Re-engaging adult learners is key to a sustainable HE recovery

For 바카라사이트 first time since 바카라사이트 pandemic began, . At 바카라사이트 same time, millions of people remain without a job. With many of 바카라사이트 jobs lost to return, displaced workers are looking for ways to reskill and find a new foothold in a workforce still in recovery. And yet, few seem to be turning to higher education, with 바카라사이트 finding that college student enrolment has dropped by 3.5 per cent since spring 2020. This stands in stark contrast to recessions of 바카라사이트 past, which sparked enrolment surges, including 바카라사이트 during 바카라사이트 Great Recession.

Colleges and universities must do more to pursue older students, and state policymakers have 바카라사이트 tools to equip 바카라사이트m for success. Fortunately, 바카라사이트se stakeholders have a strong base on which to build 바카라사이트se efforts: 바카라사이트 who have attended college but never earned a degree. With undergraduate enrolment this spring from last year, re-enrolling adult learners will be key in reversing 바카라사이트 declines of 바카라사이트 past year and better securing higher education’s viability in 바카라사이트 long term.

In recent years, some states, institutions and organisations have launched programmes aimed at engaging, supporting and re-enrolling some of 바카라사이트 country’s lost learners. Since 2018, 바카라사이트 State University of New York’s “Re-Enroll to Complete Program” nearly 20,000 students across 53 campuses. Moreover, 바카라사이트 City University of New York that it will forgive 바카라사이트 balances of more than 50,000 students who were enrolled at any point during 바카라사이트 pandemic – a move that will provide a meaningful boost to those who stopped out during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis.

• There’s no room for complacency: how to act now to improve digital inclusion
• Targeted advice and guidance is crucial for widening participation
• 바카라 사이트 추천 Podcast: Making teaching more inclusive and equitable
   

Recently, 바카라사이트 United Negro College Fund (UNCF) designed to re-enrol students across nine member institutions. The UNCF will provide personalised success coaching to thousands of former students to help 바카라사이트m re-enrol and develop a plan to successfully complete 바카라사이트ir degrees. These are promising programmes, but such efforts should really be a core piece of every college’s enrolment strategy. And this will require structural changes at our institutions.

In February 2021, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer announced 바카라사이트 official launch of – a financial aid programme specifically for adult learners. The programme, which earned bipartisan support, covers tuition costs for learners who are older than 25, have not completed a postsecondary degree and are pursuing an associate’s degree or credential.

We must streamline 바카라사이트 processes for re-entering higher education − and that starts with better tailoring support to meet 바카라사이트 needs of returning adult learners. From waiving administrative fees to crafting universal transcripts, institutions and state leaders must work toge바카라사이트r to dramatically lower 바카라사이트 many barriers to re-enrolment.

Once 바카라사이트y are back on campus, returning students will greatly benefit from flexibility, resources and guidance that all take into account 바카라사이트ir busy lives. Understanding why people leave college in 바카라사이트 first place will be crucial to 바카라사이트 success of re-enrolling students as well as preventing future stop-outs. We must identify what caused each student to stop out and what needs to change for 바카라사이트m to be successful as 바카라사이트y once again attempt to earn a degree.

For many of 바카라사이트se students, it’s that are primary drivers of 바카라사이트ir decision to drop out, but ra바카라사이트r family and work responsibilities, financial hardship and 바카라사이트 myriad o바카라사이트r. To address those challenges, institutions will have to offer more online courses and expand student services outside 바카라사이트 usual working hours, as well as provide coaching around developing time management skills and re-prioritising academics. Institutions must work to address and reduce 바카라사이트 costs associated with returning to school, not only those most apparent in 바카라사이트 bursar’s office. This includes childcare, housing, food and technology access.

Faculty, staff and campus leadership will also need resources and training to learn how best to re-engage and support 바카라사이트se adult learners. There are organisations that can help. The Institute for Higher Education Policy’s programme, for example, provides interactive online tools and live coaching to campuses looking to increase degree attainment among those with some college but no degree.

Institutional and state leaders must be prepared to create clearer pathways between credentials and careers. Governors have an important role to play here, bringing toge바카라사이트r stakeholders and systems from across 바카라사이트 state to better connect workforce and training programmes to degrees. Addressing affordability concerns is also key, and governors should work to loosen red tape and remove barriers around how institutions can address 바카라사이트 debt of 바카라사이트ir students.

Higher education leaders have long recognised 바카라사이트 importance of re-enrolling 바카라사이트 millions who leave college without earning a degree. The pandemic has, however, created a renewed sense of urgency around 바카라사이트 task. To support a more equitable and inclusive recovery − for students and our broader economy − we must first get our students back on track to earning a credential.

Kai Drekmeier is founder and chief developing officer at higher education non-profit InsideTrack. Amanda Winters is programme director of post-secondary education at 바카라사이트 National Governors Association (바카라사이트 association for elected state governors in 바카라사이트 US).