Called Complete Tampa Bay, the new partnership initiative will provide free, personalized coaching and assistance for those with prior college or technical training experience
LEAP Tampa Bay College Access Network (LEAP Tampa Bay), a network of more than 50 community partners committed to changing lives by connecting residents to education and training beyond high school, has announced a new initiative to re-engage local working-age adults in education and training. Called Complete Tampa Bay, it will directly assist those with prior college or technical training experience by providing free, personalized coaching and support to help them complete their college degree and/or credentialing programs.
“This hands-on approach to college and training enrollment will help streamline the frequently overwhelming process experienced by returning adult learners,” said Chuck Tiernan, director of LEAP Tampa Bay. “We’re thrilled to help this population not only re-enroll, but successfully move through the process to credential completion.”
Primarily funded by a grant from Lumina Foundation, Complete Tampa Bay’s personalized coaching model will help returning adult learners understand how to find available education and training options, what financial support may be available, access tutoring, and connect them to local education partners that can support the completion of their education and training goals. Complete Tampa Bay’s local education partners include: University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, St. Petersburg College, Hillsborough Technical Colleges, and Pinellas Technical College.
An estimated 330,000 adults living in Tampa Bay have earned some credits but never completed their college degrees and/or credentialing programs, according to a 2017 American Community Survey. The Complete Tampa Bay initiative aligns with the state of Florida’s “Sail to 60” goal and the national “GOAL 2025” movement, all of which seek to have 60 percent of working-age adults holding such credentials and degrees.
Among the adults who already have credits, this initiative will pay particular attention to creating opportunities and removing barriers for the region’s Black, Hispanic, and low-income populations, which have historically experienced gaps in educational success.
To contact a completion coach or learn more about the Complete Tampa Bay initiative, visit www.completetb.org.
