News Article
Rural colleges, and their communities, are in trouble. Here’s what we can do.
In a new op-ed published in University Business, Riipen Co-Founder and CEO Dana Stephenson offers a compelling roadmap for how rural colleges, in collaboration with local employers, policymakers, and civic leaders, can become engines of regional prosperity—supporting not just education, but also workforce development, civic engagement, and economic resilience.
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May 27, 2025
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Rural colleges are closing at an alarming rate. But maybe the solution isn’t just saving schools, it’s revitalizing the communities they serve. The key? Becoming engines of talent development that serve both learners and local employers through work-based learning. It’s a shift that empowers students with real-world experience while strengthening the economic resilience of entire regions.
Let’s rethink what it means to thrive, together.
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