The Case for Higher-Ed “Co-Op” Programs — The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal

Renewing the Social Contract for Higher Education

Higher education is at a crossroads. Most Americans recognize that our nation’s colleges and universities contribute enormously to the nation’s economy and the welfare of its people. For over a century, the sector has been an essential driver of innovation, discovery, job creation and economic mobility. There is unambiguous evidence linking postsecondary education to increased lifetime earnings, better health outcomes and ... The post Renewing t…

The UN has warned this week that global social progress is at a critical point, stressing that, despite progress in reducing extreme poverty over the past three decades, millions of people around the world continue to feel that the system does not respond to their needs. Inequality, economic insecurity and distrust in institutions have undermined social cohesion, which threatens to reverse decades of development, alerts the Organization in its g…

The Case for Higher-Ed “Co-Op” Programs — The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal

Like many students, I waited months after graduation before receiving a job offer. Why this delay for many of the nation’s recent graduates? The answer, in part, is that most “entry-level” positions now require candidates to have one to three years of experience. In fact, roughly 61 percent of entry-level job postings now demand at least three years. How is a fresh graduate supposed to gain experience without years-long internships, which many s…