Today’s students are more diverse – in age, race, income-level and employment background – than ever before. That demographic diversity is matched in the diversity of pathways to and through postsecondary education and the workforce. These educational pathways span a wide range of programs and criss-cross traditional higher education, workforce training, short-term credentials and other new models designed to meet today’s students where they are, but current federal policies and available funding streams do not always work together seamlessly for the benefit of students.

Are policies encouraging or creating barriers for institutions and stakeholders to work together to help students earn quality credentials that lead to employment?

Dr. Aaron Thompson, President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, and Jason Smith, Partnership Executive Director of Bridging Richmond, participated in a roundtable discussion on the connections and challenges between the nation’s higher education and workforce systems.