Member Matters July 2022

Career Pathway Partnerships
Harper College and Northwest Community Healthcare are partnering to address the nursing shortage, drawing on the college's longstanding success in apprenticeship programs. Incumbent workers, such as environmental staff, food service employees, and greeters will have the opportunity to become certified CNAs at no cost to them. The first apprentices under the program finished a five-week course work in June and could be on the job in their new roles by mid-August. Participants agree to remain with NCH for a minimum of six months, but more than 80% of Harper apprentices continue with their employers past their requirement (Daily Herald). 

Indiana Physical Therapy and Trine University are partnering to offer IPT employees, their spouses, and their dependents education benefits. The program incorporates credit for prior learning opportunities for employees, who can apply up to 90 transfer credit hours toward a Trine bachelor's program (Trine University).

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Trocaire College are partnering to form the Roswell Scholars program, which, beginning in the fall, will place selected students onsite at the cancer center, where they can get an early read on career paths and employment at the center. The center will provide support that includes mentors and professional development seminars, and the college will provide $1,000 in annual scholarships to program participants (Roswell Park). 

Entergy will invest $1 million in its M.J. Foster Promise Program, which is launching this summer. The program, which is also funded through a partnership with the state of Louisiana, focuses on talent development, including upskilling or reskilling adult learners, in high-demand occupations (brproud.com). 

City Colleges of Chicago and ComEd (an EPCE member) are promoting enrollment in the overhead electrical line worker training program at Dawson Tech, which qualifies candidates for entry-level roles in the electrical industry. ComEd line workers' roles offer starting wages of nearly $29 per hour and benefits that include 401(k) and family wellness programs. 'To help meet the demands of the clean energy transition," ComEd, which is investing $50,000 to fund scholarships in the program, plans to hire 500 entry-level workers over the next three years (City Colleges of Chicago).

Lineworkers are also at the center of an Eversource program at Capital Community College, which offers an 11-week path to certification aimed at sourcing local and diverse talent for an industry facing a slew of retirements (H-KNow).

In the latest sign that awareness is growing about the importance of connecting career pathways earlier in the lifelong learning journey, Atlantic Cape Community College hosted more than 100 high school students for learning workshops. Organizers hoped to inspire young women to pursue STEM careers. The American Association of University Women's (AAUW) Cape May and Atlantic County branches, South Jersey Industries, and the Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation sponsored the event (Atlantic Cape).

Southeast Community College is also partnering around building career pathway connections early in life. The college enrolls high school students in the Southeast Nebraska Career Academy Partnership, which lets high school juniors and seniors earn college credit by completing courses connected to career paths with local employers (Lincoln Journal Star).

Younger job candidates were also top of mind recently at Career Source Tampa Bay when it held a job fair that pairs young adults in paid internship programs for the summer (Spectrum Bay News 9).

Through a partnership with Peirce College, JEVS Human Services is enhancing its support of adult learners in their continuation or completion of postsecondary education (JEVS Human Services).

Amid a "significant bus operator shortage," Olive-Harvey College and Pace Suburban Bus have partnered to offer a customized course for CDL completion in two weeks (Lawndale News).

A simulation center that can recreate hospital rooms and model patient and family interaction is highlighting Purdue University Global School of Nursing's partnership with Dallas County Hospital (Purdue University).

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is partnering with StraighterLine to expand pathways to bachelor's degree completion. The university, which had been accepting StraighterLine credits well before formalizing a partnership, cited a former student, now an employee of StraighterLine, who graduated in 18 months and saved $20,000 by combining CPL credits and StraighterLine coursework (Winona Post).

An education-benefits partnership among Aetos System, Crestwood Medical Center, and Athens State University is allowing employees and their parents, spouses, and children to receive a 10% discount on tuition and waived fees (WAAY).

Education benefits are also the highlight of a partnership between the division of workforce and economic development at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) and Triumvirate Environmental, Inc., one of the largest environmental services firms in North America. Launching in September, the program will offer concurrent employment and educational perks. Students will be able to secure full-time employment with benefits while working at their own pace toward an associate degree at BHCC. The company will cover tuition costs for the duration of employment (BHCC).

Hands-on Learning
Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, and North Carolina Central University are among the HBCUs that will be sending students to the North Carolina Governor's HBCU Internship Program this summer. The UNC System Office is acting as the program's oversight agency. Thirteen percent of present-day HBCUs are located in North Carolina (University of North Carolina System).

Ohio University is integrating experiential learning within curricula and recently highlighted its use within its esports program, noting that experiential learning 'fosters lifelong curiosity and problem-solving" (Ohio University).

Doing Good With Grants
A grant program developed at Georgia State University is now the foundation of a statewide program. The micro-grant concept targets students who are on a completion trajectory but struggle to meet financial demands. Approximately 70 percent of students who drop out for financial reasons never graduate, while the average grant award per student is $1,000 (Georgia State University).

Mississippi State University and Syracuse University are receiving U.S. Small Business Administration funds awarded to nonprofits providing "Boots to Business" training in entrepreneurship to service members, veterans, and their spouses (U.S. Small Business Administration).

Governors State University will deploy state funding in support of unemployed and underemployed residents of Illinois (Illinois Delivered).

Meeting Adult Learners Where They Are
EdPlus, the Arizona State University home of ASU Online, is enhancing online offerings both by the numbers and the niceties. Upon adding 22 programs this fall, ASU Online will boast more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, and emphases. Meanwhile, through academic support, communication, and other engagement, EdPlus has also committed to an online learning experience that is "as good or better than what is offered in a face-to-face setting" (ASU).

Forsyth Technical Community College is getting more proactive about engaging with adults to help them obtain skills needed in secure jobs. Its outreach includes reconnecting with students who have completed some college without earning a degree or certificate (The Stokes News).

Missouri Southern State University is also focusing resources on adult degree completion. Its newly launched Adult Degree Completion program incorporates an accelerated curriculum to offer a tailored experience that minimizes hurdles for adult learners (KOAM).

Success Stories
Resilience in the face of family challenges helped two adult learners from Harper College complete their degrees and position themselves for success along career pathways in health care (Journal and Topics).

After serving for four years in the U.S. Army, a veteran enrolled at Penn State Wilkes-Barre has been named the 2022 outstanding club member of the year within the university's Veterans Support Club (Penn State).

Plugging Talent Gaps
Cleveland State University is launching a bachelor of science in data science degree program to bolster its efforts to "recruit, educate and graduate the skilled talent needed to fuel growth in post-pandemic health care careers, emerging technologies, life sciences and data-intensive fields." The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a surge in employment within the discipline of 27.9 percent through 2026 (Cleveland State University).

Edison State Community College's Center for Workforce Development & Education will host the 2022 Summer Symposium for HR Professionals on August 11. Recruiting and retention strategies will be among the topics of discussion (Edison State Community College).

Retirements, the stress of COVID-19, and burnout are fueling an "all-time shortage of nurses" that Georgia College & State University is hoping to alleviate through a third cohort of nursing students within its bachelor of science in nursing program. In a first, the B.S.N. program offers an accelerated path to completion that spans just 15 months, but the program isn't overlooking quality -- or quality of life -- considerations in the process. "I'm teaching them high-pressure situation skills and stress management techniques to help them after they graduate," said a nursing lecturer. "It's not enough to have warm bodies in healthcare. A good quality nurse is going to save a life" (Georgia College & State University).

Economic Impact
University System of Georgia's colleges and universities had an economic impact in Georgia of $19.3 billion in 2021, directly and indirectly creating more than 150,000 jobs. The University of North Georgia accounted for more than $755 million (UNG), while Georgia Southern contributed more than $1 billion (Georgia Southern University) and Georgia Gwinnett College generated nearly $513 million (Gwinnett Daily Post).

Awards and Other Recognition
In a nationwide ranking, Best Colleges named Elizabeth City State University one of the "best HBCUs for LGBTQ+ students" (WITN).

Via The Civic 50 survey, Entergy has been named one of the top 50 "most-community minded companies in the country" for the seventh consecutive year. In 2021, Entergy shareholders and the Entergy Charitable Foundation awarded 1,500 nonprofits with $18.2 million in total contributions, including education and workforce development initiatives (Entergy).

Janelle Elias, vice president for strategy and advancement at Rio Salado College, is the Tempe Chamber of Commerce 2022 Business Woman of the Year (Rio Salado College).

In Their Own Words
The president of the University of Nebraska System outlined why increased partnerships with employers and opportunities, such as internships, for students are needed to meet workforce challenges (University of Nebraska Kearney). 

The CEO of ASU's EdPlus coauthored an op ed extolling the ability of educator-employer partnerships to benefit underserved students and how collaboration among tech innovators and universities is driving tech-powered teaching innovation (Campus Review).

The president of Bunker Hill Community College discussed her experiences "growing up as a Chinese American woman and immigrant and what it means in terms of the idea of student success and equity today," including a "passionate conversation on why student success is not just about what you learn in the classroom" (Diverse Issues In Higher Education). 

During a Q&A, Entergy New Orleans' new director of business and economic development covered the importance of economic development (Entergy).

Creative Credentials
The Rochester Institute of Technology hosted a panel discussion marking the launch of RIT Certified, which will boast a diversity of education experiences, including skills-based learning and certificate programs to support workforce development (RIT).

Heartland Community College has broken ground on an ag facility that will bolster its agriculture education pathways "to include not only three degree programs but also additional certificate programs" and advance the college's quest to meet current and future agricultural workforce needs (WEEK).

The Art of Articulation
The Borough of Manhattan Community College and Pace University are collaborating on transfer opportunities that "support BMCC's strategic goal to address student retention and eliminate equity gaps for all students in every discipline." BMCC students with an associate of science/arts and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 are guaranteed admission to 42 Pace University programs (BMCC).

Transfer students sacrifice an average of 43 percent of their credits, a problem that will not plague South Georgia Technical College students who continue their studies at DeVry University. They can apply the 60 credits they've received in completing a qualifying associate degree toward a bachelor's degree in technical management at DeVry University, where they can choose from more than 10 specializations (Americus Times Recorder).

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and Metropolitan Community College (MCC) are partnering to make UMGC's online academic programs more accessible to MCC students, who can transfer at least 60 credits from an associate degree program to a complementary UMGC bachelor's degree program, where they will enjoy guaranteed admission. MCC students and employees pursuing a degree at UMGC also receive fee waivers and discounted tuition (UMGC).

Metropolitan Community College is also partnering with University of Phoenix to ease transfer pathways for students. The agreement enables concurrent enrollment in several programs, allowing students to accelerate their completion of a four-year degree. University of Phoenix also waives fees for credit for prior learning fees, which also shortens completion time and reduces costs (University of Phoenix).