APRIL 30, 2024

About 80 percent of all college students are employed while completing their undergraduate education. Many of them work for the institutions they attend.

Research shows that enriching work-based learning opportunities can propel students into first jobs that require a college degree and bring them more satisfaction in their careers.

So how can institutions reimagine work-based learning so students not only earn money that helps them pay for their education, but also develop skills that prepare them to pursue and succeed in their careers?

The Work+Collective, an Arizona State University-led consortium of 17 two- and four-year institutions across the country, is working to redesign student employment. Through existing student work opportunities, the Work+Collective institutions offer mentorship, student reflections, peer feedback, and educational programming intended to help working students develop a greater sense of identity, agency, and purpose.

INACCESSIBILITY OF INTERNSHIPS

Despite growing evidence of the value of a paid internship and the desire among many students to secure the coveted spots, significant and troubling gaps persist in students’ access across most industries. Read more.

COLLEGE COST

A national survey from Lumina Foundation and Gallup finds that while cost is a "very important" consideration when deciding whether to pursue a postsecondary credential, 77 percent of U.S. adults cannot estimate the annual net cost of a bachelor's degree from a public college within $5,000 of the actual cost. Read more.

IN-HOUSE STUDENT SUPPORT

With resources already stretched thin, how can colleges and universities build long-term capacity and equip staff with sustainable methods for keeping students on track toward their goals? A new guide from InsideTrack provides strategies for building a holistic in-house student support program. Read more.

REPORT: The State Opportunity Index could help restore trust in higher ed, Washington Monthly writes.

CONVENING: Strada hosted a group of student success experts to develop principles for quality education-to-career guidance and provide input on a strategy for bringing these principles to the field.

HIRE: Justin Draeger, who has built his career as an advocate for affordability and accessibility, will join Strada as senior vice president, affordability.

PODCAST: “The Key,” a podcast from Inside Higher Ed, considers “Talent Disrupted,” a report about underemployment from Strada and The Burning Glass Institute.