Partnership with WestEd’s Center for Economic Mobility and NCII to Transform Community College Career Pathways for Working Young Adults
Cranford – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ is excited to announce the launch of Back on Track, an initiative to build pathways from low-wage jobs to family-sustaining careers. Beginning in 2026, UCNJ will partner with the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement, WestEd’s Center for Economic Mobility, and a cohort of eight colleges to launch three new pathways designed to meet regional labor market needs while helping young people advance in their careers. By 2029, UCNJ will graduate two cohorts of students from the new pathways while building capacity to scale project impact to other programs across the institution.
The project is designed to serve 600-800 students annually and addresses the urgent challenge of helping working young adults advance from unstable service sector jobs to living-wage careers.
“The Back on Track Initiative directly advances UCNJ’s mission to drive economic mobility and student success,” stated UCNJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin. “In partnership with WestEd’s Center for Economic Mobility and the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement, we are intentionally redesigning career pathways to align with regional workforce demand and connect our students to family-sustaining careers. This is not simply a program enhancement. It is a strategic investment in our students, our employer partners, and the long-term economic strength of our community. By removing barriers and accelerating completion, we are creating real opportunity that transforms individual lives while fueling sustainable regional growth.”
Expected outcomes include improved employment stability for graduates and field-tested models that can be scaled nationally.
UCNJ is a public, comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater Union County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College offers a wide variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to the Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research Lab. Additionally, students at UCNJ attend one of the top 10 community colleges in the country as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more about UCNJ, visit www.ucc.edu.