Member Matters April 2025

A Monthly Lookback at Some of the Good Work in the CAEL Membership Community

Rewarding Links Between Learning and Work
Apprenticeships have the potential to transform traditional "either or" dilemmas into "both and" opportunities. In the case of Rowan University and North America's Building Trades Unions, that means "eliminating the notion of having to choose – university or union. You can have both." Their work together has produced NABTU's Building Trades Academy at Rowan University, which offers undergraduate construction certificates, graduate certificates in engineering management, a bachelor of arts in construction management, and a master of engineering management. Eligible union members can earn academic credits as they complete apprenticeships (Rowan University).

Bellarmine University's "first destination survey" shows that 99% of 2024 graduates landed a job, continued studies, or embarked on military or volunteer service within six months of graduation, a metric it says is 14% higher than the national average (Bellarmine University).

Duke Energy has committed $600,000 in grant funding to help community colleges in North Carolina and improve access to training programs needed to meet workforce needs (Duke Energy).

An arrangement between Ivy Tech Fort Wayne and leading online music gear retailer Sweetwater is bringing tuition reimbursement of up to 90% to eligible employees pursuing a degree at the college (Ivy Tech Community College.

Bossier Parish Community College is expanding the programs it offers with Northwest Louisiana's correctional facilities, "fostering hope and opportunity—one regionally relevant industry-based credential at a time" (BPCC).

Proactive Partnerships
Three CAEL community college members, Central Virginia, New River, and Virginia Western, are collaborating to create a paramedic program partnership and address urgent workforce needs. Combining virtual classes from Central Virginia with lab work at New River and Virginia Western, the arrangement allows students to participate from their home regions and will enable new associate programs and workforce credentials (The Altavista Journal).

The Northland Workforce Training Center is now the home of an eight-month training program for automotive technicians. Local auto dealers and SUNY Erie Community College collaborated on curriculum development for the program, which is designed to address labor shortages (WBFO).

Numerous industry partners are helping Sam Houston State University optimize its new Polytechnic College, SamPoly, to meet workforce needs (SHSU).

More than 100 education, industry, and other partners helped make possible UNC Greensboro's BRIGHT Institute, which specializes in battery and other energy-related technologies as well as workforce development for associated industries (UNCG).

In Their Own Words
The chancellor of the Virginia Community College System discussed how VCCS' support of adult learners also benefits employers and addresses workforce needs (Comcast).

In an op ed, the Colorado Community College System detailed the benefits its workforce programs impart on workers as well as the businesses that employ them (Denver Business Journal).

The chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha discussed some of the university's measures to further its work in support of gainful employment (KMTV).

In Service of Veterans
University of Maryland Global Campus is working with the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families to scale their reach to military-connected students. The department will promote the university's academic programs and military-serving resources, which include personnel and a student lounge dedicated to military-connected students. The university will raise awareness about the department's many support programs among the more than 8,000 active service members, veterans, and their family members it enrolls (UMGC).

Accelerating Adult Learning
Comebackers are a critical subpopulation of adult learners. It continues to grow, and so does online enrollment, a shift that preceded the COVID-19 pandemic. The trends are intersecting at Southern New Hampshire University, where more than 200,000 students are enrolled in online classes and two-thirds of them arrive at the university with transfer credit. Noting that a "specific synchronous requirement" would be a challenge to adult learners with work and family commitments competing for class time, the university also offers hybrid options as well as competency-based education programs (Government Technology).

The Art of Articulation
An agreement between Bermuda College and Kean University is affording students from Bermuda new transfer pathways to build on their associate degrees abroad (Bernews).

National University and Palomar College are enhancing their transfer agreement. It now features a 25% tuition reduction for qualifying Palomar students and alumni transferring to the university, which staffs an advisor at the college to support such students (Palomar College).

Awards and Other Additional Achievements
According to a recent report, County College of Morris delivered an economic impact of $586.1 million for its region in fiscal year 2022-23 (CCM).

A similar report has demonstrated an $86.4 million regional economic benefit from Genesee Community College (GCC).

Another report covering the 2022-23 fiscal year found that North Carolina Wesleyan University adds $209.3 million to its regional economy (NCWU).

A study prepared by Mississippi State University's National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center concludes that the university generates $3.9 billion every year for its state's economy, which translates to a return of $25 in income for every $1 of taxpayer investment in the university (MSU).

Illinois Central College is one of 15 colleges to be recognized as a 2025 Leader College by Achieving the Dream. The distinction was the result of ICC's efforts to inclusively improve persistence rates (ICC).

FirstGen Forward has declared Florida International University one of 18 champions of first-generation student success. The university, where a third of undergraduates are first-generation students, was recognized in part for "efforts to scale wraparound student services, advance awareness efforts, and contribute to a growing knowledge base of evidence-backed practices and leadership engagement" (FIU).

In 1975, Wor-Wic Community College entered existence by teaching classes hosted within the walls of leased facilities. Today, it is celebrating its 50th anniversary on a 200-acre campus (Wor-Wic Community College).