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OPENING THE COLLEGE DOOR TO STOP-OUTS IS A WIN "Let my Love Open the Door" is one of my favorite Pete Townshend songs, but I didn't know if anyone under the age of <cough cough> would get the reference. Anyway, there's great news in today's Higher Ed Drive (https://lnkd.in/evSzdQ6N) about New Jersey's success reengaging stop-outs--8,600 of them. The state kicked in some funding, and the numbers are impressive. The article mentions other nascent efforts to do the same thing, and Palmetto College in South Carolina was an early effort to do the same. Here's the truth: - universities are in a tough place for reasons we all know - filling seats (increasingly, virtual ones) is more important than ever - but demographics and public perception present massive roadblocks - adults with some college/no credential (SCNC) present seat-filling opportunity - many of these adults want a degree, but let's face it: we don't make it easy Universities (or in the case of NJ, governments) can help students identify opportunities to complete their degree, it just takes a coordinated effort (financial aid grant money doesn't hurt). The awesome National Student Clearinghouse offers a free comprehensive report as well as in-depth data by state; download it here: https://lnkd.in/eEDK3XV2. For example, Illinois had 1,987,689 SCNC adults this year. If even 5% of those students reengaged and enrolled, that's an astonishing 99k enrollees. These adults can change their lives, set a great example for their kids, and likely go on to more prosperous careers. To my friends in president, provost, dean, and enrollment management offices, please revisit the SCNC market to explore this win-win opportunity. Holler for help if you need it!

🎉 Through dedication and community collaboration, we've launched numerous career pathways, touching the lives of more than 26,000 students across rural Texas! A huge shoutout to our partners, from school districts to local businesses and higher education institutions, for making this possible. Together, we're not just creating pathways; we're opening doors to endless possibilities. #WeAreRuralEducation #TogetherWeAchieve #RuralDevelopment #PartnershipsInAction"

"You'd be an idiot to walk away from teaching..." "You're gonna miss your summers off..." "You need to think about your family when you give up your pension..." "Those kids need people like you..." These are some of the highlights of my conversations when I decided to leave my teaching career at a top-tier school district in Pittsburgh. What's funny, though, is that NONE of those comments came from current teachers or educators. Here's what actually happened when I left the teaching profession... ⏱ I got HOURS back in my day that I would have spent lesson planning, drafting special education paperwork, and putting out fires via email 💵 I got a boost to my salary (which wasn't bad as a teacher, honestly)... But it's helped to put my family on a better path to success/stability 💪 I was given permission to leverage my strengths and make decisions autonomously, and my feedback was solicited After a while, TEACHERS started reaching out to me with questions like: "Is your company hiring?" "Do you miss your summers off?" "Do you have retirement benefits?" It turns out that the people who are out there doing the hard work know what it looks/feels like, and those same people know when it's affecting their well-being. Thinking about making a change? Don't overthink it... Trust your gut. #careerchange #teaching #recoveringeducator #talentacquisition

How can career services support retention at their institution? For Chris Entringer and his team at Northeast Iowa Community College, it's all about building relationships with other student support staff on campus and getting referrals. Here's how he thinks about it 👇 #CareerEverywhere #careerservices #highereducation #careercenter #careerdevelopment #communitycollege

Choosing a college major, a career, or deciding whether to stay in your hometown or move to a new one — are all difficult decisions. We all spend a significant amount of time at work and want (and deserve) to enjoy what we do. However, getting that job isn't always easy. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to assist you in determining what is best for you... Read more: https://lnkd.in/gpzVJV3e We are now publishing regular blog for our student and parent community. Bookmark our blog page and stay updated! #dpsblogs #blogposts #dpsdwarkaexpressway #schoollifechallenge #schoollife

🚀 Great update! Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) have announced $640,000 in awards to provide youth and young adults with career exploration opportunities throughout Michigan. If you know me and my passion around career exploration for high school students in particular, then you know how excited I am to see this type of investment! 😎   Each of the 16 Michigan Works! agencies will receive $40,000 to enhance local career events, such as MiCareerQuest. Last year, these agencies hosted eight large-scale events with over 17,000 students and 450 employers. Excited to see this expand even further!   This initiative aligns with the Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan and Gov. Whitmer’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people to "make it" in Michigan. LEO increased funding for this initiative by $160,000 over the previous year. 🌟   Parents and young Michiganders should contact their local Michigan Works! agency to learn about programs that support their academic and career goals. https://lnkd.in/eywCdDcc   #CareerExploration #MichiganWorks #EconomicOpportunity #MakeItInMichigan

The 2023 Employment Outcomes Report shows the vast majority of resident #OKHigherEd grads stay and work in Oklahoma, and that for our grads, the higher the education level, the higher the earnings. 🚀 tinyurl.com/2u38x5sj | #OKHigherEdWorks

Imagine the excitement when your child gets accepted into their dream US university. You're ecstatic, they've worked tirelessly, and the future seems bright. But fast forward to year two. The workload is crushing, the "dream" feels like a burden, and whispers of quitting fill your late-night phone calls. This story is fast becoming the norm, With college costs exceeding $100,000 annually for international families, it's a gamble you don't want your child to lose. Times have changed – today's students are more open to pivoting when a path doesn't align with reality. Here's the scary truth: 👉 Nearly 25% of first-year students in US Universities drop out within two years. 😞 Before that second year hits, you can help your child navigate their future. We help families bridge the gap between dreams and reality. Through our work, we'll work with you and your child to: 💥 Uncover their deeper values and use them to guide passions and talents to discover if that dream major is the best fit. We can help them explore options that align with their skills and interests. 💥 Craft a successful plan B (or C): College isn't the only path to success. We'll explore alternative paths that lead to fulfilling careers. Don't let your child's dream turn into a financial nightmare. Schedule a FREE consultation today at https://lnkd.in/fReeZcX! We'll help you find the right path for your child's future, and ensure your investment is going to create a successful future. P.S. Act now! Spots fill up fast.

Sometimes we must get outside our echo chamber to be reminded why our policy and advocacy efforts are so needed. Recently, after presenting to a group on education, career pathways, and workforce development, well-meaning individuals asked me the following questions (paraphrased): -Person #1: Why do we care about the ROI for higher ed and think degrees have to be tied to jobs? Why can't we just learn for the sake of learning? I got a degree in (very esoteric topic), but I do the same job I did in 7th grade. I run my family's business and also now own my family farm. -Person #2: Why do we want high school students to take concurrent current credit courses? Then they will graduate college earlier and have to get a job. I don't want to rush that for my kids. (I provided rationale, i.e. some students may not see themselves as college goers because no one in their family has attended college, and research shows that concurrent credit increases the likelihood of going to and completing a credential.) The concept of a first-generation college student is just so foreign to me because my parents and grandparents all have college degrees. Both of these conversations were eye-opening and jaw-dropping to me. While being from a place of genuine curiosity from two people who sincerely care about others and the community, their questions/comments reeked of privilege and were tone-deaf to the reality of most of our society. These conversations motivated me to continue the work I and many others are doing to expand education and workforce training opportunities to create economic mobility for individuals and families. We can't assume that everyone "gets it" and understands the why behind or need for what we do. #education #workforcedevelopment #highereducation #careerpathways

It’s never too late to follow your dreams! Check out the stories of five graduate students who changed career paths 📚