South Central College has been selected to participate in the Rural Community College Adult Learner Engagement initiative, a new project supported by Lumina Foundation, CollegeAPP, and StrategyForward Advisors. The project focuses on helping rural colleges better reach, engage and enroll adult learners.
The two-year initiative aims to develop and test innovative strategies to support the more than 43 million U.S. adults between the ages of 25 and 64 who have attended college but left without earning a degree or credential.
South Central College is one of six rural institutions from across the country selected to participate. Other institutions include Chattahoochee Valley Community College (Alabama), Bridge Valley Community & Technical College (West Virginia), Columbia Gorge Community College (Oregon), Manhattan Area Technical College (Kansas) and Athens Technical College (Georgia).
“We are excited to be part of a national effort to connect adults with educational opportunities that match their goals and lives today,” said Ritu Raju, president of South Central College. “This initiative will help enhance our understanding of the unique needs of adult learners in our region and design outreach efforts that meet them where they are.”
As part of the project, South Central College will:
- Analyze data to identify and understand adult learners in our service area
- Implement messaging and marketing strategies tailored to adult prospects
- Refresh brand strategies and student engagement tools
- Design sustainability plans that support long-term enrollment growth
- Share learning with peer institutions and the broader higher education field
The initiative builds on Lumina’s earlier efforts—Intent Matters and The Million Dollar Community College Challenge—to help colleges become more student-ready and community-connected. CollegeAPP will provide data insights to identify local adult learners, and StrategyForward Advisors will guide brand strategy development.
“In many rural communities, community colleges are still the best-kept secret for achieving economic progress,” said Mary Laphen Pope, strategy officer at Lumina. “We’re grateful to partner with StrategyForward and CollegeAPP to equip colleges to better connect with potential adult students.”
South Central College is a comprehensive community and technical college that is part of the Minnesota State system with campuses in Faribault and North Mankato. As of the 2023-24 academic year, 40.6% of the college’s 4,449 students were age 25 or older. The college also serves adult learners through its customized workforce education division, which provides short-term industry-relevant training for professionals and organizations.
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