A new initiative offers 4.1 million Californians the opportunity to re-enroll in higher education to complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, 40% of jobs in the state will require a bachelor’s degree by 2030. Current estimates suggest the state will miss this goal by 1.1 million college degrees.
A new statewide group of mission-driven partners, California Reconnect, will help students who have stepped out of college to re-enroll and work with institutions to develop and implement policies and practices that support college degree completion and improved career opportunities.
Coalition partners include California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy, InsideTrack, The Institute for Higher Education Policy, and Project Attain!.
“Helping adult learners return to and complete degrees and credentials is an equity, economic, and civic engagement for the state of California,” said Su Jin Jez, Executive Director of California Competes. “This is about giving working adults the resources and fresh start they need to achieve their educational and career goals. It’s about helping them attain the skills and credentials needed to access rewarding careers that will lift up themselves, their families, their communities, and the state.”
Creating a Path to Graduation and the Workforce
The coalition will work with 30 colleges and universities across the state, focusing on areas hit hardest by the pandemic. Because data shows that most re-enrolled students do not return to their original institutions, the group will be institution-agnostic. They will focus on students’ career goals and circumstances to direct them to the institution that best meets their needs.
“Returning to complete a degree or certificate is a critical decision for adult learners, said Dr. Jenni Murphy, Founder of ProjectAttain! And Dean of the College of Continuing Education at Sacramento State. “Returning adults are well poised to be one part of the talent solution for the jobs of today while we continue to prepare youth for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Supporting the process of identifying and re-engaging students is a degree mining tool from the Institute of Higher Education Policy (IHEP). The free online system is designed to help institutions identify former students with significant college credits.
Professional coaches from InsideTrack will offer enrollment support and career coaching to ensure students choose institutions that align with their career interests, available time, and learning needs. InsideTrack will also help students develop academic and financial plans that help students succeed in school while balancing jobs, families, and other commitments.
California Reconnect will also work with institutions to remove barriers for returning students, such as the reduction or waiving of fees; wrap-around services; awarding credit for prior learning; and other high-impact practices that have previously assisted adult students to successfully complete a college degree.
Over the next three years, the nonprofit will share back data to participating institutions; document best practices that may help other institutions, and document the voices of returning students to better understand the challenges they face.