Community College Growth Engine

projects

Leading the nation and their regions in creating micro-pathways with employers.

Overview

The Community College Growth Engine (CCGE), led by Dr. Lisa Larson, is a design accelerator that was set up just before the pandemic to help community colleges lean into a future role as regional talent agents in a skills-based economy.

Six of the nation’s largest community colleges and systems joined the first cohort, surpassing their goals by designing 30 micro-pathways in the first year (explore micro-pathways by sector).

Year 1 learnings are available in the first CCGEF Design Insights Brief (January 2022). Watch our Jan. 19, 2022, National Convening on YouTube.

What are micro-pathways? Co-designed with learners and employers, micro-pathways are defined as two or more stackable credentials, including a 21st century skill micro-credential, that are flexibly delivered to be achieved within less than a year and result in a job at or above the local median wage, and start (l)earners on the path to an associate degree.

Each system or college received a startup award through the CCGE, which is supported by over 15 foundations and investors.

The Challenge

The Community College Growth Engine was launched to meet the urgent demand from community college leadership for support to deliver skills-focused, market-driven education as regions struggle to mitigate the growing skills gap. The COVID-19 crisis, the massive unemployment and displacement that has resulted, and the historic inequities in our labor market have forced higher ed institutions to quickly adapt, clarify their value proposition, and create new revenue models. We must leverage the unique position of community colleges to advance regional cross-sector solutions to shorten the way between learners, degrees and an economic future of their choosing. Hosted by the Lab, the Community College Growth Engine is a catalytic investment in community colleges to demonstrate their position as drivers of innovation between education and employment.

The Goal

CCGE will invest in U.S. community colleges as they meet growing consumer and employer demand for short-term credentials. National cohorts of community colleges and systems, in partnership with employers and regional stakeholders, will create new earn-and-learn pathways to economic mobility. The CCGE will result in employer-validated micro-pathways designed to connect low-wage and entry-level workers to in-demand jobs that pay at-or-above median wage and put them on a path toward a degree. As important, CCGE will create a road map for scale to reach every learner and worker in the country and give them a path to economic dignity.

Funded By

We want to thank the Charles Koch Foundation, Walmart.org, and the Walton Family Foundation for their early investment as well as the Arizona Community Foundation, Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson Family Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, Autodesk, The Beacon Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Citizens, deLaski Family Foundation, Garcia Foundation, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation*, Robin Hood Foundation*, and the ZOMA Foundation.
*Invested directly in CUNY

Resources

Press + Media