Innovation Library
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Tags: Corporate TrainingFebruary 2026For 60 years, Dallas College has been committed to preparing learners for workforce success in the...
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Tags: AccessFebruary 2026In February 2023, Monroe Community College (MCC) was invited to join a cohort of nine other two-...
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Tags: AccessFebruary 2026Across the nation, colleges continue to grapple with a steep rise in the number of students seeking...
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Tags: PartnershipsJanuary 2026In an October 2024 issue of Member Spotlight, the author detailed how Delta College rethought...
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Economic Development
February
2026
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Graduating high school students across the nation are faced with deciding whether to continue their education or enter the workforce. Many seek higher education in order to improve career opportunities and gain economic prosperity and social mobility (Blackwell & Pinder, 2014). The College Board claims that the average annual income for individuals who have a baccalaureate degree is $53,976. The unemployment rate among these graduates is 4.7 percent, which is lower than the U.S. unemployment rate of 6.7 percent (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). While these statistics look promising, the...
August
2020
Oakton Community College’s Cannabis Dispensary and Patient Care Specialist certificate program is the direct result of a single interaction between a senior Oakton administrator and an Oakton alumnus. The alumnus worked for a medical cannabis dispensary and expressed the need for educated patient care specialists who were able to interact with chronically ill patients—in other words, those with job skills that go beyond being a “weed enthusiast.”
Students and alumni can positively impact curriculum and academic programming as members of career advisory committees and by playing a role in...
February
2026
For 60 years, Dallas College has been committed to preparing learners for workforce success in the dynamic landscape of North Texas. As technology advances and industry transforms, the college is challenged to find the most effective ways to assess workforce needs and design programs that prepare students with both immediate and future-ready skills.
This work directly impacts students, local industries, and regional prosperity. Labor shortages and skills gaps are costly, and industry depends on a steady pipeline of talent that can contribute from day one while continuing to learn and grow...
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Students of color, males in particular, face significant challenges in higher education. African American male students, on average, are less successful than other racial/ethnic groups, including African American women. Compared to Asian/Pacific Islander or White/Non-Hispanic students, they are less likely to succeed in both developmental and college-level coursework and are more likely to drop out. Latino students are the least likely of all racial/ethnic groups to transfer. African American students and Latino males have the lowest persistence rates (Elgin Community College, 2010).
Students...
In February 2023, Monroe Community College (MCC) was invited to join a cohort of nine other two-year institutions to participate in the Aspen Institute’s Unlocking Opportunity: The Post-Graduation Success and Equity Network.[i] More than a student success initiative, Unlocking Opportunity (UO) was designed to help participating colleges usher in sweeping reforms at their respective campuses. This endeavor would subsist at the intersection of academic and student-support services and focus on boosting post-completion outcomes, making possible more streamlined transfer in higher opportunity...
February
2026
Community colleges were founded on the belief that education must respond to the needs of the communities they serve. Our institutions must be nimble, innovative, and directly connected to workforce and economic opportunities. Jackson College, serving Jackson, Hillsdale, and Lenawee counties, exemplifies this mission. By forging strong partnerships with industry, K-12 districts, state agencies, and regional leaders, the college has launched two transformational projects: the Medical Simulation Center and the Applied Technology Center. These strategic investments extend beyond campus. Jackson...
