In support of Alabama’s Success Plus goal of adding 500,000 individuals with valuable postsecondary credentials to the state’s workforce by 2025, Alabama Possible launched Alabama College Attainment Network (AlabamaCAN) in October 2020. The founding members of the network are Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Alabama Community College System, and Alabama State Department of Education with Alabama Possible providing the backbone support.
Thursday, March 25, 2021, AlabamaCAN hosted a conference focused on the transition from high school to and through postsecondary education. The theme of the conference was “Connecting Learning to Earning from K-12 to College and Beyond” with presentations spanning a variety of topics: Postsecondary Access, Postsecondary Success, Equity and Opportunity, and Workforce Development.
Alabama has come together as a state around the Success Plus initiative and its target of adding 500,000 highly-skilled workers by 2025; however, linkages between K-12 and postsecondary education opportunities remain fragmented. Alabama Possible is working with the National College Attainment Network to convene a statewide network focused on the transition from high school to and through postsecondary education.
By promoting educational pathways that result in valuable postsecondary credentials, our goal is to make the transition from high school to gainful and meaningful employment a reality for Alabama’s youth. As the convener of this statewide network, Alabama Possible aims to provide capacity building, technical assistance, consulting, workshops, training, conferences, advocacy, and research to educators, community-based organizations, and policymakers to drive equitable increases in postsecondary attainment.
Interested in learning more? The first step is to complete the landscape analysis. Then, fill out our Memoranda of Understanding to become a partner in the work. Here is a list of our current Partners. Partners can access meeting recordings here.
Check out our Alabama College Attainment Network Launch!
MISSION
To increase college and career readiness, access, and completion in Alabama, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color.
VALUES
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- College is postsecondary education. College is education after high school that results in the attainment of valuable postsecondary credentials, including professional/technical certificates and academic degrees.
- College is a necessity. Most career pathways require college credentials.
- College is for everyone. College attainment rates among low-income students and students of color are significantly lower than those of other students. The Alabama College Attainment Network commits to closing these gaps.
- College is a public good. Postsecondary educational opportunity and attainment are critical to a just and equitable society, strong economy, and healthy communities.
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Alabama College Attainment Network Steering Committee Members
Robin McGill, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Chair
Brandon Glover, Alabama Power Foundation, Co-Chair
Anthonia Adadevoh, Miles College
Briana Morton/Thomasyne Hill, College Admissions Made Possible
Cynthia Anthony, Lawson State Community College
Ashley Samuels, Birmingham Education Foundation
Kelly Savoie, Sallie Mae
Hallie Bradley, Alabama Power Foundation
Michael Malley, Ed Policy Center at the University of Alabama
Monica Mack, Alabama State Department of Education
Neil Scott, Alabama Community College System
Nick Moore, Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation
Ron Houston, Houston Resource Group
Ron Leonard, Alabama Commission on Higher Education
Samantha Briggs, GearUp Alabama
Sara Newell, United Way/Bold Goals
Sean Stevens, Alabama State Department of Education
Tim McCartney, Alabama Workforce Council
Willietta Connor, Alabama State Department of Education
Venus Hewing, CEOE, Auburn University
Victoria Perry, Bishop State Community College
Backbone Support
Chandra Scott, Alabama Possible
Manisha Mishra, Alabama Possible
Sandra Jackson, Alabama Possible
Consultant
MorraLee Keller, National College Attainment Network