Advancing Innovation in Work and Learning | april 14, 2021
Just half of college alumni feel it was worth it to take out loans to attend college, with even lower levels of satisfaction from Black and Latino alumni about their loans. But borrowers who feel their college gave them resources and support to get a good job were eight times more likely to feel that their student loans were worth it.
These findings, released this month as part of the ongoing Strada Public Viewpoint Work and Education Research, offer a novel look at the perceptions of borrowers amid growing concerns about fast-rising student debt levels, declining U.S. college enrollments, and doubts about the return on investment from attending college.
If better career support in college is crucial to people feeling their loans were worth it, what can colleges do to better connect higher education to jobs? In a webinar discussing the research, expert panelists suggested these ideas:
Ensure that experiential learning opportunities, such as paid internships, are available to all students and structured so they help bolster academic experiences.
Create paid internships for junior and senior college students to serve as peer mentors for incoming students.
Work with employers to ensure that internships and externships include financial support beyond salaries.
Get more creative about virtual career mentoring, such as by offering these services in the evening to students who are working and attending class during daytime hours.
INVEST IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES The pandemic led to steep declines in community college enrollment, especially among working-age adults and students of color. Bringing back the millions of Americans who still say they intend to enroll in community college in the next two years will require investing in equity-based approaches to student success. A new report from Strada Institute, InsideTrack, and CollegeAPP maps student demand at the national and state level and offers evidence and interventions to improve enrollment, completion, and career readiness. These interventions will prepare community colleges to provide the education and workforce training that is needed to drive our economy forward.
RESOURCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS The latest Roadtrip Nation Community Hub asks: How do you make plans or set goals when the world is changing so quickly? Created in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, "Possible Dreams, Possible Paths" provides resources and stories for high school students who may be feeling uncertain about the future. Resources focus on plans for after high school, navigating work and finances, and mental health challenges.
HELP NEEDED WITH NAVIGATION Investing in workforce development doesn’t just mean spending money on education and the jobs of tomorrow — it means helping Americans navigate the complex education-workforce system, Jobs for the Future President and CEO Maria Flynn and Strada Interim CEO Tom Dawson wrote in a commentary published Tuesday in Barron’s. The two leaders co-authored the piece to encourage Congress to devote resources to the kind of career-counseling platforms Americans need most.
LEARNER SUCCESS LAB The American Council on Education is accepting applications for the second cohort of institutions in its Learner Success Lab, launched with a $1.5 million grant from Strada. This ACE Transformation Lab guides institutions through a strategic planning process designed to improve completion, career exploration, and workforce readiness — particularly among underrepresented learners. Applications are due May 15.
Lessons Earned
In our podcast, we explore bold ideas to help Americans navigate between learning and earning throughout their lives.
