App State-Based Research Alliance Awarded $7.2M to Launch Rural Talent Lab in 5 States
More than $7 million in grant funding awarded to the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges (ARRC), based at Appalachian State University, will help advance higher education and workforce development for individuals in rural communities over the next four years. Housed in the Reich College of Education, ARRC is a research collaborative and resource hub that examines the role and impacts of regional and rural-serving colleges and universities.
The $7,245,600 grant, awarded by Ascendium Education Group, supports the establishment of a Rural Talent Development and Attraction Lab in five partner states. A nonprofit organization, Ascendium is dedicated to creating opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve academic and career success.
Led by ARRC Executive Director Dr. Andrew Koricich, professor in App State’s higher education graduate program, the ARRC team will partner with the states’ higher education executive agencies to develop a statewide Rural Talent Development and Attraction Plan. These plans include the creation and implementation of at least four credential pathways, providing opportunities for learners to earn associate degrees and undergraduate certificates that support the rural workforce needs of each state.
