Tennessee Joins Multistate Collaborative Working to Improve Career Pathways

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Written By Sky Arnold

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The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) announced Wednesday that Tennessee has joined a collaborative with 12 other states working to better align policies and programs with workforce needs.

Through Lumina Foundation’s State Attainment Collaborative, state leaders will work alongside education, business, civic, nonprofit, and policy leaders from Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia to define what makes an industry credential valuable, update Tennessee’s statewide educational attainment goals, and align policies and programs to better support students.

“Tennessee has long recognized that education is the foundation of economic growth and individual opportunity,” said THEC Executive Director. Dr. Steven Gentile. “By joining Lumina’s collaborative, we are reaffirming our commitment to ensuring every Tennessean has access to valuable learning and training that lead to great careers and stronger communities.”

Lumina’s Goal 2040

This collaborative supports Lumina’s Goal 2040, which aims to see three-fourths of adults in the U.S. labor force earning a college degree or other credentials that lead to meaningful careers and economic mobility by 2040.

According to a news release sent to the Tennessee Firefly, Lumina launched the country’s first national post-high school attainment goal in 2008 that eventually led 49 states to establish their own state-specific targets. Since then, the share of working-age adults with college degrees or short-term credentials has grown from 39 percent in 2008 to 55 percent in 2023.

“Setting clear goals for increasing degrees and workforce credentials demonstrates Tennessee’s commitment to expanding opportunity and strengthening its economy,” said Lumina Vice President for Public Policy Michelle Asha Cooper. “Through formal collaboration, we can help refine goals, share lessons, and ensure they center on value for individuals, communities, and employers.”

Sky Arnold

Sky serves as the Managing Editor of the Tennessee Fireflly. He’s a veteran television journalist with two decades of experience covering news in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Tennessee where he covered government for Fox 17 News in Nashville and WBBJ in Jackson. He’s a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and a big supporter of the Oklahoma Sooners.