Alternative Postsecondary Education Pathways

I've developed a strong advocacy for two-year degrees, and here's why: They are not just alternative educational paths but direct routes to employment and upward economic mobility. Two-year degrees offer clear, expedient pathways into the labor market. We don't always have the luxury of waiting 4-6 years for graduates. Take nursing, for example. An RN degree can be obtained in just two years from a community college, a timely solution to our current healthcare staffing crisis. And it's not just nursing. Fields like IT, cybersecurity, and skilled trades thrive through two-year programs. These degrees provide practical, hands-on experience, equipping students for immediate entry into high-demand jobs. At Arkansas Tech University, my alum mater, the Ozark campus, supports two-year degrees, offering a seamless transition to our Russellville campus for those who wish to pursue a four-year degree later. This system allows for educational and career progression without excessive debt or unnecessary delay. The traditional four-year degree path is just one option among many. In a world where economic and workforce needs are rapidly evolving, two-year degrees are not just viable; they're essential. Can two-year degrees reshape our approach to higher education and workforce needs?

Every week I literally receive hundreds of messages about the Bring Back the Trades, Inc movement. Many are simply requests on how to get started in the trades. Along with those requests come some really disturbing stories about the lack of information or outright misinformation many people are getting. I thought it would be beneficial to do a little "myth-busting" and set the record straight on a few things I've noticed along this journey. "A graduate from a trade school is now a journeyman in their trade and can expect top pay" False. While this is industry specific, as a rule, trade school gives a good primer to candidates who attend but most trades (plumber and electrician are good examples) will require 4-5 years of practical work to achieve the journeyman (or top pay) at their discipline. "You must attend trade school in order to apply for an apprenticeship program" False. Apprenticeship programs usually have few, if any, prerequisites. While they will differ by trade and location, most are awarded based on a combination of two scores, a written exam intended to gauge basic skills such as reading comprehension as well as basic math and a face to face interview. While attending trade school or working in the trades already show excellent initiative to the interview committee, it is not a requirement. "A four year degree is always superior to an apprenticeship" False. A national study by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI), has found that on average, graduates of joint labor-management apprenticeship programs in the construction industry are able to achieve wage and benefits parity with other types of workers with four-year college degrees. When the cost of college and lack of earnings for that 4 years period are considered, the apprenticeship model actually adds back over 6 figures of income. "The trades are a good alternative for kids who aren't college material" False. The trades are just another career path, requiring a different source of education. Most times kids aren't performing in school because they aren't interested in the material but when presented with something that appeals to them, their passion for learning takes on a new dimension and they actually LEARN, as opposed to memorizing things for the purpose of standardized testing. Bring Back the Trades, Inc is a skilled trades advocacy group providing mentoring, information, career fair type "skilled trades exhibitions and scholarships to those wising to attend trade school. If you are interested in getting involved, please message me here or email at doug@bringbackthetrades.com #BringBackTheTrades #skilledtrades #apprenticeships #careeropportunities

College isn't irrelevant...but it's losing its relevance. There are so many alternate options out there that it may not even be the primary path to success that it once was anymore. Let me be clear - I'm not dismissing the relevance of college entirely because it still holds significance for many professions. But...only 62% of high school graduates attended college in 2022 - the lowest number in over two decades. Why? ➡ Well, rising wages in entry-level positions and alternate degrees have made college less appealing. Speaking from personal experience - despite being unemployed at the moment - my salary as an instructional designer with just a certificate is higher than what I earned as a teacher with multiple degrees and years of experience. Plus, the cost of college has skyrocketed and student loans have frankly become exploitative...leaving individuals with massive debts that often last well into their retirement years. ➡ The notion of "borrowing your way through life" is losing appeal, especially among younger generations struggling to make ends meet. Moreover, let's be honest—a college degree doesn't always translate to job readiness or practical skills. Many graduates find themselves ill-equipped for the real challenges of their careers with too much theory and not enough practice. Yes, having a degree on your resume is beneficial but its meaning has become diluted along with a questionable return on investment. The internet has opened up a world of possibilities, with free, reasonably priced, and asynchronous extension courses offering alternatives to formal education that more are taking advantage of every day. #college #relevance #educationevolution #careerpaths #professionalgrowth #instructionaldesigner #transitioningteachers #linkedin

A very thorough, well researched piece by Rick Wartzman. Few people have invested the effort to understand the evolution of the 'college for all' fixation. It has distorted the labor market in multiple ways-- barring people with relevant skills from many jobs due to degree requirements, encouraging people to incur massive amounts of debt through student loans, the debasing of degrees through the creation of degree programs that do not impart meaningful skills and are unrelated to the needs of employers. We need to set aside this mantra and replace it with a less catchy, but more relevant one-- "post-secondary for all." A high school diploma isn't going to be enough to get and keep a job that pays household-sustaining wages in the future. But, by creating a robust system of CTE programs (revealingly called 'non-credit' programs by community colleges), a far more extensive use of apprenticeships and other compensated, work-based learning programs, we can get more aspiring workers on pathways to prosperity. Our research Project on Managing the Future of Work Harvard Business School and The Project on Workforce at Harvard provides ample evidence of the efficacy of such approaches. #jobs #degrees #apprenticeship

Traditional college route or trade school? I was visiting my small hometown a few weeks ago and ran into an old friend, as we were talking the conversation turned to the local plumber who was trying to retire. I say 'trying' because he has been unsuccessful at finding someone to purchase his small business (even offering scholarships at the high school for schooling, none of which have ever been utilized) and feels an obligation to continue his services for the small community. As the baby boomer generation, which represents a significant portion of our workforce and tradespeople in small communities, continue to step back from their careers, they are leaving a gap that needs to be filled. In a culture that often emphasizes the traditional college route, it's important to remember other paths to career success and fulfillment. We talk about the benefits of learning a trade often in our house: Job Security-the world will always need skilled tradespeople and that demand is rising with the retirement of the above-mentioned baby boomers. Entrepreneurial Freedom-you have the opportunity to be your own boss, start your own business, decide your future. Community Impact-people rely on skilled tradespeople to build homes and maintain essential services (electricity, water) so I can only imagine the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes daily. Let's take a moment to celebrate those entering the workforce who are choosing to go the non-traditional route because they're securing the ability to fill demands that as a society, we will continue to need in the future. #careerdevelopment #tradespeople #skills #workforce #community

Imagine being a Senior within a school, and your post secondary decision is completely ignored on your school's #DecisionDay because you chose work, an apprenticeship, military, trade school, or a study abroad program as your immediate Next Step. It happens. In a crowd of celebration and well wishes, there are students whose decisions, or lack of one, are completely ignored. Why? Tradition. The same tradition that underfunds schools, refuses to reduce the student to counselor ratio, makes college extremely expensive and eliminated affirmative action in higher education. The same tradition that failed so many of us and our peers. College is a big and wonderful decision in May of your Senior year. And sometimes, it's a decision made at 21 or 24. Making Decision Day only about one decision, simply put, makes a self aware young person who knows they aren't ready feel less worthy. It makes a lost young person, easy to ignore. We miss an opportunity to empower. It also allows another tradition to continue, the tradition of not ensuring that every single student has a post secondary Next Step that they can be proud of. That we can be proud of too. I believe college is for everyone. I also know that there are a plethora of opportunities that are also for everyone. Every journey to a career path and fulfilling life is a person's own. Some young people need a little more time to build the skills, confidence, network, focus and readiness to take on more school. And that too, is a decision that we should understand, acknowledge and combine with an immediate plan that makes the attainment of all of those things possible. This year, let's start a new tradition of #DecisonDay as an opportunity to affirm the choices made and inform those still trying to figure it out. ##postsecondary #decisionday #nextsteps #newtraditions #yourlifeyourpath Newark Youth Career Pathways