www'GraduatePhiladelphia'org

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Hadass Sheffer, Executive Director, Graduate!
Philadelphia hsheffer_at_graduatephiladelphia.org Nad
ine Maher, Dean of Enrollment Management, Peirce
College nmmaher_at_peirce.edu Josh Sevin, Manager,
Knowledge Industry Initiatives, Commerce
Department, City of Philadelphia
josh.sevin_at_phila.gov
www.GraduatePhiladelphia.org
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OUR MISSION

• The first community initiative in the country
  dedicated to increasing the number of adults with
  college degrees in the region by helping adults
  to finish a college degree that they started but
  didnt complete.

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80,000 COMEBACKERS
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THEORY OF ACTION

• One Degree of Separation Goal
• Tipping point and multiplier effect
• Build for the future
• Meet adults where they are
• Collaboration

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COLLABORATION
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THE GRADUATE! APPROACH A GROW-YOUR-OWN STRATEGY

• Build awareness
• Higher education is a long-term investment
  strategy, not a commodity.
• Investing in working adults is an effective,
  efficient way to upgrade the workforce, and is
  the right thing to do.

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AWARENESS
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The number one determinant of whether or not a
business will locate in a particular city is the
existence of a skilled, educated
workforce Philadelphia must double the
percentage of city residents with a college
degree. --- Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter
Inaugural Address January 08
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THE GRADUATE! APPROACH A GROW-YOUR-OWN STRATEGY

• Build awareness
• Make it easier to come back
• high touch, high tech
• G!P College Access Center
• www.GraduatePhiladelphia.org
• Neighborhood and employer-based outreach

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PRACTICE
5000 unique online visitors (40 return)2000 at
college fairs, presentations 700 Comebackers sign
on w/G!P 400 received individual advising 75
re-enrolled in college 1 new graduate
(BA) MyDegreeNow _at_ CCP 2 national
awards PartnershipsMapping CMS 1.0
Mapping provided by Temple U. MPIP
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THE GRADUATE! APPROACH A GROW-YOUR-OWN STRATEGY

• Build awareness
• Make it easier to come back high touch, high
  tech
• Improve policy and practices
• Improve tuition benefits, increase available
• Align policies with needs
• More implementation of best practices

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Value Proposition

• Individuals
• Remove barriers to re-enrollment and completion
• Colleges
• Business development and G!P partnership
• Employers
• Turnkey solutions for recruiting and calculating
  tuition-benefits ROI
• Unions/Community-based organizations
• Benefits for members/clients. Networked
  continuum of services
• Government and policy leaders
• Strategic, concrete regional solutions aligned
  with vision

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DEFINING SUCCESS

• Numbers of Comebackers overcoming barriers and
  completing degrees
• Evolution and health of partnership
• Policies
• G!P growth and sustainability
• Word-of-mouth
• External champions

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Higher Ed Impact
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Peirce College Mission Statement
Founded in 1865, Peirce is a private, four-year,
specialized institution providing practical,
leading edge curricula to primarily working adult
learners.
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VALUE ADDED FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

• Increased Enrollments
• Retention and Completion Rates Go up
• The Center
• Buy In and Support from Businesses, Community and
  Political Entities
• Increased Visibility
• Shared Goals and Collaboration

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Final Thoughts

• Questions? Feedback?
• Can you help us test this concept within your own
  organization or region?
• Creative suggestions on how to continue to spread
  the word about Graduate! Philadelphia