Kentucky Public Colleges, Universities Team Up to Recruit Former Students in Online Project Graduate College Fair

  • 09/23/14

Kentucky’s public colleges and universities are teaming up to offer a statewide, virtual college fair for former students and other adults who are close to completing their college degrees.

The Project Graduate College Fair is set Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 11a.m.-9 p.m. ET (10 a.m.-8 p.m. CT). The fair will connect prospective students to college advisors who can answer questions via text and video chat, and help get the adults on a path to finish their degree.

Students can log on to register at www.projectgraduate.org through the day of the fair.

Lt. Governor Jerry Abramson announced the college fair at a news conference held in the Capitol Rotunda.

“If Kentucky is to compete in a 21st-century economy, we must have a highly trained, skilled, educated workforce, and this initiative gets us closer to that goal,” Lt. Gov. Abramson says. “It really does take a community-wide effort, and I applaud CPE, KCTCS and the state’s four-year universities for their ongoing efforts to help make college more attainable for our citizens of all ages.”

Council Chair Pam Miller says, “We are excited that our campuses have joined together to host a convenient college fair for busy working adults who want to finish their degrees. Together, we are sending the message loud and clear: You can finish and we will help.”

The Council launched the nationally recognized program in 2007, in collaboration with the state’s public four-year universities. More than 1,500 students have earned their bachelor’s degrees through the program, and another 1,000 were in the pipeline last fall.

New this fall is the participation of the 16 colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).

“Project Graduate will provide KCTCS students the opportunity to re-establish their career goals and design a pathway to completing their degree,” says KCTCS President Michael B. McCall. “Because having a post-secondary credential is critical in today’s job market, this is the perfect time for students to re-enroll and finish their programs.”

To qualify for Project Graduate, students must have earned 80 or more credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree or 30 or more toward an associate degree.

The four-year institutions will waive application fees for qualifying students who both attend the fair and register for classes in the spring 2015 term. KCTCS does not charge application fees.

All public colleges and universities are participating, including:

  • Eastern Kentucky University
  • Kentucky State University
  • Morehead State University
  • Murray State University
  • Northern Kentucky University
  • University of Kentucky
  • University of Louisville
  • Western Kentucky University
  • 16 colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System

Other speakers included Rep. Derrick Graham, chair of the House Education Committee, Lisa Cox, Eastern Kentucky University’s director for student outreach and transition, and George Selden, a graduate of EKU.

Project Graduate is the recipient of the 2012 Noel-Levitz Retention Award for Excellence and is a key strategy in the state’s college completion agenda. The primary components include one statewide brand, campus advocates, and high-touch services and incentives, which vary by institution.

For more information, visit www.projectgraduate.org.

Featured

  • Texas District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Splendora Independent School District (SISD) in Splendora, Texas, recently broke ground on a replacement facility for Greenleaf Elementary School, according to a news release. The district partnered with planning, engineering and program management firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) for the project.

  • All Surfaces Hires New Commercial Business Development Specification Manager

    Flooring solutions provider All Surfaces recently announced that it has hired industry veteran Mechelle Bliss as its new Commercial Business Development Specification Manager, according to a news release. In her new role, she’ll be responsible for expanding the organization’s hold in various commercial markets, as well as strengthening relationships with existing clients.

  • MiEN Releases White Paper on Community College Space Innovation

    MiEN Company recently released a new white paper called “Designing New Innovative Spaces for Community Colleges” to address the needs of community colleges post-pandemic, according to a news release. The eight-page guide by Dr. Christina Counts, MiEN Company VP of Education and Marketing, covers topics like the enrollment drop that these schools have seen since COVID-19, the roles they play in higher education and local workforces, and five suggested key changes that can improve students’ experiences.

  • Boosting Student Wellness and Safety Through Indoor-Outdoor School Spaces

    Engaging students through facilities designed for indoor and outdoor learning and activities reflects a growing awareness of how children learn and thrive, with educators recognizing the importance of getting outside and disconnecting from technology. And, as today’s youth grapple with the urgent mental health crisis of increased anxiety and loneliness fueled by both the pandemic and technology, along with a related crisis in youth physical health, the wellness benefits of getting outside have never been so palpable.