Over the past year, the Citizens League has been looking at higher education – any education beyond high school –in Minnesota. As part of this work, we have been asking questions about the role college completion plays in the lives of former students and the economy as a whole. Many people believe college completion is important and we wonder: should college completion be the goal for everyone? If so, how can we help students do that? Maybe some people attend college, take a class or two, get the skills they need for work or life and don’t feel they need the actual degree. Maybe completion is important, but “life” makes it difficult.

We're looking for individuals who have have taken some college classes, but who are not currently enrolled and who have not yet obtained their degree to help us explore questions like these by taking part in an informal conversation. 

Through these conversations we hope to understand more about why people decide to go to college, why they don't complete, and what their school and life experiences are once they enroll and choose not to finish.

There are two ways to get involved in one of these conversations: in-person or via telephone.

• In-person conversations: Individuals who can attend an in-person conversation in St. Paul can choose one of the date/time options listed below. These conversations will be 90-minutes each and held at the Wilder Center in St. Paul (located at the corner of Lexington Parkway and University Avenue; for a map click here). Participants will receive a $30 gift card for their time.

• Monday, July 2nd from 7:00-8:30 pm. Click here to register.

• Tuesday, July 10th from 7:00-8:30 pm. Click here to register.

• Telephone conversations: For those who live in Greater Minnesota, 45-minute telephone conversations can be scheduled. Participants will receive a $15 gift card for their time. Click here to register for a phone conversation.

In addition, all participants will be eligible to win one of two Kindle e-readers!

We hope you'll consider joining us! Questions? Email us!