WGU Labs

We're thrilled to announce the launch of Solutions Lab, our testing ground for educational innovations! Through small-scale, exploratory pilots with segments of Western Governors University's student population, we'll explore: 👬 Belonging interventions 🤖 AI-assisted learning platforms 🎭 Attitudes around AI 🛣 The student journey “Solutions Lab is an innovative initiative with real potential to improve student outcomes,” said Dr. Courtney Hills McBeth, Chief Academic Officer and Provost at WGU. “With access to a large data set, the research team at WGU Labs is uniquely positioned to quickly scale solutions across WGU.” Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gCDuKtEe

One year after the restoration of Pell Grants to individuals who are incarcerated, how are college programs in prisons performing? That’s the question the Vera Institute of Justice poses in its latest report on the state of higher ed in prisons. While many programs are meeting important quality benchmarks, like employing qualified professors, they’re failing to meet others, such as access to academic advising — a requirement under new federal regulations. Additionally, these programs simply aren’t reaching enough of the incarcerated population. The report also notes areas of progress, such as improved ease of credit transfer and opportunities for learners who are incarcerated to interact with professors in person, as opposed to only remotely. We at WGU Labs look forward to making progress on improving postsecondary education access to learners who are incarcerated through our ongoing work with Nucleos. Read more about the report’s findings via Inside Higher Ed https://lnkd.in/eijuZwWd

Learn about the personalized student coaching program we developed with Western Governors University, why celebrating history can undermine belonging, insights around education finance and policy, how administrators are grappling with rapid technological change, and the scalable mentorship solutions having a moment in this month’s round-up:

Understanding how AI can exacerbate racial disparities in education is critical to mitigating bias and discrimination while fully realizing the technology’s promise. This blog from the Stanford Center for Racial Justice provides a great overview of AI’s benefits, risks, ethical concerns, and regulatory considerations. “Ultimately, the rapid advancement of AI technology commands an urgent need for the U.S. education system to realize the vast potential of AI to address seemingly intractable racial disparities in education — which has serious implications for our future economy. Likewise, the usage of AI in education cannot ignore its tendency to perpetuate bias and discrimination. AI remains a very complex, nuanced, and interconnected issue that leaders in and outside of education should prioritize deeper learning and engagement with,” the article’s authors conclude. https://lnkd.in/g4_RX-iY

Contrary to how many of us talk about workforce development, “in-demand” work doesn’t equate with “high quality.” Often, in-demand jobs require grueling work in potentially dangerous conditions for low pay, scant benefits, and few opportunities for advancement. While the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) has put many individuals through job training, a comprehensive study has found that their short-term wages only increased 6%, and their relative wages didn’t increase at all in the long term. “The law’s defenders claim that WIOA-style training programs really do steer graduates into good jobs,” writes New America Vice President of Education and Work Kevin Carey for The Atlantic. “They point to seemingly successful programs that train ‘certified nursing aides’ in as little as six weeks. Certified nursing aide does sound like the entry point to a solid middle-class healthcare profession. It’s not. Only 6% of low-income people who went through a federally funded CNA training program from 2015 to 2021 advanced up the nursing career ladder, according to an Urban Institute study. Many earn near-poverty wages.” Carey argues that workforce training programs fail because they’re designed for employers, not potential employees. But some state models are finding success by requiring programs to prepare workers for jobs with living wages, benefits, and the opportunity for career advancement. https://lnkd.in/eDjJqzJm

Abby Miller, founding partner at ASA Research, LLC, has been researching higher education and workforce development — and calling for clearer connections between the two — for over 20 years. While we’ve made some progress, Miller shares four strategies for making college coursework even more relevant for The Hechinger Report: 1️⃣ Spell out the connections for students 2️⃣ Raise awareness of realistic careers 3️⃣ Make coursework-career connections a campuswide priority 4️⃣ Help students translate their coursework for the job market https://lnkd.in/gY_TRMg5 Looking for a more in-depth analysis? We cover many similar challenges and opportunities in our paper on improving pathways between learning and earning: https://lnkd.in/dG7QXJB6 

🥁 Drum roll, please… We’re thrilled to introduce our latest Accelerator client. Daivergent is the first fully remote, Medicaid-approved job coaching platform for individuals living with physical or cognitive disabilities. Daivergent is poised to significantly impact the 27% of the adult population with disabilities by providing a more direct path to upskilling and higher-quality employment. By tapping into the $7 billion budgeted for Medicaid and vocational rehabilitation agencies for employment readiness, Daivergent enables more individuals with disabilities to access these opportunities regardless of their financial circumstances. Our investment underscores the importance of inclusive education and employment and highlights the economic benefits of fully utilizing the skills and talents of all Americans. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gGpp-Qjb

We're excited to mark 100 days until the inaugural Human Potential Summit! This is a new summit for a new future of work! The gathering will bring together employers, investors, innovators, and education providers to catalyze a movement within the work and learning ecosystem that centers on the individual and unlocks potential through skills and strengths. The summit, set for October 14-16, 2024 in Denver, is organized by Human Potential Capital. We are a founding sponsor alongside Common Group. A growing list of organizations, including WGU Labs, GitLab Foundation, and Samvid Ventures, have signed on as co-sponsors. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eVPQEc2x

Since its release, ChatGPT has sparked excitement and skepticism in the higher education world. “Woefully absent from the debate is how we should be thinking about AI and relationships — and making sure that the rise of AI doesn’t spell the demise of social capital,” writes Julia Freeland Fisher, director of education research at the Clayton Christensen Institute, for Work Shift. “As researchers like Daniel Cox have warned, young people growing up amidst AI may be more tempted than ever to turn to technology not merely for entertainment or distraction, but for a deep — yet simulated — sense of connection.” So how can we safeguard against this dystopian future? Fisher calls for both prioritizing and measuring relationships, which are often excluded from success metrics in education. “The process of learning about relationships, deciding which connections should be cultivated, and establishing a shared mental model across students and staff is a worthy exercise for anyone trying to help young people thrive. But that common understanding will be more critical than ever as AI sweeps through our lives.” #artificialintelligence #AI #belonging https://lnkd.in/gw7KvQFU

Great episode of Modern Campus’ Illumination podcast featuring Western Governors University’s Chief Academic Officer and Provost Dr. Courtney Hills McBeth on higher ed’s role in delivering targeted education that equips individuals with the necessary skills to succeed in today’s workforce!