Miami Dade Biotechnology Bachelor’s Degree
Jose Thompson arrived at Miami Dade College in 2005, ready to pursue an associate degree. On a student visa from the Bahamas, his longtime dream was to go to pharmacy school in the US and return to the Bahamas to open his own pharmacy. But after the celebration for earning his associate degree quieted down,…
Read MoreThe Phoenix
Here I lay on my pyre, contemplating change and my eventual rise. My rise was not certain because I was dying a slow death of isolation, shame, and the contempt that surrounded me. Higher education saved my life. Access to higher education counteracts these circumstances and this is not an exaggeration. I challenge the reader…
Read MoreA New Model for Adult Learners
Nearly half of the American higher education population consists of working adults—over age 24, attending college part time, and balancing family, work, and school. Most of these learners are seeking knowledge and skills that will enhance their professional lives. They see higher education as an adjunct to their professional development. For many of these students,…
Read MoreRemember the Working Adult College Student
According to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the fall 2019 college enrollment included 12.5 million students under age 25 and 7.4 million students 25 and older. If historical patterns hold about one-third of those enrollees will not earn a degree in eight years. According to the National Student Clearinghouse’s (NSC) 2019 report, Some College,…
Read MoreOne Student at a Time
Higher education has served an important role in facilitating national, state, local, and household well-being and prosperity. However, as we scan today’s marketplace and review recent data on student engagement and program completion, it is clear that in the next decade our society could benefit from a genuine and intentional industry-wide focus on serving each…
Read MoreListening to Learners: What Non-Completers Have to Tell Us About Education Policy
Policymakers recognize that to remain competitive in a global, tech-enabled world, the United States will need an ever more educated and skilled population. For their part, states have increasingly focused on helping residents who started college, but left without a degree to return and earn a credential. And for good reason: 36 million Americans have…
Read MoreAdults Completing Degrees—How Tackling A Persistent Problem Creates New Value
The urgency to integrate adult learners into national and regional economic growth plans is—finally—tangible. Colleges and universities are reporting lower enrollments and are looking to adult learners to fill seats. Employers are looking for candidates with postsecondary credentials and national funders are looking for solutions to the persistent Some College No Degree problem. These adults…
Read MoreNorth Carolina Embraces the Challenge of Affordability and Quality in Higher Education
North Carolina is embracing the challenge facing many states to address issues of affordability and quality in higher education, while supporting students, faculty, and administrators throughout their careers, working closely with policy makers and legislative leaders, and focusing on meeting the educational and workforce needs of our current and future economies. As various efforts attempt…
Read MoreWorking Americans Want “Equal Time” in the Presidential Debates about Higher Education
The working men and women of Iowa would like some “equal time” in the higher education debates currently crisscrossing their state as presidential candidates seek their support in the upcoming caucuses. Most press coverage of the Democratic nomination contest would have you believe that just about all of the candidates are running on some version…
Read MoreTransforming Yesterday’s Postsecondary System to Better Serve Today’s Students
A college degree is a proven pathway to a higher median-income level and improved social mobility for students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, and for greater equity for society as a whole. Yet many students who enroll in college do not finish; across the United States, there are 36 million adults–or approximately 10% of the…
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