Back in January 2023, Michelle Merritt, Vice President and Dean for Equity and Well-Being at Monmouth College, saw students struggling with mental health and its effects on student retention.
"I noticed that there was a significant number of students that were leaving and telling me it was because they were completely overwhelmed with the experience and that they were struggling with mental health issues and concerns," Merritt said in an interview with WVIK.
Merritt was surprised with the number of responses shifting away from typical financial reasons. She met with Jessica Donaldson, a behavioral health specialist at the regional office of K-12 education.
Soon, Superintendent Jodi Scott of the Regional Office of Education #33 joined the conversation.
"...[A] significant gap has developed in the understanding between K-12 schools and higher education regarding preparation, expectations and student experiences," said Scott in a press release. "This new partnership seeks to bridge that gap by achieving greater mutual understanding, along with detailed and practical actions, that support our students' growth from high school through college and to becoming contributors and leaders in the economic and social betterment of our communities."
When the pandemic started, Merritt was working on campus and not home with her five kids, who were online.
"It was a struggle, I saw my own kids struggle and I needed to better understand what was going on," Merritt said.
The meetings grew with presidents and vice presidents from other higher-education institutions, including Black Hawk College, Carl Sandburg College, Knox College, and Western Illinois University. They discussed student retention and graduation issues with the Regional Office of Education #33.
The Education Office #33 serves more than 11,100 students in nine public schools and three parochial schools in Henderson, Knox, Mercer, and Warren counties.
"We looked at demographic shifts in Illinois. We discussed the future of higher education and what the student demographics looked like, which is different...it's changing, " Merritt said in a phone interview with WVIK. "We came up with four buckets to streamline K-12 to higher ed."
The four buckets include the social and emotional areas. According to Merritt, the academic bucket involves changing the curriculum to prepare better students who attend area colleges.
The third bucket is financial resources for students. The last bucket is workforce needs.
"One of the things that Monmouth College did...we partnered with OSF and created a nursing program here," Merritt said. "There was definitely a need in the region for more nurses."
She says there are many untapped opportunities for the area's higher education institutions to adapt to current career paths and student interests.
"It may not be a four-year degree. We need to acknowledge that. It could be a credential program or a two-year degree," Merritt said. It could be a special skill that an employer needs their employees to know to get a job."
Merritt says the future of higher education is concerning with school closures and more expected in the coming years.
"It's up to us as educators and community leaders to think creatively," Merritt said. "I think more schools of higher education and K-12 should be doing this, honestly...I really do.
Merritt hopes to expand meetings with more educators, students, and employers in the fall.
Community members interested in offering advice on the growing partnership can email Merritt at mmerritt@monmouthcollege.edu.
