Most people enroll in and attend college with the best of intentions. Life, however, happens, and many are forced to leave for various reasons. However, the time has never been better to reengage and return to college to finish a degree.
According to Best Colleges, more than 39 million Americans have some college experience with no degree and more than one million students drop out each year, which is approximately 25% of first-year, full-time students. Thus, those who have had to leave are not alone. However, keep in mind that many things have changed since most people left college. Here are some changes we have seen at Utah Valley University and what we have added to help people graduate.
The current job market highlights the importance of gaining marketable skills in addition to a college degree. As Jeffrey Selingo and Matthew Sigelman write in “The Crisis of Unemployed College Graduates,” “Breaking into the post-college job market is less about where graduates went to school or their specific degree than it is about the skills they possess.”
As an integrated university and community college, UVU is uniquely positioned to help students of all backgrounds gain real-world skills, knowledge, and meaningful credentials. Our approach is centered on engaged learning, prioritizing opportunities for students to gain professional or vocational experience. We believe everyone deserves the transforming benefits of high-quality education, and our open-admissions model gives anyone a chance to complete a degree or certificate.
Since 2016, UVU has reached out to thousands of Utahns to support them in finishing their degrees. Our team in Student Affairs has personally contacted over 34,000 students who have completed 90 or more credits at UVU.
To help them reengage and graduate, UVU has expanded its online offerings and supports credit for prior learning (CPL) models that help students progress to graduation. As a result, more than 5,944 students have reenrolled, 1,001 have completed associate degrees, and 831 have completed bachelor’s degrees.
In addition, UVU offers completion grants to those who have returned to finish their degrees. For example, the Returning Wolverine Grant is designed for those who have completed 90 credit hours but have been away for at least two semesters. Other financial aid opportunities for returning students can be found at Wolverine Completion Grants.
Autumn Huffaker, a mother of five, was notified that she was a Returning Wolverine Grant recipient but disregarded the first email. After a UVU staff member followed up with her, she decided to see if the program could be a good fit. Although she received a culinary degree several years ago and had started a bachelor’s degree, she ultimately had to interrupt her schooling to manage other commitments.
“Life got in the way,” Huffaker said. “I could not keep up with work, children, and school. So, I dropped my dream of finally finishing my degree.”
The Returning Wolverine Grant gave Huffaker the help she needed to make her dream a reality. While the experience was not easy, Huffaker received support to be able to attend school, work full time as a manager for a cupcake business, and care for a large family that participates in many activities.
On top of financial assistance, Huffaker said the encouragement from her professors and advisors has been invaluable in helping her deal with challenges along the way. “I would not have changed one challenge at all. They all got me to where I am today,” she said. “As a mom of mostly girls, I wanted to prove to them that you are never too young to fulfill your dreams to finish school.”
Huffaker graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 2021. To those who are thinking of returning to complete their degrees, Huffaker said, “I am proof that it is never too late to go back to school. If I can do it working full time and being a mom of five, anyone can.”
Wayne Vaught is the provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Utah Valley University. If you would like to learn more about how UVU can help you gain marketable skills and finish your degree, visit Returning Students.
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