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The Benefits of an Arts Center: Moss Arts Center

March 2024 by Access

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 […]

2024 Trends to Watch: Workforce Development Marketing

March 2024 by Tony Pearman

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 […]

Celebrating Black History Month: How Community Colleges Can Continue Eliminating Barriers for Black Students

February 2024 by Dontrese Brown

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 […]

Community Partnerships Help Students and Colleges

February 2024 by Access

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 […]

The Future of Community Colleges Requires Policy and Funding Changes

February 2024 by Access

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 […]

Why We Love Working With Community Colleges

January 2024 by Access

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 […]

Helping Higher Ed Connect to Workforce

January 2024 by Access

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 […]

Creative Heavyweights Join AccessU Executive Team

December 2023 by Access

Hidden In Plain Site co-founder, GEICO Gecko co-creator sign on with Roanoke-based ad agency Roanoke-based AccessU, a rebranded iteration of Access Advertising & Public Relations with a 27-year legacy in education marketing, is proud to announce its recent growth and expansion with the addition of two prominent executives to its leadership team: Randy Belcher as Vice President […]

4 Ways to Overcome Creative Block

May 2023 by Olivia

If you are like me, creative inspiration never seems to strike at the right time – especially when working against a deadline. Time and time again, I have found myself staring blankly at an empty page, trying desperately to pull a brilliant new concept from thin air – and failing miserably. Dispirited and surrounded by […]