Alternative Higher Education

Building the Next Generation of Educators Through Apprenticeship Pathways and Workforce-Aligned Training

Teacher shortages aren’t exactly a new headline—but lately, they’ve started to feel a lot more urgent. In some places, schools have gone years without enough fully trained teachers in the classroom, exposing real flaws in how we prepare and retain educators. Add in the rising cost of becoming a teacher and training models that haven’t…

The Degree That Pays You Back: How Employer-Sponsored Apprenticeships Are Rewriting Higher Ed

Higher education is under pressure. Over the past few years, public confidence in the value of a four-year degree has declined significantly, with fewer Americans expressing a strong belief that traditional higher education delivers a worthwhile return on investment. At the same time, employers consistently report that graduates lack job-ready skills—particularly the “durable skills”…

Workforce Alignment, and the New Blueprint for Career-Connected Learning Ecosystems

Workforce shortages, shifting federal and state policy, and rising skepticism about the return on investment of a traditional four-year degree have pushed career-connected learning to the forefront of education reform. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment is expected to increase by nearly 4.7 million jobs between 2022 and 2032, with…

Flood the Zone: University of Virginia’s New Strategy to Scale Experiential Learning for Every Student

Experiential learning is having a bit of a reckoning moment in higher ed. For years, the default answer was “get an internship” or “do a co-op”—as if every student can pause life, relocate for a summer, and take on a high-stakes role that’s supposed to define their future. But students’ realities have changed: many…

A One-Year College Alternative: How Pega6 Is Preparing to Train AI-First, Job-Ready Talent

The traditional four-year college model is facing growing pressure as rising tuition, shifting labor market demands, and new technological realities expose gaps between education and employment outcomes. Confidence in the traditional college pathway is eroding among parents, students, and employers as rising costs and persistent skills gaps collide with the reality that many new…

A DisruptED College Pathway with My Little Brother Reynard Robinson and Lifelong Mentor Dr. Caesar

As college undergoes a transformation, driven by technology, equity, and new definitions of success, DisruptED explores how the “college experience” is evolving and what that means for today’s students. With the traditional four-year path under growing scrutiny—only 41% of first-time, full-time undergraduates at four-year institutions actually earn their degrees within that time—a new model…

Creating a Lifelong Learner’s Pathway with Kermit Cook, CEO at Penn Foster (Episode 1)

Education is in a period of rapid reinvention as technology, economic pressures, and workforce needs redefine how people learn. College costs continue to climb, with average tuition at private nonprofit four-year institutions now exceeding $43,000 a year. Even public four-year colleges average over $11,000 annually for in-state students, and public two-year programs cost more…

How Colleges Can Reinvent Themselves to Win the Higher Ed Brand War

Higher education in the U.S. is facing a perfect storm: declining enrollments, rising skepticism about its value, and fierce competition for a shrinking pool of students. According to Gallup, confidence in higher ed has dropped sharply over the past decade—driven by concerns over cost, elitism, and relevance—though recent data shows a slight rebound tied…

Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Disrupting Outdated Education with Employer-Driven, Community-Powered, Practical Skills Training

Workforce training is undergoing a radical transformation as industries face critical talent shortages and rapid technological change. Building a future-ready workforce requires rethinking traditional higher education models. These models emphasize broad academic development over targeted skill-building and struggle to keep pace with employer demands. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report…

Rethinking the High School Transcript: ETS and MTC Chart a New Path for Student Success

A major testing organization's acquisition of an alternative transcript platform reflects growing momentum to move beyond traditional grades and standardized me

Preparing Students for the Real World: Why Career Education, Not College, May Be the Answer

Millions of young adults are neither working nor studying, signaling that traditional pathways may be failing students in today's job market

DisruptED in the D: Educational Outtakes with Jason Aubrey and Dr. Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich (Ep. 2)

As student debt hits $2 trillion, education leaders debate whether traditional degrees still deliver the skills and ROI today's economy demands

DisruptED in the D: Educational Outtakes with Jason Aubrey and Dr. Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich (Ep. 1)

Two education leaders examine how rising tuition and skills gaps are forcing institutions to rethink the traditional degree model

Apprenticeships are the Key Alternative in Redefining Education Geared Towards a Successful Career

Hands-on training programs offer a practical route to employment when four-year degrees fail to deliver promised career outcomes

Debt and Inflation is Disrupting Higher Education, Shifting the Tide in Confidence and College Enrollment

Economic pressures are forcing families to reconsider whether a traditional four-year degree remains worth the financial burden

The Job Market is Reevaluating Requirements as Skills Begin Taking More Precedence Over College Degrees

Employers are quietly abandoning degree requirements to access a vastly larger talent pool of capable workers