Investing in Community College students: Unmet Demand, Untapped Potential

At a time when public confidence in the value of education is declining and enrollments are decreasing, one group that has a special understanding of the full value of their education is alumni. They have critical insights into how their education experiences have enriched their lives in ways that go beyond dollars and cents.

The decision made by millions of workers to leave their jobs in the wake of the pandemic has become known as the Great Resignation. Our research explores the aspirations and experiences driving these record numbers, and the role played by postsecondary education and training in helping workers navigate employment transitions.

As the country experiences a dramatic period of job turnover, economic uncertainty, and postsecondary enrollment declines, employers and educators alike are eager to find ways to meet rapidly changing education and workforce needs.

Over the past 80 years, our nation has made great strides in improving access to college, and then ensuring that many more students could complete a college degree.

As the country experiences a dramatic period of job turnover, economic uncertainty, and postsecondary enrollment declines, employers and educators alike are eager to find ways to meet rapidly changing education and workforce needs.

While college enrollment has declined over the past two years, our surveys reveal self-reported likelihood to enroll is now increasing. However, confidence in the benefits of additional education continues to decline.

Work-based learning opportunities, including internships, have long been lauded as a high-impact practice, yet less is known about the longer-term impacts of these experiences, both economic and noneconomic.

Equity challenges continue to prevent many students from gaining access to college, completing postsecondary education, and experiencing economic mobility and other outcomes beyond completion of college.

How do students experience the development of the skills and confidence they need to be successful in their future careers? In 2021, more than 50,000 undergraduate students from over 90 colleges and universities participated in the inaugural Career and Workforce Preparation module of the National Survey of Student Engagement. Entering students feel optimistic about the career development experiences they will undertake, but the largest gap for seniors is participation in activities to build their social capital. Join Farouk Dey, vice provost for integrative learning and life design at Johns Hopkins University; Jillian Kinzie, co-director of NSSE; and Dave Clayton of Strada as they discuss the findings and what they mean for improving equitable career-building outcomes.

Creating Social Impact Funding Strategies that Address America's Education-to-Employment System Creating Social Impact Funding Strategies that Address America's Education-to-Employment System Hear from a panel of distinguished leaders who have a unique and important role in shaping education philanthropy to create a new era of impact for learners, specifically, adult learners. Learn how leaders from these social impact organizations are transforming education through leading sustainable and mission-driven system change that supports equitable economic recovery.

Of all the trends emerging from the economic fallout of COVID-19, one of the most troubling has been the exodus of parents from the labor market. Declines in workforce participation have been steepest for mothers of color, who are disproportionately represented in low-wage and frontline jobs. Higher education is a key way to move up the economic ladder, but unlike previous recessions, we’ve also seen precipitous declines in enrollment, particularly at community colleges. Together, these trends pose a threat to equitable opportunity and economic recovery. How can postsecondary education better serve student parents? This session draws on qualitative and quantitative research to illuminate the experience of parents in postsecondary education and surface promising solutions to support their success. In addition to insights from researchers and innovators, this session will also feature perspectives from student parents speaking about their education and career journeys. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to engage, enroll, and support student parents — a population that is critical to serve if we are to achieve a more equitable economic recovery.

What do aspiring adult learners need in order to enroll in and complete a postsecondary pathway with purpose? And how has Covid-19 changed their needs and aspirations? Drawing on surveys, focus groups, and interviews with adult learners from 2019, 2020, and 2021, Strada Education Network will examine the challenges that adult learners face, what they seek to achieve with their education, and what supports they find most valuable.

At a time of falling enrollments and low student confidence in the value of their education, we need to do everything we can to deliver a valuable, quality experience for our next generation of workers, leaders, and citizens.

The event will bring employers and educators together to discuss the importance of integrated work experiences that help students apply their learning, connect with employers and develop marketable skills.

An annual convening of leaders from across the education-to-career ecosystem. Now in its 47th year, the CAEL Annual Conference is widely known as the leading place for leaders to connect and network with industry experts from postsecondary education, workforce and economic development, and industry.

Steep declines in undergraduate enrollment during 2020 and 2021 threaten to widen existing equity gaps in college completion and career opportunities. Re-engaging students who have changed or delayed their plans for postsecondary education will require institutions to respond to the new concerns and priorities that have emerged for these young adults during the pandemic.

Looking for a space to learn and share with colleagues on how to support students who graduated from high school during the pandemic?

Connect with Strada leaders and researchers in a series of sessions, both virtual and in-person at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego.

With massive new investments being made in education infrastructure, this conversation will bring together state higher education officers to discuss leadership during a time when many postsecondary institutions are facing mammoth disruption. This includes supporting disconnected students, the declining enrollment and value proposition of postsecondary education, widening equity concerns, and how each chief will utilize public funding to invest in long-term success for students pursuing postsecondary opportunities.

The number of organizations offering nondegree credentials is proliferating, and interest from learners in these credentials — certificates, certifications, and licenses — is growing. But even though these credentials are now in the spotlight, we have relatively sparse data on outcomes. To provide more understanding, through a Strada-Gallup survey we asked more than 14,000 adults across the nation about earnings, job satisfaction, and perceptions about the worth and benefits of nondegree credentials. This month’s Strada Public Viewpoint release compares learner outcomes across degree, nondegree, and combined pathways. By examining programs of different lengths and the experiences of different populations, we aim to provide insights that inform our understanding of the value and potential limitations of nondegree credentials. Join Strada researchers and expert panelists at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday, July 28, for a discussion about the findings and implications for the field. As part of the ongoing Strada Public Viewpoint research started in March 2020, Strada Education Network has talked to tens of thousands of people in the United States about their experiences with work and education during the pandemic. The research is intended to inform education and training providers, policymakers, and employers who are helping people complete valuable and purposeful education pathways.

On June 29, 2021, presidents from two community colleges alongside two nonprofit leaders discuss implementing proven solutions to support today’s learners.

Join the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Higher Education Foundation during this virtual summit to learn more about their ongoing efforts to refresh the state’s strategic plan for higher education. The updated plan, which is being developed in partnership with higher education institutions, business leaders, employers, policymakers, and other stakeholders across the state, will build upon the focus of the original plan to increase postsecondary attainment by developing clear goals that expand the educated workforce and drive economic prosperity.

Although community colleges have experienced sharp enrollment declines, millions of Americans still say they intend to enroll within the next two years. Demand is strong at the national, state, and regional levels.

When the pandemic struck last year, education and work were disrupted for millions. How are those individuals doing now?

When do people believe their student loans were worth it? The amount of the loan, how much money someone makes and how much education they completed doesn’t tell the whole story.

Learn about results of UpSkill America's survey of over 340 business leaders and hear directly from leading employers in food service, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. Panelists will share how their businesses have responded to events in 2020, including ways they have responded to technological change and racial inequities in employment.

As the economy recovers, Americans with less education are most likely to be left behind. Employers will play a central role in helping these individuals reskill, upskill, and get back to work. How do Americans feel about hiring practices and the education and training opportunities employers provide? What are employers’ perceptions of their role in the recovery? What barriers are Americans facing that educators and employers can tackle together?

Join us as Ben Wildavsky, Strada senior vice president for national engagement, leads panelists in a discussion about the hybrid campus concept, blending the physical and digital words in everything from academic advising to courses to career services. Inspired by a new Deloitte report developed in partnership with Strada Education Network, this conversation — “The Hybrid Campus: A Postpandemic Vision of Higher Education'' – will consider whether this upheaval can lead to a more student-focused university.

The letter was delivered in response to the department’s request for information regarding the disclosure of confidential wage records under the department’s regulations governing the confidentiality and disclosure of state unemployment compensation data. Strada also included specific recommendations for regulatory amendments.

Report indicates both success and need for improvement in meeting students’ varied goals

A new and improved Free Application for Federal Student Aid expected late this year should provide opportunities for more students and their families to access money to pay for college. Yet the transition to this new form presents unprecedented challenges for those who work to help students complete it.

According to new Strada Education Foundation research, community college attendees who complete an associate degree or successfully transfer to a four-year institution value their education at rates comparable to or higher than recent bachelor’s degree completers. However, researchers found first-generation students rated the value of their community college education about 20 percentage points lower than those who are not first-generation students.

Eloy Ortiz Oakley, president and CEO of College Futures Foundation and former chancellor of the California Community Colleges, will join a Strada Education Foundation webinar Sept. 7, when he and other panelists will explore Strada’s latest report, “The Value of Community Colleges: Recent Students' Motivations and Outcomes,” which captures several factors that motivated recent alumni to enroll in community college.

Major changes in the form, combined with an expected delay in its release, are combining to intensify the work of spreading the word about the updated FAFSA.

This article by Madeline St. Amour originally appeared in Inside Higher Ed.

Virginia’s largest community college and a prominent public research university have co-partnered with an educational management and student support service provider to improve academic outcomes for transfer students.

Edtech integration can cause headaches if technology solutions aren't "getting along"--but a new free tool could help alleviate that pain

New building will house over 500 employees

DXtera Institute, a nonprofit consortium of higher ed institutions, ed tech companies and other postsecondary education professionals, has released a free Next Generation Integration Scorecard (NGIS) aimed at improving technology integration in higher education.

Massachusetts will be the recipient of financial and technical help to build “data-driven approaches” to linking residents to jobs in growing industries, thanks to a partnership between the National Governors Association and the Strada Education Network.

This article by Carol D’Amico originally appeared on RealClear Education.

This article by Jeffrey J. Selingo originally appeared on the Washington Post.

The letter alerting Cal State Northridge students that they were being put on academic probation was pretty blunt and scary: shape up or risk getting kicked out.

Michigan State University has long worked with and competed against other colleges and universities in the United States.

One of the students leaving today on “Roadtrip Indiana” says she expects an “awakening” of what Indiana is about. Purdue University senior Shannon Newerth is joining two other Indiana students on a two-week RV trip throughout the state to take part in career exploration and work-based learning opportunities. The trip, organized in part by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and several private partners, will be the subject of an upcoming public television documentary.

As a lifelong baseball fan, former high school baseball player, and coach for 20 years, I have always been struck by how deeply intertwined baseball and learning really are. An education advocate for most of my career, I have seen firsthand how a passion for sports can shift mindsets and create sustainable pathways to college, meaningful careers, and inspired lives.

More than half of adults in the U.S. would change at least one aspect of their higher education experience, according to a new survey from Gallup and the Strada Education Network. Common regrets were choice of institution and major or field of study. Comparatively, relatively few regretted their degree type.

A majority of Americans who attended college say they received a quality education. But half would change at least one of these three decisions if they could do it all over again: the type of degree they pursued or their choice of major or institution.

More than half of adults in the U.S. would change at least one aspect of their higher education experience, according to a new survey from Gallup and the Strada Education Network. Common regrets were choice of institution and major or field of study. Comparatively, relatively few regretted their degree type.

A majority of Americans who attended college say they received a quality education. But half would change at least one of these three decisions if they could do it all over again: the type of degree they pursued or their choice of major or institution.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Half of college graduates regret their choice of school or major, according to a national survey.

Approximately half of all U.S. adults who pursued or completed a postsecondary degree would change at least one aspect of their education experience if they could do it all over again, including their major or field of study, the institution they attended, or the type of degree they obtained.

Regrets, I’ve had a few…and so have most Americans — at least when it comes to decisions they’ve made regarding their education. A new Gallup poll out today finds that 51 percent of Americans would change at least one of their education decisions if they had to do it all over again. Thirty-six percent said they’d choose a different major, 28 percent would attend a different school and 12 percent would pursue a different type of degree, according to the poll.

On May 2, the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus in conjunction with the Alliance for Excellent Education hosted “College and Career Pathways: Stories of Innovation.” The Alliance is a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization focusing on high school redesign for underrepresented students. The briefing revolved around “highlighting innovative approaches across the country to college and career pathways that have led to positive outcomes for traditionally underserved students.”

Data analytics has proven to be a powerful tool in a number of industries, and in higher ed, it has significant potential to help institutions streamline operations and improve experiences for students. But in using that data, colleges and universities must also be careful to also consider the underlying causes behind some of those numbers.

This is important news for admissions officers, who may feel that low-income students pose more of a risk at a four-year college or university. These students are just as capable of thriving as those from more affluent households, but institutions and policymakers must also consider that they may need more resources.

In a Monday morning session at the ASU+GSV Summit in Salt Lake City, a panel of thought leaders discussed how to expand access and success, particularly among low-income, first-generation and underrepresented student populations.

INDIANAPOLIS — Higher Education Commissioner Teresa Lubbers recently announced a new initiative, “Roadtrip Indiana,” that aims to help Hoosier students make more informed decisions about their futures through intentional career exploration and direct engagement with employers across the state.