The use of labor market information (LMI) and student outcomes data, as well as the innovative use of technology, are key for improving students’ economic outcomes. Last year, the Project on Workforce and Education Design Lab studied four community colleges working to integrate LMI, student performance data and new technologies to better support underserved students. […]
Completion Articles
The power of first-generation programs
At Seminole State College of Florida, the First Generation Program, fondly referred to as First Gen, is more than a support system — it serves as a launchpad for students who are the first in their families to pursue a college degree. Seminole State serves about 2,400 First Gen students. By offering mentorship, resources and […]
A new AI model: The Human Guided Learning Ecosystem
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues its rapid evolution, a wave of apprehension has swept through higher education. Many fear AI will supplant educators or render our institutions obsolete. But what if this focus is misplaced? What if the future of higher education doesn’t just survive AI, but thrives because of it? Imagine a system where […]
Internship program is bridge from classroom to career
Lexi Grey knew she wanted to go into the medical sciences ever since her father died of cancer when she was 5 years old. An internship at the Scripps Research lab in La Jolla, which she obtained while a student at San Diego Mesa College, helped her realize she wanted to focus on the science […]
One stop, all the support
Tulsa Community College (TCC) in March officially opened the Student Help Hub, a one-stop shop for students to connect with academic, financial and personal support. Located at TCC’s Northeast Campus Student Union, the Help Hub offers in-person assistance, with online access available to all TCC students. Through the Help Hub, students will be supported by […]
Building a better roadmap
Chicago Public Schools (CPS), City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) are expanding the nationally recognized higher education partnership with the launch of “Chicago Roadmap 2.0.” This next phase of the Chicago Roadmap initiative is designed to ensure students have a seamless transition from high school to community college to […]
Student story: Support system leads to success
Monika Martinez is the first to admit she had a rocky start at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC). But she’s never given up. “I was a bit too confident my first year at college and took four classes including biology, which also had a lab,” said Martinez, 24. “I focused on biology because it was […]
Averting the transfer trap
After several years of pandemic-related declines, college transfer rates are once again on the rise. This is welcome news. College transfer has long been viewed as a crucial pathway to economic mobility. For millions of students who start their postsecondary journey at one of the nation’s community colleges, transferring to a four-year institution has the […]
A pathway to opportunity in Dallas
Dallas College is partnering with Texas State University (TXST) to launch Texas State Local @ Dallas College, a co-enrollment program that offers students a seamless path to earn both an associate and a bachelor’s degree. This collaboration will allow students to begin their academic journey at Dallas College and complete their degree at TXST, with […]
Breaking barriers: Mia Rojo helps adult students succeed
When Mia Rojo first arrived at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) in 2006, she wasn’t certain she’d ever cross the graduation stage. Today, this proud OCCC alumna helps adult learners achieve their academic goals as the pipeline programs manager at the Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) Foundation. As a first-generation college student and an adult […]