Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) has joined the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s expanded Unlocking Opportunity network — an initiative designed to help community colleges reform programs in ways that improve student outcomes — ensuring students earn degrees that lead to good-paying jobs.
NWTC, alongside 54 other colleges, will join 10 pilot institutions in a growing national effort to align their programs and student advising with the two most important goals of community college students: leaving college with a credential and a good job or transferring and completing a bachelor’s degree. Through three years of focused reforms, these colleges will work with Aspen to assess current programs, set goals and implement research-based reforms to increase student success.
“Joining the Unlocking Opportunity network places NWTC at the table with leading institutions across the nation that are shaping the future of higher education. This initiative is about more than reforming our own programs — it’s about sharing what works, driving innovation, and learning alongside others to create the strongest possible pathways for students,” said Kristen Raney, NWTC president.
“At the heart of this effort is a simple truth: Students don’t enroll just to take classes. They come to complete, to earn credentials that lead to family-sustaining wages, and to walk away with something that transforms their life, their family and their community. Our partnership with Aspen keeps that front and center.”
The multi-year initiative will engage college leaders and teams through a series of virtual and in-person sessions focused on scaling reforms that align their community college programs with available good jobs and bachelor’s degree pathways in their regions. Guided by lessons from successful reforms implemented by the 10 Unlocking Opportunity pilot institutions, the new 55 colleges will set goals to increase student enrollment in and completion of high-value workforce and transfer programs, while reducing lower-opportunity pathways.
“Every year, millions of students rely on community colleges for a low-cost pathway to what they assume will be a high-value credential,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “They rightly assume that the degree and certificate programs their colleges offer will deliver a good job and fulfilling career, either directly after community college or after transferring and earning a bachelor’s degree.”
The 10 Unlocking Opportunity pilot institutions are on track to collectively move over 20,000 students into high-value programs of study that lead to good jobs. With this expansion, Aspen will (for at least the next three years) track and support progress for 65 participating colleges, including those 55 just selected. Aspen will use insights from this work to inform the broader field through fellowship programs, publications and state partnerships to provide professional development to college leaders and teams.
Unlocking Opportunity, developed in partnership with the Community College Research Center, is supported by Arnold Ventures, Ascendium Education Group, Bank of America, ECMC Foundation and JPMorganChase. The expansion of the Unlocking Opportunity network is made possible by the support of JPMorganChase.
To learn about the network, visit https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/programs/unlocking-opportunity.
