High Country Times

More than $7 million in grant funding has been awarded to the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges (ARRC) at Appalachian State University. This funding will support the advancement of higher education and workforce development for individuals in rural communities over the next four years. The ARRC, located within the Reich College of Education, focuses on examining the role and impacts of regional and rural-serving colleges and universities.

The grant, totaling $7,245,600, was provided by Ascendium Education Group. This nonprofit organization is committed to creating opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve academic and career success. The funds will be used to establish a Rural Talent Development and Attraction Lab across five partner states.

Dr. Andrew Koricich, Executive Director of ARRC and professor in App State’s higher education graduate program, leads the project. The ARRC team will collaborate with state higher education executive agencies to develop a statewide Rural Talent Development and Attraction Plan. These plans aim to create at least four credential pathways that allow learners to earn associate degrees and undergraduate certificates supporting rural workforce needs.

Koricich emphasized that these credential pathways will be developed with input from rural communities benefiting from the project. “By involving rural stakeholders in the pathway design process, the Rural Talent Lab will create opportunities tailored to local economic needs while also mobilizing the local support needed for long-term success,” he said.

As part of this initiative, community listening tours will be conducted to engage with stakeholders in various rural communities across each state. Public opinion surveys will also be administered to gather broader input from rural residents.

The ARRC team is working alongside the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) and HCM Strategists to facilitate this project. SHEEO President Rob Anderson stated, “The Rural Talent Lab presents a unique opportunity for states to equip students and grow their economy by creating deliberate pathways between programs of study and workforce needs.”

Kirstin Yeado from Ascendium highlighted their interest in exploring how this approach can serve as a model for other states focused on rural talent development. “The Rural Talent Lab’s commitment to designing affordable, employer-aligned credentialing programs will ensure rural learners have a clear pathway to upward mobility,” Yeado said.

The goal is for these credential pathways to open by fall 2027. The ARRC team plans regular reviews of the project’s progress to inform ongoing expansion efforts while establishing a new model for rural talent development.

This initiative is one among several long-term projects launched by ARRC since its establishment in 2020, aiming to provide research resources related to regional higher education institutions.

Appalachian State University continues its mission as a leading public institution preparing students through innovative teaching methods and access to affordable education. With over 21,000 students enrolled across multiple campuses, App State offers an array of undergraduate and graduate programs.