A new definition of college success at Wallace State Community College: op-ed

On the heels of graduation season here in Alabama, and reflecting on more than 20 years after assuming the presidency of Wallace State Community College, I am more certain than ever about what it takes for a college degree to have real meaning and value for our students and our communities.

I can’t help thinking about what graduation looked like a few years ago. During COVID, like other schools, Wallace State couldn’t gather for traditional commencement, so the only viable alternative was a drive-through ceremony. I remember presenting a diploma to a young mother riding in the back of an SUV, with a toddler in her lap and another one next to her. One of the kids had Cheetos all over their face! She was celebrating her nursing degree with her family in tow.

Fresh off being honored as a “Rising Star” college by the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, I’m reflecting with pride on our record of success for students across our region. I see that pride in our faculty and staff, and most importantly, in the faces of that mother and her kids in the car as she graduated from college and took another step toward a bright future for her family.

Students like that mom, and like I was, are why we must keep reaching for excellence. And for those of us who hold the keys to college student success in our state—fellow college leaders, state legislators who make opportunity possible for our talented young people, and the trustees who oversee community colleges—I have some thoughts on how we can position our community colleges so that more students complete a degree that leads immediately to a good-paying job or to transfer to a bachelor’s program that connects to a good-paying job.

At Wallace State, we used to see success as increasing enrollment. Of course, enrollment is critical—both for paying the bills and for ensuring a vibrant college community that every student rightfully wants and expects. We met this goal years ago and we remain fully enrolled today. Check!

Then, we updated the definition of success, realizing that enrollment is not enough. Students need to complete college and do so in a timely fashion, not over 10 years.

No student has the time to waste when they need a jump start on a good job. In 2010, we graduated 20 per cent of our students. Today, we’re over 50 percent. A lot had to happen to more than double our graduation rate, and we are proud of that work!

But, I have come to see that even graduation isn’t enough if our students can’t earn a living wage with their credentials. Our focus today, our pact with students across Alabama, is ensuring students graduate in high-value programs prepared for the workforce. They must have the skills that employers need and be ready to go the day after celebrating their college achievements. We are accountable for helping to lift our students out of poverty through economic opportunity and mobility.

Here’s how we do that:

First, implementing research-informed reforms shown to improve student outcomes, leading to student success and solid preparation for the workforce. One idea that has worked beautifully at Wallace State: a “success course” where students create an individualized plan for completing their program, specifically tailored to their career interests. We can help students achieve their dreams, and for some, we help them learn that they can dare to dream. And we help them create the map to get to those dreams.

Second, culture matters. A thriving culture cares for students, especially when students struggle for money and juggle work with school and family. It’s a lot! Non-academic services matter so that learning can actually take place, positioning students for post-graduation success. At Wallace State, we have emergency monetary support for essential needs like transportation, free mental health counseling, and a mother’s lounge. These family-friendly offerings make it easier for students to learn.

Third, academic programs must be aligned with local labor market needs. Whether in advanced manufacturing, automotive or health care, we take our cue from local employers, welcoming their input on courses and inviting them into the classroom. This means that course content evolves because technology evolves, and research leads to new practices in the workplace.

When that mom received her degree from the back of her SUV, she was going out into the world in a way that she never imagined. She will forever be a mom, but she’s now a skilled nurse, too, earning a good living for her children, contributing to the well-being of her community, and helping to fuel the local economy.

That’s what college can be, and 22 years later, I have learned that excellence starts with enrollment, leads to completion, and ultimately to success in the workplace. That’s the handshake deal we educators and those who support us must make with our talented people here in Alabama.