Publications
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Insights from the Field: Barriers & Opportunities for Building Higher Education–Employer Partnerships
July 11, 2022
Effective higher education–employer partnerships are central to improving student employment outcomes, ensuring workforce needs are met, and boosting the state’s economic strength and competitiveness. As efforts and investments to build bridges between higher education and employers grow, this brief shares the main factors that hinder meaningful engagements and sets the foundation towards actionable solutions.
Measuring Student Progress in Competency-Based Education Programs
California Competes |
November 08, 2021
Thoughtful adoption of competency-based education can equitably broaden pathways to credential attainment and economic mobility. As the movement to CBE grows, this brief provides guidance for institutions implementing CBE on metrics and practices for assessing student progress and benchmarking the performance of their programs.
A Policy Agenda for California Student Parents
California Competes |
August 26, 2021
As California’s public higher education system shifts to better address the needs of today’s college students, who are often juggling work and academic obligations, the segments must not overlook the growing number of student parents—which must also include pregnant students, students on parental leave, and others with dependent care responsibilities.
Get Ready: Introducing the Millions of Adults Planning to Enroll in College
California Competes |
May 06, 2021
New data reveals about one-fifth of California’s adult population plans to go to college within the next two years, and our higher education system needs to start preparing now. This report explores who these adults are and describes how following through on their educational goals could help meet workforce demands.
Meeting California's Demand for Allied Health Workers
California Competes |
February 17, 2021
In this report, we analyze the barriers limiting our supply of allied health professionals and offer solutions for addressing an anticipated annual shortage of up to 37,000 workers. Among the most significant challenges at hand are pipeline “bottlenecks,” wherein more students are trying to fulfill their required clinical hours than there are clinical hours available. The report identifies key strategies to meet the need for clinical placements as well as solutions specific to the bottleneck issue.
Untapped Opportunity: Understanding and Advancing Prospects for Californians without a College Degree
California Competes |
February 11, 2021
For the 6.8 million Californians ages 25–54 with a high school education but no associate’s or bachelor’s degree, employment prospects are increasingly limited—especially as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt plans for future education, employers’ expectations, available positions, and more.
California Competes Policy Priorities
February 03, 2021
Focused on strategies to innovate and correct pervasive inequities in higher education, California Competes’s policy priorities outline five key goals to advance student outcomes and power the state economy.
Side by Side: Comparing Credit for Prior Learning and Competency-Based Education
California Competes |
September 29, 2020
Credit for prior learning (CPL) and competency-based education (CBE) are two approaches that can significantly boost degree attainment while closing equity gaps. While each approach offers an alternative to traditional seat-time based classroom instruction, they are not interchangeable.
Credit for Prior Learning: Leveraging Past Learning to Close Present-Day Equity Gaps
California Competes |
August 11, 2020
This brief outlines how and why credit for prior learning (CPL) deserves a more prominent role among college and university programs offered for California adults. More uniform and widely implemented CPL policies throughout California’s public higher education segments could elevate the economic trajectories for hundreds of thousands of uncredentialed adults — while helping the state increase degree attainment and meet workforce demands.
Postsecondary to Prosperity: Examining California’s Opportunity Landscape
July 29, 2020
To inform decision making and help prioritize equity in the state’s approach to economic recovery, this report explores critical insights into educational outcomes, upward mobility in the workforce, and quality of life.