At The Pulse of Enrollment, industry leaders, educators and students came together to discuss how institutions can play a pivotal role in workforce retention. One key takeaway? Retention starts before graduation. By creating stronger campus-to-career pipelines, aligning curricula with industry needs and fostering meaningful connections, we can shift the perception of our region from a steppingstone to a destination.

Pulse Check

Even with these initiatives, how do we ensure students stay in the area after graduation? We asked event attendees, and here’s what they said:

• Enhancing quality of life and community engagement – 35.8%
• Strengthening work-based learning pipelines – 30.2%
• Expanding professional development opportunities – 30.2%
• Offering more competitive salaries and benefits – 3.8%

What Can We Do?

Here are three key strategies to make students feel like they belong in our region—before they even graduate:

Create a sense of place.

Encourage students to attend community events, network with professionals, and find mentorship outside of school. Many students may not realize the cost-of-living benefits, career advancement opportunities and quality-of-life perks available in our region. Showcasing these aspects through storytelling, testimonials and outreach campaigns can make a lasting impression.

Work-based learning opportunities.

Businesses and educational institutions should collaborate to provide more internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing experiences. When students gain hands-on experience with local companies, they’re more likely to see a future for themselves in the region.

Invest in professional development.

Students need to see clear pathways for career growth. By offering leadership training, industry workshops, and networking events, we can help graduates envision long-term success here.

Retention starts before graduation. By creating meaningful connections between students, businesses and the community, we can shift the perception of our region from a steppingstone to a destination.