Press Release: ARRC-Led Collaborative Receives Award to Advance Postsecondary Education for Rural Communities

New Approach to Building Career-Connected Credential Pathways in Rural America Through Joint Initiative Between ARRC, HCM Strategists, and SHEEO  

Boone, NC - The Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges (ARRC) has been awarded a $7,245,600 grant from Ascendium Education Group to establish a Rural Talent Development and Attraction Lab (“Rural Talent Lab”) in five states over a four-year period.

In collaboration with the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) and HCM Strategists, ARRC’s multi-university team will partner with five state higher education executive agencies to develop and adopt a Statewide Plan for Rural Talent Development and Attraction. Plans will include the implementation of at least four middle-skill credential pathways (i.e. associate’s degrees and sub-baccalaureate certificates) targeted to their respective state’s rural workforce. 

The development of these pathways will be informed by deep engagement and learning with rural communities and stakeholders, intensive expert advising, and in-person professional development for state teams, with the goal of creating opportunities that are transparent, accessible, connected to local employment, and as close-to-free as possible for rural learners. 

A unique feature of the Rural Talent Lab is that the pathways will be developed in partnership with, and with input from, the rural communities who stand to benefit. The project includes community listening tours that will bring state teams and the project team to multiple rural communities in each state for detailed conversations and knowledge-sharing, as well as public-opinion surveys of each state’s rural residents to ensure representation beyond the listening tour. 

“By involving rural stakeholders substantively in the pathway-design process, the Rural Talent Lab will create opportunities tailored to local economic needs, while also marshalling the local support needed for long-term success. Our on-the-ground approach will lead to opportunities that allow rural people to learn, work, and live in the places they love,” said Andrew Koricich, the project’s principal investigator and ARRC’s executive director.

The Rural Talent Lab aims to open these affordable, job-connected pathways to learners in Fall 2027 and conduct evaluative activities that will inform the states’ ongoing rural pathway expansion, while ultimately establishing a new model for rural talent development and attraction.

According to Rob Anderson, President of SHEEO, “The Rural Talent Lab presents an unique opportunity for states to equip students and grow their economy by creating deliberate pathways between programs of study and workforce needs. This type of innovative investment will ensure that these communities develop needed talent and infrastructure to thrive for years to come.”

Kristin Hultquist of HCM Strategists said, “We are excited to join ARRC and SHEEO in launching the Rural Talent Development and Attraction Lab. With rural ingenuity and state support, we envision rural learners accessing career-connected, radically-affordable, middle-skill pathways, and every state gaining a clearer, actionable roadmap to turn this vision into reality. Central to our work together will be an unwavering commitment to demonstrating value for and building trust in rural communities.”

Kirstin Yeado of Ascendium added, “The Rural Talent Lab's commitment to designing affordable, employer-aligned credentialing programs will ensure rural learners have a clear pathway to upward mobility. Ascendium looks forward to learning with and from the participating states, and exploring how this approach can be a model for other states committed to prioritizing rural talent development.”

In addition to Koricich, the ARRC team will also include co-directors Alisa Fryar (University of Oklahoma), Kevin McClure (University of North Carolina Wilmington), and Vanessa Sansone (University of Texas at San Antonio), as well as research fellows Ty McNamee (University of Mississippi) and Allyson Shortle (University of Oklahoma). 

Project updates will be available at ARRC’s website (regionalcolleges.org), LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrcresearch), and Bluesky accounts (@arrc.bsky.social and @ruraltalentlab.bsky.social). Media inquiries can be directed to Andrew Koricich (koricichma@appstate.edu).

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The Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges is a research collaborative and resource hub with the mission of increasing appreciation for and understanding of regional colleges and their contributions to opportunity and community wellbeing. As a center based at Appalachian State University, the multi-year initiative aims to build research infrastructure, produce data-driven analysis, and disseminate accessible knowledge for a range of audiences.

Ascendium Education Group® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization driven by the belief that learning after high school gives people the power to build better futures. Our national philanthropy focuses on increasing opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve upward mobility through postsecondary education and workforce training. We partner with organizations whose objectives align with our core strategies to expand opportunity, support learner success, and connect and align systems. Our grantees include postsecondary education and workforce training providers, intermediaries, researchers, and media organizations from across the U.S. To learn more, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org.

To download the official press release click here.