DENVER — The AdvanceEDU’s “Earn and Learn" program connects first-generation students with paid, career-oriented apprenticeships that lead to full-time jobs. The program offers a multi-year apprenticeship that combines career-based coaching and career placement for students who complete the program and graduate from CSU Global.
Nnena West is the head of recruitment and enrollment for the group that wants to close the career attainment equity gap.
“About 88% of our students are first-generation college students and I believe 82% of our students are students of color,” West said. “There's all sorts of individuals in Colorado, all students from different backgrounds that are looking to do more, who are wanting to change the cycle maybe of their household and their family backgrounds who are wanting to give back to their communities and wanting to see their selves improve and they're using education as a tool to do that.”
The nonprofit has provided educational services to students since 2020. They work with students of color who are typically underserved in education looking to pursue a career.
“Students often need to work while they go to school.,” West said. “So, finding ways to do flexible alternative ways to education so they can do school online while helping them to get past those barriers that otherwise traditional models of education were not going to necessarily provide for them.”
The program lets students enroll in one of their partner universities or colleges, such as Colorado State University and Southern New Hampshire University, while working paid career-building jobs. Some of the employers the organization partners with include Liberty Global, Pinnacol Assurance, Denver Health and DaVita. The online learning model allows students to earn their degree or qualifications at their own pace.
“Thinking about education in a different way that hasn't necessarily been thought about before,” West said. “To help students navigate in, in environments and spaces that they haven't been able to really get into the door so far.”
Students like Yesenia Mendoza who just graduated from CSU Global in November. She just started her apprenticeship program with an IT company based in New York called Solved IT. Her goal is to get a job working in the tech industry.
“I do plan on to do work in AI automation,” Mendoza said. “Ultimately what I do want to do is to be able to work… the back end of companies as far as their websites, machinery, machine learning.”
Mendoza believes programs like the "Earn and Learn" program are important for first-generation students.
“They're very important because you get doors closed on you so much.” Mendoza said. “When I was fresh out of high school, I got a lot of doors shut on me and that's why I never even thought that I would end up in the tech field and now here I am.”
The program is also helping first-generation students Lizbeth Reyes and Ferouysa Abdul Kadir navigate the college process.
“It was really hard for me. I was very lonely. I was very confused,” Reyes said. “I didn't know much about college and being first gen, it was really hard to navigate all the different things and all the different things that you have to do, and you know, and keep up with."
Abdul Kadir is a single mom of two and will be starting at CSU Global in December. She likes the convenience of the Advance EDU that also has a Family and Wellness Center for children.
“I'm able to do my work just whenever I want and if I need to bring her, she can come here,” Abdul Kadir said. “I'm just blessed just to have this type of program just to be included with the childcare in it and no charges and it's convenient.”
Tuition through the program's university partners is as low as $6,495 a year, and 90% of Advance EDU students attend debt-free because of their federal financial aid eligibility. So far, the group has helped more than 300 students graduate.
“Ultimately, our goal is to help them graduate with a profitable degree that will help them launch into a career,” West said. “By making a family-sustaining wage and doing so with as little debt or no debt as possible.”
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