Resource Library

Robust partnerships between community colleges and their local employers are critical to building workforce training pathways that help rural communities grow and thrive. However, increased support for rural community colleges to convene industry partnerships is needed to connect more rural learners to these quality employment opportunities. States also need help implementing policy and systems changes to strengthen partnerships between rural-based community colleges and industry. This report documents how existing rural community college and industry partnerships have impacted the success of rural learners, providing examples of effective partnerships in action.

High-quality, affordable, and workforce-driven community college baccalaureate (CCB) programs can provide new or expanded access to employment opportunities for underserved populations like rural learners, adult learners, and learners from low-income backgrounds. However, not all U.S. states currently allow community colleges to offer baccalaureate programs and it can be particularly difficult to establish in-demand CCB programs at rural-serving institutions. This brief examines the landscape of rural-serving community colleges in states that allow CCB programs and provides recommendations for those considering the possibility of CCB programs at their institution.

Our 2023 report reflects on our continued efforts to build evidence and share actionable insights through our grantmaking. Inside, you’ll read how our philanthropy catalyzes change to postsecondary education and workforce training systems so more learners from low-income backgrounds can achieve their goals. You’ll also get insights into the upcoming year.

This case study highlights the efforts of Delta Compass, a workforce collaborative addressing current and future labor needs in a rural region of the U.S. They are an example of an organization that is responsive to local employment needs, working together with employers and the community college system to fill jobs in healthcare, education, and manufacturing.

This case study details the recent activities of Upskill NWA. Primarily focused on healthcare professions, Upskill NWA provides comprehensive, individualized support to help learners complete requirements and secure employment. By working with area colleges and universities, the efforts of Upskill NWA are an example of how community-based stakeholders can collaborate to meet local workforce needs.

This case study spotlights People Inc. of Virginia. The organization provides a wide range of services that help advance workforce opportunities in rural America, including work-based learning and on-the-job training. Because they collaborate with employers and community organizations, their work is a good example of what can be accomplished through rural partnerships.

Community college baccalaureate programs are growing in Texas as they have the potential to offer more streamlined paths for learners to credentials that lead to good jobs. This brief offers policymakers and practitioners more information on who enrolls in these programs and what happens to graduates in the labor market so they can understand how these degrees can serve learners from low-income backgrounds.

This report provides a nuanced look at the status of educational attainment and employment in rural areas, finding that rural workers today are as likely as those in urban areas to hold a good job — one that pays a living wage for their region. But the report also shows that racial and gender disparities exist in who gets access to those jobs, even as rural areas grow more diverse. As rural economies shift and populations continue to decline and evolve, these communities need greater investment in education and workforce training to ensure future economic vitality.

In the second episode of their two-part conversation with Reach University Chancellor Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Future U podcast hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn consider the teacher apprenticeship model’s potential for scaling to other public sector jobs. As part of their analysis, they discuss how this model addresses staffing shortages through job-embedded learning.

In the first episode of their two-part conversation with Reach University Chancellor Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Future U. podcast hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn learn about Reach’s apprenticeship approach to teacher education. Focusing on Reach’s foundation, theory, and practice, they discuss how it addresses rural workers’ lack of access to affordable training pathways leading to high-quality jobs.

A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, the Urban Institute, in partnership with The American Indian College Fund, generates insights from tribal colleges and universities about how to best serve learners with child caregiving responsibilities. With these insights, an update will be made to a widely used toolkit that supports parenting and caregiving learners on rural campuses.

A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, Georgia State University examines the impact and importance of e-Campus, a distance learning initiative, on rural learners, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. Evidence will be generated on how the initiative enhances equity and how other institutions can make their student success initiatives more equitable.