New Hampshire’s population is projected to grow only
slightly between 2005 and 2015, with much of the growth in
the age 55 and over segment. The state’s large employers
are concerned about where they will find college-educated
individuals to fill a myriad of positions in new or rapidly
growing industries.
Meanwhile, though New Hampshire is tied for first among all
states in per-capita income, four in 10 Granite State residents
have not earned a high school diploma. We cannot rely on
importing educated people to meet future employment
demands, nor do we want to see jobs exported elsewhere.
To ensure that New Hampshire is able to “grow our own”
future employees, the University System of New Hampshire
in October launched a “Get Ready for College” initiative,
with support from the New Hampshire Higher Education
Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) Network Organizations.
Get Ready for College is a comprehensive effort to encourage students in grades 6 through 12 to aspire to and
prepare for college.
In the first phase of the initiative, organizers sent every
guidance office in the state colorful posters explaining why
it’s never too late to prepare for college and what sixth through
12th graders can do to “get ready.” The posters
were followed by brochures geared to students and families
and a website with resources categorized by grade
(www.yourusnh.com). In addition, a 20-minute “School is
Cool” video targeted to eighth-graders will feature students
at USNH institutions talking about obstacles they overcame to
get into college, provide a look at life on a college campus,
and offer messages about the earning potential of a college
graduate versus a high school dropout.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Stephen Reno is chancellor of the University System of New
Hampshire. René A. Drouin is present and CEO of the
NHHEAF Network Organizations.
Email: sreno@unh.edu. |
