WASHINGTON, D.C. – When it comes to increasing the number of graduates in the United States, college leaders would be wise to invest in re-engaging “near completers”—or those students who would have left college despite only being a few credits shy of a degree.
That was the heart of the message delivered Tuesday at the first National Summit on Near Completion conducted by the D.C.-based Institute for Higher Educational Policy, or IHEP.
Throughout the discussion, held at the National Press Club, speakers repeatedly referred to this subset of students as “low-hanging fruit.”
However, the keynote speaker challenged the 60 or so conference attendees to view the students as much more than just an easy way to help the nation increase the number of its college graduates.
“View them as life learners, not just another notch in the belt, or something to improve the graduation rate,” said Lee Fisher, President and CEO of the Chicago-based CEOs for Cities.
The ultimate goal, he said, should be to help students become part of the workforce so they can attain happiness, take care of their loved ones and bring about more prosperity in the nation and in the world.
Beyond the merits of re-engaging students who are just a few credits away from their degrees—or, in some cases, technically eligible for their degrees—institutional leaders raised important questions about the practicality and affordability of it all.
