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Report/Research

An Intermediary’s Guide to Working With Higher Education Partners

September 30, 2020

At a Glance

This guide supports intermediaries and their community college partners in forming productive and lasting relationships. The goal of these partnerships is to provide high school students with opportunities to earn college credits that will help them build their future careers.

Intermediaries that design and build work-based learning delivery systems believe that postsecondary credentials—certifications and degrees (both associate’s and bachelor’s)—are a requirement for most good jobs. Indeed, such credentials increase access to economic mobility and, ultimately, greater equity. When coupled with work-based learning experiences, postsecondary credentials become even more powerful. But many intermediaries have little experience working with higher education partners to make sure that students earn the credentials they need.

This guide draws on JFF’s long experience and lessons learned supporting intermediaries and their community college partners to form productive and lasting relationships that benefit young people.

Report/Research

How Intermediaries Can Help Black and Latinx Youth Develop a Strong Occupational Identity: Four Principles of Practice

This resource provides four guiding principles that intermediary staff and leaders can use to support equitable career outcomes for youth—particularly Black and Latinx youth and young people who are experiencing poverty. Intermediary organizations—sometimes known as…

December 9, 2020
Report/Research

Equitable Pathways Hypotheses Spotlights

The Building Equitable Pathways hypotheses guide the development of pathways that equitably support all young people, especially youth of color and youth who are experiencing poverty, in building rewarding and successful futures. Learn what the…

October 6, 2020
Report/Research

Intermediary Functions and Features in Pathways Systems

This resource clarifies the roles intermediaries play in college and career pathways systems. It can be useful for envisioning a brand-new organization or strengthening the intermediary functions of an existing organization. Your organization can use…

November 12, 2020
Report/Research

The MOU: A Tool for Formalizing Partnerships

Intermediaries can use memoranda of understanding (MOU) to better fulfill their roles as connectors among partners working to provide college and career pathways. This easy-to-use guide describes the purpose of an MOU, outlines the process…

January 7, 2021
Report/Research

From Labor Market Information to Pathways Designs: Foundational Information for Intermediaries

This resource is designed to help intermediaries effectively design strong college and career pathways. It lays out key areas and provides guidance about and examples of how to distill this information in order to share…

January 12, 2021
Tool

Planning Tool for Building Equitable Pathways

This planning tool will allow your organization to plan, partner, and do the work necessary to become a more effective intermediary in your unique context. Intermediary organizations are critical to offering college and career pathways…

October 6, 2020
Report/Research

Intermediaries’ Role in Policy to Develop and Scale Equitable Pathways

This brief illustrates the power intermediaries have to influence policy, so they can be more effective in supporting their partners and driving positive change in their communities and across their states.   Learn more about…

October 19, 2020
Report/Research

Intermediary Communications: How to Stand Out While Working Together

Developed by Mission Minded in partnership with JFF and the Building Equitable Pathways partners, this guide provides intermediaries with best practices in communications along with tools and sample messages to help them stand out and…

January 5, 2021

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Project

Building Equitable Pathways

Building Equitable Pathways is a community of practice working to create equitable pathways systems so that more Black and Latinx youth and young people experiencing poverty succeed in college and their future careers. Building Equitable…

July 22, 2023
Webinar

Watch: Building Equitable Pathways Webinar Series

Launched in 2019, the Building Equitable Pathways initiative brought together JFF and seven leading intermediary organizations to support Black and Latinx youth and young people experiencing poverty in exercising self-determination and building rewarding and engaging…

November 12, 2020 to March 18, 2021