College Completion

Report from the Skills2Compete-Michigan campaign by The Workforce Alliance (TWA), Washington, D.C

Policy agenda for the Michigan Shifting Gears Initiative

Report on the results of the Michigan No Worker Left Behind Initiative

White Paper on the progress of the No Worker Left Behind initiative in Michigan

Home page for the Michigan No Worker Left Behind project

KCTCS Learn on Demand program offers 3-5 week-long modules and full 15-week courses, which include modules. Modules build toward complete courses for accredited, affordable degrees, certificates, and diplomas.Working adults are the target audience.

Overview of Michigan's involvement in Shifting Gears

Announcement of the launching of the Oregon participation in the National Career Readiness Certificate

Graphic showing the percent of adults with college degree by county.

Connecticut ranks seventh in the nation in the percentage of students with postsecondary degrees, but the rate of growth is well behind many states. Connecticut's acceleration ranks 34th out of 50 states, according to figures based on an analysis of census data. (Hartford Courant, 01/19/11)

Story on the Complete College Tennessee Act

Story on Indiana's performance based funding system.

Study of the PROMISE or Merit scholarships in West VA that found significant improvements in graduation rates.

Story on proposals to fund higher education in West VA through a performance-based funding model.

Analyzes earnings by field of study, sex, race/ethnicity, and program length; looks at the demographic characteristics of certificate holders; and analyzes the institutions that most commonly award certificates and the states where certificates are most prevalent and provide the highest earnings returns. (Georgetown University Center on Education, June 2012)

To try to provide a shared understanding of what college degrees mean - but without turning that into a government or other mandate - the Lumina Foundation for Education is releasing a draft of its Degree Qualifications Profile. The profile is intended to establish what the recipients of associate, bachelor's and master's degrees should know and be able to do. (Inside Higher Ed, 01/25/11)

Examines enrollment policies and practices at California community colleges, and makes recommendations for improvement. Looks at time-to-degree. (California Legislative Analyst Office, January 2011)

Report found that an increasing number of students who borrowed to finance their college are dropping out. Those who dropped out were far more likely to default on their loans, had higher unemployment rates and made less money than those who graduated. The trends were more pronounced in the for-profit sector. (Education Sector, February 2012)

The Idaho Board of Education wants to increase the number of Idaho adults between ages 25 and 34 who have a college degree or professional credential from 31% to 60% by 2020, despite budget cuts. The board said expanding college course offerings online is one way to achieve this and other goals. (Idaho Statesman, 01/20/11)

Provides community colleges and other eligible institutions with funds to expand and improve their ability to deliver education and career training programs that can be completed in two years or less, are suited for workers who are eligible for training under the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers program, and prepare program participants for employment in high-wage, high-skill occupations. (Department of Labor, January 2011)