Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings regarding Graduate! Philadelphia, a non-profit that supports adults who have some college credit and no degree to go back to school to get their diploma. The adults who return back to school to start or finish their college education have come to be known as "Comebackers".

WHEREAS, Since 2008, Graduate! Philadelphia has supported Comebackers who have earned 1,250 two year or four year college degrees; and

WHEREAS, Since 2008, Graduate! Philadelphia has provided one-on-one advising to 7,400 Comebackers and provided information to thousands more across the City of Philadelphia reaching over 15,000 in 2017; and

WHEREAS, Graduate! Philadelphia seeks to make sure that e

very adult is connected to a person who knows how, and can guide others, to go to and through college; and

WHEREAS, Graduate! Philadelphia leads a consortium of colleges and universities who have adult-focused programs and understand the challenges and needs of Comebackers; and

WHEREAS, Graduate! Philadelphia partners with government agencies, non-profit organizations, religious organizations, and employers to mobilize regional resources around an adult completion agenda that is aligned with other regional higher education and workforce priorities; and

WHEREAS, Graduate! Philadelphia amplifies the benefits

of including adult completion as a regional strategy for economic and workforce development, strengthening communities, and poverty alleviation

; and

WHEREAS, Graduate! Philadelphia supports Comebackers in the City of Philadelphia where only 26% of the adult population has a college degree. By 2018, 60% of family-sustaining jobs will require a college credential. Many in our resident workforce are effectively barred from competing for these jobs due to their lack of a college degree; and

WHEREAS, Through the continued hard work of Executive Director Barbara Mattleman, Graduate! Philadelphia’s staff and the many others who work in education,

the practice of investing in adults towards the completion of college is central in talent, workforce, and economic development strategies and Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Graduate! Philadelphia offers monthly adults college fair as well as over 100 other presentations and workshops each year to support Comebackers and has expanded their work to include more Veterans, returning citizens and low-income Comebackers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby authorizes the Committee on Education to hold hearings in reference to Graduate! Philadelphia’s impact on the local economy, and their efforts to helps adults who have some college credit and no degree, go back to school and complete their education.

End