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WAYNE – Wayne State College joins the Nebraska State College System today in announcing the launch of an ambitious new systemwide initiative, Reengage Nebraska. The program is designed to help thousands of stopped-out students with some college credit but no degree return to higher education and complete a degree or credential. Built in collaboration with the 501(c) (3) nonprofit InsideTrack, the effort will support reenrollment, persistence, and completion at Wayne State College.
“Our state colleges are built to serve those seeking to continue their education, building a career, raising a family, or serving their community,” said Dr. Paul Turman, chancellor of the Nebraska State College System. “Reengage Nebraska is about bridging the last mile between higher education and economic opportunity. It’s also a powerful investment in individual opportunity and ultimately in the long-term strength of our workforce, our local economies, and our communities.”
More than 315,000 Nebraskans— roughly one in three working-age adults in the state—started college but never finished with a degree or certificate. Reengaging even a fraction of these individuals represents a powerful opportunity to strengthen the state’s workforce. Nebraska faces one of the nation’s most acute labor shortages, with only about 70 workers available for every 100 job openings. Meanwhile, research by a Kansas State University economist found that students who reenroll and complete their bachelor’s degree earn, on average, $4,294 more immediately after graduation and see an average annual earnings increase of $1,121 per year each year thereafter.
During the next 18 months, InsideTrack will partner with Reengage Nebraska to connect with former students who have been away from Wayne State College for at least a year. Designed to help more Nebraskans return to higher education and complete a degree or credential of value, Reengage Nebraska will take a multi-pronged approach to guide each student through the complex— and often daunting—process of reenrolling and succeeding in college.
Participating students receive individualized coaching designed to help them clarify their goals, rebuild confidence, overcome logistical and financial barriers, reestablish a connection to the college community, and ultimately overcome obstacles to returning. For those who have already completed 70 or more credits, Wayne State College can also award an associate degree, providing an immediate boost to employment prospects and earning potential.
“We are in the process of reaching out to students who left Wayne State at least a year ago with more than 70 credits to award them an associate of general studies degree,” said Dr. Marysz Rames, president of Wayne State College. “It is our sincere hope that granting the degree will provide our former students with a credential that can make a difference in their lives. The next step will be an invitation to reenroll at Wayne State in a custom program designed to get them across the next finish line: their bachelor’s degree.”
Unlike traditional outreach campaigns focused solely on recruitment, the Reengage Nebraska initiative pairs direct, one-on-one student coaching with institutional capacity-building to sustain longterm support for adult learners. In parallel, InsideTrack will train and certify campus staff at Wayne State in its evidence-based coaching methodology, helping the College build in-house capacity and expertise that can be applied to all student populations and sustained for years to come.
