Minnesota’s working adults who have earned some college credits are being urged to re-enroll and complete their two- or four-year degrees at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to boost their job prospects and help meet the state’s workforce needs. The message is part of a new statewide outreach initiative called “Graduate Minnesota – Complete your degree. Anytime. Anywhere.” The initiative is designed to connect former students with advisers who can help them find the best and fastest route to complete their associate or bachelor’s degree. “We must leverage the talents of the state’s 800,000 or so adults who have completed some college but have no degree,” said Steven Rosenstone, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. “Many former students have earned a significant number of credits and may be closer than they think to earning a degree. Our colleges and universities can help them complete their degrees, compete for better jobs and deliver to Minnesota’s employers the educated workers and professionals needed for our state to remain competitive.” Each of the 31 state colleges and universities has at least one designated adviser to assist students in figuring out how to resume their studies and explore financial aid options. Returning students might be especially interested in taking online courses, enrolling in accelerated programs with flexible start dates and receiving course credits for work experience. To connect with an adviser, interested individuals can call a toll-free number, 1-800-366-7380, seven days a week or visit graduateminnesota.org. Currently, only 40 percent of working-age adults in Minnesota have a postsecondary degree, such as an associate or bachelor’s degree. A recent study by Georgetown University researchers predicted that 70 percent of the jobs in Minnesota will require education beyond high school by 2018. And projections show that the economic recovery will depend largely on new jobs that require higher levels of skills than many workers currently have.
Oct 31, 2011
'Graduate Minnesota'
Minnesota’s working adults who have earned some college credits are being urged to re-enroll and complete their two- or four-year degrees at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to boost their job prospects and help meet the state’s workforce needs. The message is part of a new statewide outreach initiative called “Graduate Minnesota – Complete your degree. Anytime. Anywhere.” The initiative is designed to connect former students with advisers who can help them find the best and fastest route to complete their associate or bachelor’s degree. “We must leverage the talents of the state’s 800,000 or so adults who have completed some college but have no degree,” said Steven Rosenstone, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. “Many former students have earned a significant number of credits and may be closer than they think to earning a degree. Our colleges and universities can help them complete their degrees, compete for better jobs and deliver to Minnesota’s employers the educated workers and professionals needed for our state to remain competitive.” Each of the 31 state colleges and universities has at least one designated adviser to assist students in figuring out how to resume their studies and explore financial aid options. Returning students might be especially interested in taking online courses, enrolling in accelerated programs with flexible start dates and receiving course credits for work experience. To connect with an adviser, interested individuals can call a toll-free number, 1-800-366-7380, seven days a week or visit graduateminnesota.org. Currently, only 40 percent of working-age adults in Minnesota have a postsecondary degree, such as an associate or bachelor’s degree. A recent study by Georgetown University researchers predicted that 70 percent of the jobs in Minnesota will require education beyond high school by 2018. And projections show that the economic recovery will depend largely on new jobs that require higher levels of skills than many workers currently have.