Helping more students complete college credentials is not enough to improve student outcomes and make them more equitable. To truly move the needle, colleges must extend their focus to include students’ transitions to the workplace. This work involves considering:
- How the credentials colleges award connect to employment opportunities in their region.
- How colleges can effectively prepare students for in-demand jobs and career advancement.
NCII’s career connections support builds on our extensive guided pathways work and helps colleges improve both students’ and employers’ experiences so the local economy and the community thrive.
We help colleges:
- Strategically engage employers to align program offerings with workforce demands.
- Offer students meaningful workplace exposure prior to completion.
- Partner with employers to address barriers to student hiring and promotion.
We work with educators to develop curricula that meet employers’ expectations and prepare students for entry-level opportunities and the advancement that should follow. As part of this work, we emphasize the importance of holistic support, particularly for historically marginalized students. Providing this support is essential for colleges that want more students to reach their educational goals, successfully transition to the workforce, and attain long-term economic security.
In addition to our consultation with colleges across the country, the Bank of America Signature Jobs Initiative informs our work in this area.