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Alabama College Attainment Network

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 (Alabama CAN) 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.
On Thursday, March 25, 2021, Alabama CAN is hosting a conference focused on the transition from high school to and through postsecondary education. The theme of the conference is “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.

The Alabama College Attainment Network breaks down barriers to increase college readiness, access, and completion in Alabama, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color.

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.

The establishment of this network is expected to be phased in over several years, during which Alabama Possible expects to:

    • Organize an annual college access and success conference, providing opportunities to collaborate across institutions and organizations and offer professional development opportunities for educators;
    • Provide statewide leadership and advocacy for educational access and workforce development; and
    • Support and provide training and other assistance to existing local education and workforce networks and workforce development programs, while also establishing new programs and initiatives to support college access and completion.

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

      • 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.