Carthage College President John Swallow is taking over as chair of the Higher Education Regional Alliance after UWM Chancellor Mark Mone completed his two-year term as the inaugural leader of the southeastern Wisconsin initiative.
Mone will stay involved in an advisory role as the immediate past chair of HERA, a collaboration of 18 public and private colleges and universities and partner organizations dedicated to closing student achievement gaps, increasing college graduation rates and expanding the region’s talent pool to meet workforce needs.
“Since the official launch in fall 2019, HERA has accomplished much for our region’s students, employers and the economy, but we are far from done,” Mone said. “The collaborative’s goals are too large for only one institution to solve.
“I’m looking forward to supporting Dr. Swallow and the rest of the collaborative in driving even greater impact.”
In the last two years, HERA institutions have:
- Implemented Transferology, a tool that provides information on how previously earned college credits can transfer to different institutions across HERA and nationwide, eliminating a potential barrier for students looking to continue their education.
- Creating micro-credentialing and badging programs to ensure students receive specific skills training and education necessary to fill openings in high-demand fields like technology.
- Connecting students from HERA institutions with the regional employers through Handshake, a tool that quickly matches candidates with internships, career fairs and job opportunities based on majors and interests.
“Colleges, universities, employers and community organizations across southeastern Wisconsin all want the same thing: an equitable education system that produces an agile workforce equipped for the 21st century,” Swallow said.
HERA also named Vicki Martin, president of Milwaukee Area Technical College, vice chair of the regional partnership.
