On December 3rd, CCA convened representatives from its Alliance teams and various institutional and organizational leaders in the Midwest. In addition to a panel of experts that addressed key topics in the region, CCA held breakout sessions where attendees had an opportunity to identify higher education priorities to address COVID-19, economic downturn, and inequitable outcomes for our students. The event was co-facilitated with our colleagues from CollaborativeLabs.
Top 4 Prioritized Areas of Focus, within College Completion, for the Alliance & Region
- Equity focused agenda
- State Policy Initiatives (sharing data, financial aid, transfer)
- Relationship with employers and workforce (connecting programs of study and desired competencies, future of work)
- Better job of targeted recruitment of communities of color, adults with some college but no degree, and other growing populations who we are leaving behind – create real pipelines with these communities to address enrollment declines
Additional Areas of Focus for the Alliance & Region
- State policy, college affordability, supporting student basic needs
- Teaching and Learning—support and development of faculty, student support for online learning, connectivity, creativity
- Economic mobility for our students to and through college (student loans, financial support, advising)
- College Affordability (real or perceived) to expand higher ed to students
- Equity focused
- Give students a voice, provide mental health supports for Black students and staff, Provide financial support to students, address inequities in policing on campus, safe places for students
- Broadband Accessibility
- Partnerships with K12 and employers
- State policy financial aid digital divide data sharing
- Anti-racist institution
- Equity-centered goals
- Don’t clam up when things get uncomfortable, have policies that align with mission, jump in and have conversations and have dialogue to grow
- Give people space and grace
- Focus on equity gaps in retention and graduation
- Accommodate real life of our students
