Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges

The ARRC team will also include @alisahicklinfryar.bsky.social, @drkevinrmcclure.com, @vsansone.bsky.social, @tycmcnamee.bsky.social, & @shortle.bsky.social. Be sure to follow this account and @ruraltalentlab.bsky.social to get project updates!

We hope that @ruraltalentlab.bsky.social will result in a model for statewide rural talent development and attraction that can be adapted to other program areas & state contexts. Our team is grateful for #AscendiumEP’s generous support of this work and their ongoing investment in rural communities.

These pathways will be created in partnership with rural stakeholders and targeted to specific rural workforce needs, offering opportunities that are transparent, accessible, low-risk, and as close-to-free as possible, to learners beginning in Fall 2027.

The @ruraltalentlab.bsky.social will identify 5 state higher ed agencies ready to lead in rural talent development & attraction. Informed by community listening tours, public-opinion research, & expert advising, state teams will implement affordable, middle-skill credential pathways.

Announcing the Rural Talent Lab: A $7.25 million grant project led the the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges

We are excited to share that ARRC has secured a $7.25 million grant from Ascendium Education Group to launch the Rural Talent Development & Attraction Lab over the next 4 years under the leadership of @drandrewk.bsky.social & in collaboration w/ @sheeoed.bsky.social.bsky.social and HCM Strategists.

ARRC | Project - Addressing Educational Access and Attainment Through Colorado's Rural-Serving Institutions The Colorado Paradox refers to how Colorado is one of the most highly educated states, yet those born and raised in Colorado, overall, have low educational attainment. An expanded Colorado Paradox inc...

We have a new brief exploring rural-serving institutions in Colorado. The paper looks the "Colorado Paradox"--that CO is one of the most educated states yet people born and raised there have low educational attainment. And how RSIs are key to addressing gaps. www.regionalcolleges.org/project/addr...

What Counts as a Rural College? Watch The Chronicle’s latest video, which sheds light on the challenges faced by first-gen students, in their own words. This video is part of a yearlong Chronicle visual series that highlights the pr...

The Chronicle of Higher Education produced a short video, "What Counts as a Rural College?" based on research from our project on rural-serving institutions.
www.chronicle.com/featured/stu...

ARRC | Project - Identifying and Defining Regional Public Universities Despite their crucial role in expanding educational opportunity across P-20 education and supporting regional wellbeing, there is no official list of RPUs. In large part due to an absence of a list of...

Are you looking for a research-based list of regional public universities? We've got you covered. @ceciliaorphan.bsky.social and colleagues used cluster analysis to identify, define, and examine the entire RPU sector and its students. Learn more: www.regionalcolleges.org/project/iden...

ARRC | Project - Identifying and Defining Regional Public Universities Despite their crucial role in expanding educational opportunity across P-20 education and supporting regional wellbeing, there is no official list of RPUs. In large part due to an absence of a list of...

Did You Know? There are 474 Regional Public Universities that enroll 3.8 million full-time equivalent students and 5.1 million students (inclusive of part-time students). Learn more about these important institutions and the students they serve. www.regionalcolleges.org/project/iden...