In February 2022, the Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education approved the 2022–2027 Rhode Island Strategic Plan for Postsecondary Education to help more Rhode Islanders attain credentials that will lead to careers with livable wages, stronger families and communities, and a Rhode Island economy boosted by a trained workforce aligned to industry standards. The plan was developed by the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner (OPC) after months of engagement with state institutions of higher education, workforce training partners, Board of Education members, students, municipal and state elected leadership, sister state agencies, and non-profit and business leaders. It lays out an ambitious agenda for the course ahead, focusing on five key priorities:
- Closing equity gaps
- Increasing affordability
- Helping more adults attain degrees and certifications
- Expanding workforce training opportunities
- Strengthening PK–20 alignment
Successful implementation of the plan is anchored in understanding where we are as a state and developing a clear set of initiatives and action steps to meet our goals. This report, which is Part 1 of a two-part series, provides an overview of where Rhode Island stands on some key indicators. Over time, OPC will continue to track these and other indicators to ensure that the state is making progress on its priorities. Part 2 will detail the specific initiatives and action steps OPC will take to meet the goal of 70 percent of working-age Rhode Islanders obtaining a postsecondary credential by 2025.
