TRAVERSE CITY/BIG RAPIDS — For decades, going to college was an expectation, but all of that is changing with higher college tuition costs, the advent of artificial intelligence replacing many white-collar jobs and the increasing demand for skilled workers.
“I think at Northwestern Michigan College, we realize that today’s students are different type of consumer when it comes to education,” said Jason Slade, VP for Strategic Initiatives at NMC.
According to a poll done by job listing website Indeed, 51% of Gen-Z graduates said their degree was a “waste of money.” This all comes because AI continues to replace millions of white-collar jobs. That means the value of a traditional degree is also diminished. However, schools like Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City are working to meet a new set of standards. “They have expectations in terms of what’s my return on investment if I spend my time and money in your program? And so, we look at all our programs and our pathways through that lens. And so, at NMC, we’re kind of what we call it future focus education,” said Slade.
That can mean just earning credentials instead of degrees, which takes less time. It costs nothing to do so at NMC for people who live in Grand Traverse County through the state’s Free Community College for All program.
“Our goal is to make those stackable. They’ll take this course or series of courses. We’ll give them a credential. They’ll work for a while. There’s an opportunity to scale up at work. We’ll then expand their educational opportunities. We’ll provide the next step in their program, maybe another certificate, another degree, another pathway,” said Slade.
Enrollment at trade-focused institutions has increased by 20% since the spring of 2020. Ferris State University has a series of those programs, offering something called incremental credentialing. “So, once you pass a competency, then you earn that credit. So, it isn’t necessary. What we’re doing is, eating an elephant, one bite at a time. Credentialing is one credit at a time. ”Sometimes those credentials are the barriers that are keeping folks from getting the job,” said Kate O’Connor, The Dean at Ferris State University. That credential can certify a skill and get people into jobs that are very much in demand as many industries face worker shortages.
One of those is the semi-conductor space where one million more workers will be needed by 2030. Right now, Ferris does not offer a program in that field, but it’s something they are taking a hard look at.
“This is a field that we have, broached yet, but there has been talk about it. And we are even looking at securing grant money to do it. I do think that there is a future in semiconductor for Ferris, however. Not right now. It is a hefty investment upfront. So, I have to be very responsible in bringing that, program to the college that, you know, I have to be responsible, fiscally, because I need to make sure that it’s going to be successful as we move forward,” said O’Connor.
The world of education is changing. College is not dead it’s just becoming different. There are many professions out there experiencing shortages that require post-secondary degrees like, teaching, healthcare, mining, manufacturing and other critical industries.
Many colleges are trying to strike a balance. “We have to remain relevant and responsive, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” said O’Connor.