Reach University President, Joe E. Ross, and Chief Growth Officer and founding director of Reach's National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree (NCAD), Dr. Eric Dunker, joined Visionary Voices' host, Dr. Bryan Gross, to share how Apprenticeship Degrees are putting innovation to work within the boundaries of traditional, accredited higher education.
Together, they explore Reach University's approach to integrating apprenticeships with stackable liberal arts degrees to support working adult learners in earning a debt-free degree on-the-job and within their home communities.
In this episode, President Ross and Dr. Dunker share how Reach collaborates with employers to upskill frontline workers without a degree, and why this model is primarily focused on underserved communities in rural and low-income regions. The episode also highlights the key tenets of a successful Apprenticeship Degree and provides advice for peer college leaders ready to implement this job-embedded degree model at institutions of higher learning.
Key Takeaways:
- Apprenticeship Degree Model: Reach University’s apprenticeship degree starts with the employer, turning the workplace into a campus and emphasizing skills alongside traditional degree credentials.
- Accessibility and Affordability: Through workplace-based learning, students avoid student loan debt, paying approximately $75/month after aid, grants, and scholarships, making higher education attainable for all working adult learner populations.
- Unique Enrollment Strategy: The B2B2C model at Reach University dramatically reduces enrollment costs, averaging $700 per student by leveraging employer partnerships rather than direct-to-student marketing.
- Impact on Communities: Apprenticeship Degrees help fill talent gaps in critical sectors, especially in rural areas, by empowering local, place-bound talent through higher education.
Bonus: President Ross also shares which song best represents Reach's mission. You don't want to miss it!
Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcast episodes: https://www.enrollify.org/episodes/episode-12-transforming-higher-ed-reach-universitys-game-changing-apprenticeship-model
