Franklin University Selected Amongst 24 institutions to Participate in the Inaugural Cohort of the Work-Based Learning (WBL) Consortium in Partnership with Riipen

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

Franklin University, the leading educator of working adults, is proud to announce that the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) has selected Franklin University as one of 24 institutions to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Work-Based Learning (WBL) Consortium.

Franklin is pleased to work with the CIC and the other institutions in the cohort to provide additional opportunities for work-based learning in the classroom. A true focus on work-based learning opportunities and connection to the field have been a strength of many programs including internships, apprenticeships, and other similar opportunities for Franklin Students. The additional services provided to students through the Center for Career Development are also part of this work. 

Aligned with WBL Consortium’s mission to ease student barriers to internship access and job market preparation, Franklin looks to positively impact its future students through this inaugural cohort. This experiential learning platform, in partnership with Riipen, will assimilate real-world, employer-designed projects into existing courses to equip students with skills, real-world experiences, and professional connections to support their future careers. This multi-year program is expected to reach over 11,000 students at CIC member institutions. It has an estimated value of over $65,000 per institution and will be administered free of charge to the selected colleges and universities.

“This is an exciting opportunity for students to gain valuable hands-on experience through internships embedded in their courses. That these internships are available to all students regardless of where they are located levels the playing field for all students. We are grateful to our funders for making this possible,” said Titi Ufomata, CIC senior vice president for academic programs.

Beginning Spring 2024, CIC and Riipen will work with a team of five faculty members, one career service administrator, and the chief academic officer or designee on each campus to update curricula and integrate experiential learning into course materials. Throughout the duration of the program, CIC will also collect data and report on the work-based learning landscape at the participating institutions and the impact of the projects on students, faculty members, and employers. The results will demonstrate the value and impact of this network to CIC colleges and universities.

“Riipen is excited to partner to provide authentic skill-building experiences for CIC’s Work-Based Learning Consortium. Our mission compels us to seek out such partnerships to provide equitable access for all learners to gain employability skills required for career success. We congratulate the CIC institutions selected for this important initiative and look forward to delivering meaningful results for their learners,” said Dave Savory, co-founder and vice president of experiential learning at Riipen.

This CIC initiative is made possible thanks to funding from Ascendium Education Group and Strada Education Foundation.

About CIC: The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of more than 700 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help independent institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility.
  
About Riipen: Riipen is a work-based learning platform helping educators, organizations, and learners collaborate on real industry projects to bridge the gap between higher education and employment. With a network of 27,000+ employers and trusted by 430 academic institutions and training providers, Riipen helps educators integrate real-employer projects into program curriculum leading to improved student engagement and employability outcomes.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).