Expanding College & Career Possibilities: A Policy Action Initiative

Expanding College & Career Possibilities: A Policy Action Initiative is a dynamic peer learning and policy action community where skills advocates in 20 states will engage in peer learning, policy action labs, and access tailored technical assistance and research and promotion – all with the goal of increasing college affordability, holistic supports, and completion of quality non-degree credentials that offer pathways to quality careers and further education.

Making College Work

Expanding College & Career Possibilities: A Policy Action Initiative is part of NSC’s Making College Work Campaign and is generously supported by Lumina Foundation and ECMC Foundation.

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The initiative plans to advance:

Support for expanded state and federal financial aid for students pursuing shorter term pathways and quality non-degree credentials (QNDCs) to ensure students are able to access and complete credentials that lead to careers that offer economic mobility.
Policy solutions that reduce student basic needs insecurity and expand the holistic support available to students in shorter-term, career pathway programs at community colleges.
Understanding of how quality short-term credentials and pathways can boost equitable student success to improve credential attainment, progress along an education pathway, and career outcomes for adults, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and students of color.
Cross-sector partnerships that increase knowledge sharing, ideation, and action taking to propel policy change and ensure solutions are designed with implementation and impact in mind.

Inaugural Policy Action Lab brings state advocates together on financial assistance and supports

NSC held its inaugural State Policy Action Lab on November 14 and 15: Boosting Student Success Through State Financial Assistance and Holistic Supports. This Policy Action Lab was the first engagement of Expanding College & Career Possibilities: A Policy Action Initiative and was designed to foster in-depth peer learning among states and deepen understanding of policy levers, funding streams, advocacy strategies, and implications for implementation.

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Building Strong Community College Industry Partnerships in Rural Settings

While there is no one definition of a “rural” context, one commonality is that rural colleges serve as engines of economic opportunity for their communities, building industry partnerships that benefit rural learners and employers alike. Leaders from three community colleges highlighted in NSC's recent report underscored this reality in a panel discussion during the ECCP learning event.

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