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…

As the presidential campaign of 2020 kicks into high gear, the stagnation of worker earnings in recent decades has drawn much attention and comment from the candidates. Yet, outside of advocating for a few trendy proposals like free college, the candidates have said little to date on how to improve education and skills, especially those…

Last year, JP Morgan Chase announced it would end its decades-long practice of on-campus recruiting. The news came at a time when many large companies like Apple, Google, and Netflix were announcing they would loosen or altogether scrap degree requirements for employees, and the investment bank’s announcement appeared to be yet another sign of fr...

Remember when your math teacher in grade school required you to “show your work,” so that they could see the steps you took to solve a problem?  Whether your answer was correct or incorrect, they could see the extent to which you had mastered the problem solving technique and identify areas where additional practice was…

WASHINGTON — Julie Peller, Executive Director of Higher Learning Advocates, made the following statement to express Higher Learning Advocates’ support for the Assisting Community Colleges in Educating Skilled Students (ACCESS) to Careers Act introduced by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN): “Today’s students are more diverse—...

WASHINGTON — Julie Peller, Executive Director of Higher Learning Advocates, made the following statement to express Higher Learning Advocates’ support for the Accreditation Reform Act introduced by Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA): “Today’s students deserve a system of higher learning that ensures high-quality outcomes and a provides a ...

The image of today’s students no longer fits the image from decades ago. Today’s students aren’t just fresh-faced 18-year-old teenagers who recently graduated from high school. In fact, 37 percent of today’s students are older than 25. Many adult students have different responsibilities—including work and family—on their path to a degre...

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...

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 ...

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...

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 h...

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 persist...