are part of a broader trend in higher education, recognizing the need to support students more effectively. How is your institution supporting student success? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments! Read more about this transformation here: https://lnkd.in/dEpyD3d4 #Education #StudentSuccess #HigherEd #FAU #CollegeRetention #Enrollment #MyTextMate P.S. Have you ever faced a significant challenge in your educational journey? How did you overcome it? Share your story below!