Yesterday's episode of Marketplace from American Public Media included a story called "Some college, but no degree" on adult learners struggling to finish their unfinished degrees. Read the transcript at: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/life/education/some-college-no-degree

Dewayne Matthews, Lumina's VP for policy and strategy presented new thinking on quality in higher education  at the <a href="http://www.nasasps.org/">National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools</a>, in Denver, May 2.

What does productivity look like in Indiana? This week's segment takes a look at some examples of change and innovations to increase productivity at a few campuses statewide. These different models are just a snapshot of the many innovative programs at many colleges and universities across Indiana. Unfortunately, time permits looking at only a few.

More than one in five working age adults in Indiana have gone to college, but never finished a degree. According to Indiana's Commission for Higher Education, that is nearly 750,000 Hoosiers -- and some of them are just a few credits short of getting that diploma. Some schools are concentrating on these returning adults or "come-backers," as they're called. There are challenges. So what's being done to not only find and recruit these students -- and make sure they fit into higher education -- and can get traction in the workforce?

Statistics from the Pew Hispanic Center show 90 percent of Latino young adults believe a college degree is important for success -- but less than half believe they'll get one. This report focuses on the Latino student's struggles to obtain an education as well as the possibilities.

In 2010, some 270,000 students used the Post 9/11 GI Bill educational benefits last year-and those numbers are expected to continue to rise as more servicemen and women return from Iraq and Afghanistan. In Indiana, there are more than 76,000 veterans - it's difficult to get a handle on just how many of them are or plan on going back to school, according to a national expert at Purdue's Operation Diploma research. What are the issues, barriers, and advantages of these "Warriors by Degrees" as they return from military life to campus life? Is higher ed ready for them? And where are the myths, misconceptions and stories of success with these 21st Century Students?

According to the Brooking Institute's Living Cities Report, Indianapolis ranked first among the 100 largest US cities whose Latino population has increased (86.1 percent) between 2000-2007. The greatest population increases will be in Hamilton, Bartholomew, Marion, Elkhart, Lake and Hendricks counties. But while the Latino population has been increasing, Latino educational achievement in Indiana has been lagging.

With rising college costs, some believe today's students are majoring in debt. A new state survey shows about 70 percent of Hoosier students who would be the first in their family to go to college--don't believe they can afford it. In this segment you'll hear about the cost and returns students are facing.

More and more high school students are earning college credit while still in high school. Apart from the AP (Advanced Placement) route, these pilot projects offer "early college" transition programs with a number of Indiana's universities and Ivy Tech for students who may not have been considered "college material." These dual credit programs have the potential to save students time, save their families thousands of dollars - while increasing college access and success rate for at-risk students statewide. They are also part of workforce development.

With high unemployment and the recession, it's a perfect storm. Business, government and education leaders agree that one way to weather it is to use higher education as the path to higher employment. One in five jobs in Indiana are in manufacturing and logistics: that sector remains Indiana's economic backbone. In this segment, "Staying Competitive," you'll hear about some solutions -- and the increasing role that "stackable credentials" and portable credentials" can play in building a workforce pipeline to keep Indiana competitive. You'll also hear about changes and new directions from Indiana's Workforce Development, Conexus, and Indiana's Commission for Higher Education, Governor Daniels and two national labor experts.

Record numbers of students -- here and across the U.S. -- are returning for a postsecondary degree. Many are working adults, with families and limited budgets who must go to school part-time. Across the country, nearly 50 percent of all students attend community colleges. In Indiana, that number drops to about 20 percent. Why are community colleges called the engine of economic development -- and what's happening with Ivy Tech in Indiana?

What is the economic impact for Hoosiers when they get a higher education degree? What jobs and industry segments are available and growing in the state of Indiana? Is there workforce available to meet those jobs and growing industries? What are the prognostications on what's ahead for this state, economically and employment-wise? These are just some of the questions explored in this first segment of Indiana - By Degrees.

Wendy Puriefoy, president of Public Education Network (PEN), offers thoughts on capacity building and the role Local Education Funds (LEFs) play as community change agents.

Patti Brennan talks with Paul Vandeventer, author of Networks That Work and President of Community Partners on the advantages of problem solving by combining efforts to more effectively achieve a shared goal.

Holly Zanville, Senior program director at Lumina Foundation talks with Michael Cohen, President of Achieve about Achieve's work in bridging the K-12 and higher ed systems to better prepare students for college and careers.

A statement from Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO of Lumina Foundation, on the President's State of the Union address.

Tina Gridion Smith, Senior Program Officer for Lumina Foundation and Sarita Brown, President, <a href="http://www.edexcelencia.org/">Excelencia in Education</a> talk about misconceptions about the Latino Community, and the work of Excellencia in Education to support the achievement of Latinos in Higher Education.

A discussion between Tina Gridiron Smith, Senior Program Officer at Lumina Foundation and Richard Jarvis, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Business leaders are working to increase graduation rates to ensure an educated and competitive workforce. Kiko Suarez (Vice President of External Affairs, Lumina Foundation for Education) talks with Lydia Logan (Executive Director, Institute for a Competitive Workforce) and Mary Gershwin (President, Business Champions on the role of the business community in Goal 2025.

Molly Martin, Lumina's Planning and Organizational Learning Associate speaks with Loren Harris of Thinking Man Consulting on the essential role of men of color in reaching Goal 2025.

Dewayne Matthews speaks with Brian Bosworth, president of FutureWorks about issues surrounding the education of adult learners and the problems facing non-traditional, working adult students persuing a postsecondary education in today's economy.

Goal 2025 | Behind Lumina's strategic plan
Lumina President and CEO Jamie Merisotis and Jim Applegate, senior vice president for program development, discuss the thought process behind Lumina's strategic plan for its "big goal" and the three critical outcomes it seeks to achieve to reach 60 percent degree attainment by 2025.

Dewayne Matthews, Vice President for Policy and Strategy for Lumina Foundation speaks with Kiko Suarez, Senior Vice President, External Affairs, Lumina Foundation about Lumina's big goal, Goal 2025, and the strategic plan implemented to help us achieve it. For more information on Lumina's strategic plan, see: http://www.luminafoundation.org/goal_2025/

A discussion with Anthony Carnevale, Director of the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce. Dewayne Matthews and Anthony Carnevale discuss Anthony's work in understanding the relationship between educational preparation and economic opportunity.

The continued discussion between Dewayne Matthews, Lumina's vice president for policy and strategy and Tim Birtwistle, professor of law and policy of higher education, and the Jean Monnet chair at Leeds Law School (Leeds Metropolitan University, U.K.).

Hear an introductory discussion on the Bologna Process between Dewayne Matthews, Lumina's vice president for policy and strategy and Tim Birtwistle, professor of law and policy of higher education, and the Jean Monnet chair at Leeds Law School (Leeds Metropolitan University, U.K.). 

Lumina President Jamie Merisotis and Vice President for Policy and Strategy Dewayne Matthews discuss President Barack Obama's address to the nation on February 25th and how the President's goal for college attainment aligns with Lumina's Big Goal of a 60 percent college attainment rate by 2025.