Member Matters December 2023

Brighter Futures in Prior Learning
Albany State University cited CAEL CPL guidance in highlighting its commitment to help students save time and money by "honoring the value of their real-world experiences" (Albany CEO).

Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia have created a community of practice around increasing access to CPL during "a thrilling era where people's intangible, yet highly valuable, educational experiences are finally being acknowledged throughout our province" (Dalhousie University).

Thomas Edison State University is well known for using professional learning reviews (PLRs) to broaden access to CPL. Recently, it added New Jersey Department of Corrections apprenticeship training to its PLR program, offering savings of as much as $12,500 to correctional police officers (ROI-NJ).

RESPECT Across Nebraska, led by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, aims to apply a competency-based framework, including "ways we can assess prior experiences and skills to add to college credits, so that everything someone does will count," to strengthen the child care talent pipeline and help workers advance along career pathways (University of Nebraska-Lincoln). 

In Service of Veterans
South Louisiana Community College has become only the second community college in Louisiana to win approval to apply veterans education benefits to short-term programs, which are geared toward employment in occupations such as plumbing, truck driving, nurse aid, and welding (SLCC).

The new Veteran and Military Resource Center at Empire State University includes a dedicated career counselor and peer mentoring program (The Saratogian).

Investments in Inclusion 
Exelon views workforce development as key to its "responsibility to help its communities become stronger and more resilient." More specifically, it is using workforce development to help customers who "live in or come from underserved or under-resourced communities" access rewarding career pathways in the energy sector (T&D World).

Entergy has launched The Power of Prosperity, a pilot program that includes a $700,000 donation toward enrollment at HBCUs in New Orleans. The Power of Prosperity will furnish students and their families with free support from Single Stop, "a national nonprofit that combats poverty and promotes economic mobility by connecting individuals to available resources through their 'one-stop shop' platform" (Entergy).

Hands-on Learning
LSU is rolling out a data analytics bootcamp that will position completers to pursue multiple industry certifications in as little as 10 weeks (LSU and Fullstack Academy).

In a state first, students can enroll in an apprenticeship in furtherance of their completion of an associate of science in respiratory care at LSU Eunice. By agreeing to a post-completion term of employment with Ochsner Lafayette General, the students can add a $2,500 bonus per semester to their apprentice earnings (LSUE).

Danville Community College has launched an apprenticeship program and added an apprenticeship coordinator to its staff (Danville Register and Bee).

More than 100 high school students visited Entergy's Grand Gulf Nuclear Station for an Apprenticeship Week event intended to inspire the pursuit of a trade craft (The Vicksburg Post).

Well-tailored Workforce Credentials
Eligible students interested in the medical assistant occupation can enroll in a fully funded, 20-week program at Fletcher Technical Community College dedicated to building essential clinical and administrative skills (Lafourche Gazette).

Northwood University is adding a master of science in organizational leadership degree to its host of programs customized to the automotive sector. Enhancing the program are experiential learning opportunities, a network of mentors, and an adult learner-friendly online format (Northwood University).

South Dakota State University has joined Amazon's Career Choice education benefits program, whose criteria include "offering education that leads to career success" (The Brookings Register).

Hot off the Presses
New research from The Debruce Foundation finds that while 90% of youth are "at least somewhat confident" about achieving their career aspirations, less than half have determined what qualifications they would need for a job, looked into their earnings potential, or researched online jobs as they ponder employment pathways (The Debruce Foundation).

The University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has published a whitepaper that offers guidance on better aligning curricula with career-catalyzing competencies (University of Phoenix).

Awards and Other Achievements
Two Howard Community College students received 2023 Outstanding Apprentice awards from the Maryland Department of Labor (Howard Community College).

The director of extended learning at Kutztown University has been elected to the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association Policy and Advocacy fellowship program (Kutztown University).

Louisiana State University Eunice is home to its state's best transfer rate (LSUE).

INSIGHT Into Diversity bestowed the 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award upon Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, marking the 10th consecutive year the university has been so honored (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville).

According to a recent report, Tarrant County College generates $2.1 billion in "annual added income to the county economy" (TCC).

The vice president for student affairs at Baldwin Wallace University has been honored among the 2023 Cleveland Business Journal Women of Influence (Cleveland Business Journal).

Accelerating Adult Learning
Recognizing that "nontraditional students often bring real-world experiences into their classes, which enhance the learning experience for everyone," UNC Charlotte's Office of Adult Students and Extended Services awarded 95 "nontraditional student scholarships" and shared the stories of several recipients (UNC Charlotte).

A record-breaking influx of students into Morgan State University's College of Interdisciplinary and Continuing Studies, which specializes in helping returning adult learners complete degrees, contributed to an overall 8% increase in enrollment (WEAA).

At Virginia Western Community College, which has also increased engagement of adult learners, students 25 or older now make up nearly one quarter of enrollment, which has increased for five straight semesters (The Roanoke Times).

The Art of Articulation
The University of North Carolina-Wilmington is hoping to add each of its state's 58 community colleges to its Partner for PathWays program, which extends guaranteed admissions to transferring students (WNC Business).

National University and the Maricopa County Community College District are extending an agreement under which transfer students receive a 25% tuition discount. The partnership also extends a 25% tuition discount to MCCCD employees for most bachelor's and master's degrees and a 15% employee tuition discount for doctoral degrees (National University).

Southeast Missouri State University is opening a dedicated transfer center that will focus on creating a seamless transfer experience for incoming students and establishing and sustaining partnerships with other institutions (Southeast Missouri State University).