5Q: Dennis Littky

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

1College Unbound was approved as a college able to award a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and change. How will this benefit working adults?

This degree will allow working adults to move up in their organization or move to another organization in a higher position. Students with this degree are set up for success in diverse business units, sectors and industries. The degree is broad enough to encompass jobs in business, management and community and social services and focused enough to be recognizable by employers.

2You’ve said as many as 110,000 Rhode Islanders have some college coursework completed but have not graduated. Starting with about 100 students taking the degree each year, beginning in 2016, how do you plan to accommodate apparent demand?

We will go from 100 to 500 students in five years. In years six through 10, we will grow exponentially to try to meet the needs of all the adults. The sectors in which growth happens will help determine the direction and numbers in the college program. We are able to go into businesses and other organizations and conduct college classes at their sites.

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3How do life and work experience get factored in for this degree?

College Unbound students will submit portfolios describing life and work experience to the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and be assessed for possible college credit. Also, life and work experience are used as assets in student coursework and project work.

4What percentage of your students historically has been working adults and how do you anticipate your new degree will impact Rhode Island’s workforce?

About 77 percent of our students have been employed full time, 9 percent part time, 10 percent in internships, and 4 percent unemployed. We develop and retain talent for Rhode Island. Seventy percent of all students enrolled have reported that they worked on a project … directly related to their employment.

5What is your track record as a program in job placement?

We are carefully tracking graduates and will have an office of job placement to support our graduates. Eighty-seven percent of alumni are employed full time and 13 percent have been accepted in graduate school. … Employers report that our students become better employees, demonstrating leadership, greater engagement and growth in lifelong learner competencies. •

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