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As the pool of available college students continues to shrink in the face of a looming demographic cliff, stakes are getting higher to develop the right approach to attract students. The Hechinger Report details how colleges are now closing at a rate of one a week. Hechinger higher education editor Jon Marcus writes: “Mergers are […]
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The need for effective branding for colleges has never been more crucial as institutions grapple with increasing competition in the higher education space. Branding expert and AccessU faculty member Ricky Parker has researched how iconic brands of the ’90s and early 2000s created lasting impressions through experiences, community-building, and storytelling. Examining success stories from fast-food […]
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The American workforce continues to diversify. In 2019, most new hires between the ages of 25-54 were people of color for the first time. More than 4.5% of U.S. adults now identify as LGBTQA+. It’s projected the Latinx population will make up more than 20% of the country’s labor force by 2028. The population of […]
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Your institution’s reputation can be your most valuable asset—or your biggest vulnerability. With campus protests, social media firestorms and global events influencing student opinion, reputation management is a key component of any crisis communication strategy. Dean Browell, a faculty member at AccessU and chief behavioral officer at Feedback, recently reflected on how campus protests disrupted […]
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Over the past year, AccessU has been repeatedly approached by varied organizations, from nonprofits to higher education institutions, all facing the same challenge: the need for a better strategy to engage donors and raise funds. Fundraising is a complex and ongoing process that requires strategic planning and benefits greatly from effective relationship-building. Here, we explore […]
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Higher education is changing in many ways. One thing that hasn’t changed is the value that colleges and universities bring to their local communities. College-based arts and culture centers have long been places of artistic exploration for students and cultural cornerstones like the Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, are a benefit […]
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Workforce development, skills education, microcredentials, short-term credentialing, and non-degree credentials are just a few of the phrases used to describe programs and coursework that prepare adult students for jobs in the workforce. At AccessU, we use the term workforce development program to describe any institution or organization committed to skilling, upskilling or reskilling workers for […]
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February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the Black community throughout history. In the realm of education, community colleges play a vital role in breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success for Black students, who can face unique challenges due to both historical and systemic factors. Community […]
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The rollout of the updated FAFSA form has been fraught with challenges and is posing a risk to colleges across the nation. One of the biggest unknowns for colleges, as they move between academic years, is how many students they will have for the following year. How many students will they retain, and how many […]
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Community colleges nationwide feel the burden of lower enrollment in credit-bearing courses. The effect of lower enrollment is compounded when you factor in that funding for workforce-ready (or noncredit) courses is dramatically lower than funding for credit-bearing coursework. Community colleges and workforce development programs are critical components of the infrastructure for labor, and supporting their […]
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Community Colleges are powerhouses of opportunities. On International Day of Education, AccessU celebrates the work of these institutions and other agencies at the forefront of fostering peace, development, and human rights through education. We love what we do, and it’s a privilege to support community colleges in providing affordable, accessible learning opportunities that nurture inclusivity […]
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Recently, AccessU attended the 2023 Virginia Hire Ed Conference as a sponsor, as well as a key partner for VCCS and many other community colleges and workforce preparation programs across Virginia. Hosted annually by Virginia’s Community Colleges, this conference brings together community colleges and workforce agency representatives to discuss innovative collaborations to fill jobs in […]
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