By Blake Johnson
As graduation day rapidly approaches across the country, I’m reminded of the day I walked across the stage to receive my degree. I’ll never forget the way my mom beamed from her hard-earned front row seat, the way my then 89-year-old grandmother cheered (even after the 1,000-mile trip to be there), and the way I felt, knowing I was about to start an exciting new chapter in my life.
For many, this important day is a ticket to the American Dream. It’s a catalyst for ending generational poverty. It’s an opportunity to leverage passions and align them to professions.
For those who have stepped away from school and later returned, it’s a second chance at the life they hoped for. And for the communities in which students live and work, it marks hard-fought efforts to strengthen a talent pipeline that helps them grow and thrive.
But even as the value of a college degree or other credential of value becomes virtually indisputable, attainment levels remain far below where we need them to be. And far too few families are reaping the benefits.
Thanks to bold leadership in 200 communities across 44 states, including 16 statewide programs that have passed through legislation or executive orders the nation, we are working to change that, making an important promise to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to get a college degree or certificate.
That promise is simple: every eligible student will have the funding necessary to pursue a degree or certification, preparing them for the 21st Century workforce without the burden of unmanageable and often crippling student loan debt.
But even as we rightly throw open the doors of our colleges and universities to many more students, we know that a College Promise is an empty one if students don’t go on to graduate. And ensuring their success requires all of us to do more.
That’s why Complete College America is teaming up with the College Promise Campaign and Achieving the Dream to help education, business, government and philanthropy leaders incorporate an intentional framework for student success and completion into their College Promise programs.
As part of that joint effort, we’re gathered today at AACC’s 98th Annual Convention in Dallas, TX, to unveil Promise with a Purpose: College Promise Programs “Built for Completion.” This report lays out a collection of evidence-based strategies for institutions, communities, and states to integrate into their Promise initiatives, including providing intensive onboarding advising to help students choose a program of study within their first academic year, ensuring students enroll in critical gateway math and English courses in their first academic year and encouraging students to enroll in 15 credits per semester or 30 credits each year to stay on track.
We know how important a college degree is for families and their communities. We are committed to unlocking the opportunity of a college education for many more Americans. And we are proud to partner with organizations who are focused on ensuring a College Promise is not just one of access, but ultimately student success and completion.
