The Healey-Driscoll Administration in December announced a new pilot program to re-engage students who previously began, but did not complete, degrees and certificates at the state’s public colleges and universities.

There are more than 766,000 Massachusetts residents in the “Some College, No Credential” (SCNC) population. The effort is designed to bring greater economic opportunities to Massachusetts residents while boosting the state’s workforce and competitiveness.

The learner re-engagement initiative will include direct student outreach and coaching provided by ReUp Education during a one-year pilot. Six institutions were selected to participate, including four community colleges: Bunker Hill Community College, Cape Cod Community College, Greenfield Community College, MassBay Community College.  Fitchburg State University and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth also will participate.

“Higher education brings better opportunities for families and strengthens our economy, which is why we’ve invested significantly in making college more affordable,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a release. “Re-engaging students who didn’t complete their degrees is another way to support our residents and strengthen the talent and skills that make up our workforce.”

This learner re-engagement pilot program advances a recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Advancement of Representation in Education (ACARE) that was highlighted in a report issued in October 2024.

“There are a number of barriers to adult learners completing credentials and this dedicated effort will help residents overcome them,” said Department of Higher Education Senior Deputy Commissioner José Luis Santos. “As someone who was a ‘non-traditional’ aged college student myself, I know that added support goes a long way in making it across the finish line, and the student outreach and guidance that come with this effort will be invaluable to helping adult learners reach their goals.”

ReUp provides re-enrollment and success coaching and leads re-enrollment efforts at 140 institutions across 33 states. ReUp engages students through an Education to Workforce Marketplace, which provides comprehensive support across the entire student journey, helping learners navigate barriers like cost, time and uncertainty. Connecting public institutions and learners across Massachusetts through a central platform and live coaching will provide adults returning to college with guided access to programs aligned with their career aspirations and statewide workforce needs.

“Working with ReUp allows us to leverage data-informed outreach and personalized coaching to support adult learners who stepped away before earning a credential. This one-year pilot will help us understand how to better serve returning students and build a sustainable re-engagement strategy that aligns with our long-term enrollment and student success goals,” said Jacquelyn Thompson, Cape Cod Community College’s vice president of student services and enrollment management.

Read the full press release here.