Accreditors Must Do More to “Be” About Student Success
Kernels of wisdom from some of Michale McComis’ favorite 1980s movies From the Karate Kid’s lessons on persistence to Ferris Bueller’s cautionary tale about student choices and the Princess Bride’s rollicking tale of love and rebellion, the 1980’s represent a marquee period of movie classics. Many offer axioms that can offer surprisingly useful guides for…
Read MoreBreaking the Cycle through College Access: A Foster Youth Story
When I was eight years old, I became a ward of the court, joining 600,000 other children in the foster care system. Over the next few years, I lived in several foster homes and attended six different schools. Fortunately, I was a good student and I graduated knowing I wanted to go to college. But…
Read MoreImproving Income-Driven Repayment
Can a simplified repayment process strengthen student financial outcomes? The problems around college affordability and student debt in the U.S. are well-documented: federal student loan debt is approaching $1.5 trillion, and about 1 of every 5 American adults have student loan debt. Many of today’s students do reach the milestone of earning their college degree,…
Read MoreWhy I Work So Hard for Returning Adult Students
It’s been almost nine months since Complete College America launched our newest Game Changer, A Better Deal for Returning Adults. In that time, I’ve had the opportunity to deliver the “Better Deal Stump Speech” dozens of times. In each presentation, I frame the issue by talking about workforce needs, postsecondary attainment goals and the imperative…
Read MoreOur Growing Network of Champions
The world of higher education and workforce is changing. But is federal policy keeping up? Across the country policymakers, practitioners and employers are working together toward the 21st-century system of higher learning today’s students deserve. Their expertise, knowledge, and insights are critical to informing federal policy changes. That’s why earlier this year, Higher Learning Advocates…
Read MoreNational Poll: How Well Do Americans Really Know Today’s Students?
How well do we Americans really know today’s students? The answer will surprise you. Last week, we released the results of a national opinion poll and a special edition of Education Insider looking at just how well the general public and policymakers understand the shifting demographics of higher education. Overall, while the public is generally aware of some…
Read MoreHigher Education Act Reauthorization at 10: More Innovations Since 2008
What a difference ten years makes. Over ten years ago, on August 14, 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act, the last comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). The world has changed a lot since then. In 2008, Facebook hadn’t rolled out its “Like” button, Netflix…
Read MoreAccreditation, Innovation and Higher Education’s Employment Imperative
America’s system of higher education is currently in the throes of two distinct, but intertwined crises: one generally understood, the other less so. The crisis everyone understands is affordability and unsustainable levels of student loan debt. The other crisis is employability. Nearly half of all college graduates are underemployed in their first job. And we…
Read MoreStudent Voice: the Ultimate Higher Education Innovation?
Today’s student bodies are growing more diverse by many key metrics, underscoring the urgent need for institutional leaders and policymakers to address historic challenges affecting student finances, wellbeing, and success. In this environment, innovation is at a premium as leaders work to adapt to change. While many players within the higher education community pursue powerful…
Read MoreBuilt in Detroit: Strengthening the Motor City’s Talent Pipeline
With the economic reality that two-thirds of jobs will require education beyond high school by 2020, it’s clear that education or training beyond high school is a prerequisite for individuals to flourish in an increasingly complex and fluid talent economy. This also has clear, and worrying, implications for recovering economies across the United States: businesses…
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