Meeting Workforce Needs

College Now advises adult learners.

BY ALEX EMERSON

Postsecondary education is not only for students who just graduated high school. In addition to providing career exploration and scholarship opportunities to recent high school graduates, College Now Greater Cleveland is also focused on assisting adults — ages 19 and older — to find educational pathways to meet their career goals and help them find a way to pay for it. College Now works with adult learners who either have some college and no degree, or those who are exploring postsecondary educational options for the first time.

In today’s economy, higher education is increasingly important for those seeking jobs that pay a living wage. Education and training beyond a high school diploma matters today more than ever, preparing individuals to contribute to their communities, allowing them to lead healthier and more productive lives and strengthening the economy. Studies estimate that a person with a college degree earns $19,000 more annually than a person with some college but no degree. Over a lifetime, there is more than a $300,000 difference in net earnings for these two groups. Throughout the region, there is a growing divide between jobs in Northeast Ohio that require degrees and workers who have them.

As post-secondary education is becoming an increasingly necessary step to earn a living wage in Northeast Ohio, it can be a difficult process for adults to consider. College Now plays the role of a college and career advisor, so whether it’s an unfinished college degree, financial aid or helping people figure out what their career goals are, the organization helps with these challenges.

In the city of Cleveland alone, approximately 60,000 residents have begun some form of postsecondary education but were unable to complete it for varying reasons. “One of the things we do is help untangle the mess of previous enrollment,” says College Now’s Bob Durham, who leads the organization’s adult program. “When you have outstanding fees from a college you were previously enrolled in, you can’t finish your degree at any other school; so we help to get people out of that situation.”

“We’re partnering with Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State University on the Cuyahoga County Debt Forgiveness Program, helping former students of Ohio public institutions clear their balances, so that they can receive their transcripts and re-enroll at CSU or Tri-C.”

If it’s the college tuition that is a barrier to entry, College Now also has resources to help adult learners obtain scholarships and create a financial aid plan.

The organization also offers the College Now Adult Learner Scholarship, specifically for adults who have graduated high school or earned their GED, interrupted their education for at least one year and also qualify for the federal Pell Grant.

After the organization helps connect students to colleges and assists them in finding a career path that fits their goals, College Now also has resources to connect students with people who are willing to help them throughout their postsecondary educational journey. This includes a mentorship program, in which

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“There are a lot of jobs here that need people right now,” Durham says, “like health care, manufacturing companies — there’s IT and cyber security. We have a mentorship program and we’re always accepting new people from different fields to serve as mentors. The adult learners can talk with these [professionals] and ask them questions about school and career.”

College Now offers these resources free of charge. If an adult student thinking about going back to school, or a student fresh out of high school seeks guidance for higher education, they can set up an online or in-person consultation.

Adult learners can schedule an appointment with College Now online at collegenowgc.org or call 216-241-5587.