Austin, Texas – ReUp Education, a leading tech-enabled provider empowering adult learners, has announced a new partnership with Northern Illinois University, a public research university in DeKalb County, Illinois. This new partnership expands on both Northern Illinois University (NIU)’s and ReUp’s commitments to help stopouts and adult learners enroll and graduate as part of their journey to pursue economic and social mobility in a 21st-century economy. In this partnership, ReUp will bring a unique combination of technology, data, and personalized one-on-one coaching to NIU, and support their mission of providing learners with a high-quality education.
As of 2020, 35 percent of learners were over the age of 25, according to data from National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). However, adult learners still have lower completion rates than their younger peers, often due to a wide range of barriers that include time poverty, childcare, financial constraints, and more. Completing a college degree has profound impacts on social and economic mobility. Those with a degree are half as likely to be unemployed as those with a high school diploma and demonstrate significantly higher levels of happiness, health, and community involvement.
Since 2015, ReUp has been helping higher-ed institutions engage, enroll, and support adult learners. Leveraging patented technology and one-on-one personalized coaching services, ReUp’s approach will help Northern Illinois University reach learners who have previously put a pause on their education. This partnership will provide NIU learners with specialized holistic support from ReUp that takes into consideration the key factors that impact a learner’s decision to re-enroll and their unique journey toward earning their degree.
“We are pleased to partner with ReUp to reengage adult learners and help them complete their degree at Northern Illinois University,” said Laurie Elish-Piper, NIU Interim Executive Vice President and Provost. “We look forward to bringing Huskies back to the pack and providing our full support and resources for their success, along the way.”
As part of the partnership, ReUp will also serve as an expert on adult learners for NIU, offering institution-specific insights and strategic recommendations based on industry trends, millions of data points on adult learners, and direct learner feedback.
“As a former adult learner, I know only too well the challenges that face other adult learners as they pursue a degree. Time, money, and a support system are all crucial elements of a learner’s journey through higher ed, yet for too many of these degree-seekers, these factors are massive barriers to completion,” said Terah Crews, CEO of ReUp. “Through our new partnership with Northern Illinois University, we are helping expand the support and resources available for adult learners, in turn helping to make the rollercoaster ride of higher education just a little less turbulent.”
About ReUp Education
ReUp Education is the industry leader in finding, enrolling, and supporting adult learners at scale. Driven by our mission to empower all adults to thrive in higher ed, we partner with institutions, state systems, state and regional governments, and member organizations to help adults navigate the journey to and through school. Named one of Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech, our patented technology, personalized support, and data insights have helped tens of thousands of adult learners make their dreams of higher education a reality. We’re on a mission to help millions more. Reimagine the adult learner experience at reupeducation.com.
About Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Naperville, Oregon, and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 areas of study while serving a diverse and international student body.
