Open Campus

We're an independent nonprofit covering higher education as a local story — embedding reporters in communities across America.

Right now

BRIEFINGS Workforce Pell

Practical intelligence for local leaders on the biggest change to financial aid in years.

Sign Up
DATA Certificate Earnings Explorer

See what people earned four years after getting a certificate at 5,600 different programs around the nation.

Explore the data

Journalism

  • Recent Reporting Independent coverage of higher ed across America
  • Community College Project Our new accountability reporting initiative focused on community colleges
  • Partner Newsrooms 20+ local newsrooms we collaborate with to strengthen coverage
  • Newsletters The Dispatch · College Inside · Mile Markers

For Partners and Readers

  • Become a Partner Newsroom Work with us to strengthen local higher ed coverage
  • News About Open Campus Updates on our newsroom, projects, hiring, and partnerships
  • Republish Our Work Guidelines for sharing Open Campus stories with your audience

About

  • About Open Campus Our mission, our model, our approach
  • Funding Our supporters
  • Editorial Independence How we keep coverage decisions separate from revenue
  • Team · Jobs · Contact
Donate
Skip to content
Open Campus

Open Campus

Higher ed is a local story

Donate

The Job

A weekly newsletter from Paul Fain about connections between education and the American workforce. Get a veteran journalist’s take on what to watch as postsecondary education and job training systems work to better serve lower-income learners and workers.

Sign up to get The Job

Posted inThe Job

What a study of Ohio students tells us about the value of short-term credentials

By Paul FainJuly 15, 2021July 15, 2021

A recent analysis found promising initial results, with wage gains for completers and evidence that students are stacking up multiple credentials, which pays off even better in the job market.

Posted inThe Job

In Virginia, a growing demand for workforce programs

By Paul FainJuly 1, 2021December 15, 2021

Enrollments in the workforce grant program went up 8 percent in 2020 even while community colleges across the state and the nation saw substantial enrollment declines in credit-bearing programs.

Posted inThe Job

The big shift in education and work

By Paul FainJune 24, 2021June 24, 2021

We’re launching a digital hub for news, analysis, and opinion about whether education and training are delivering the talent and opportunity society needs.

Posted inThe Job

A lot of last-mile training lacks scale. These programs enroll more students.

By Paul FainJune 17, 2021June 17, 2021

The pandemic is adding momentum to new partnerships and models for alternative credentials.

Posted inThe Job

A troubling lack of skills in literacy and numeracy

By Paul FainJune 10, 2021June 10, 2021

One in five employed American adults with a bachelor’s degree lacks important skills in literacy, with one in three falling below proficient levels in numeracy.

Posted inThe Job

This green energy company creates high-paying jobs. Why can’t it fill them?

By Paul FainJune 3, 2021June 3, 2021

Dandelion Energy has hit licensing snags, geography challenges, and limits on local training as it tries to hire workers to drill the wells for its heat pumps.

Posted inThe Job

Stacking to a degree

By Paul FainMay 27, 2021May 27, 2021

Advocates for alternative education pathways also work to make sure participants in non-college programs can earn college credit.

Posted inThe Job

A big bet on short-term academic programs

By Paul FainMay 20, 2021May 20, 2021

Demand for non-degree, career-focused, and skill-based post-secondary education was growing rapidly before the pandemic, 2U’s ceo said, and that’s only grown.

Posted inThe Job

How should we be rethinking careers?

By Paul FainMay 13, 2021May 13, 2021

The nation doesn’t have a labor shortage, one expert says. But it certainly has an opportunity gap and a dysfunctional labor market.

Posted inThe Job

Making sure graduates have tech skills that matter

By Paul FainMay 6, 2021May 6, 2021

Tech jobs aren’t the center of the Biden workforce proposals, but that doesn’t mean demand for those skills has waned.

Posts pagination

Newer posts 1 … 9 10 11 12 Older posts

A cooperative model for in-depth reporting

Open Campus partners with local newsrooms to deliver expert coverage of higher ed for communities.


Sign up to get our weekly newsletter


Latest local highlights

UTA polling site’s absence raises voting access concerns in central Arlington
Fort Worth

UTA polling site’s absence raises voting access concerns in central Arlington

Scholarship delays hit recently expanded CUNY community college program
New York City

Scholarship delays hit recently expanded CUNY community college program

Most N.C. community college student IDs are not approved for voting in midterms
Community Colleges

Most N.C. community college student IDs are not approved for voting in midterms

Open Campus

Empowering communities with independent information about higher ed.

Get The Dispatch →

Journalism

  • Recent Reporting
  • Local Network
  • Newsletters
  • News About Open Campus

Work With Us

  • Become a Partner Newsroom
  • Community College Project
  • Republish Our Work

Organization

  • About
  • Team
  • Funding
  • Editorial Independence
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2026 Open Campus Media. A nonprofit newsroom.

  • Privacy
  • Have a tip?