University College serves adult learners in the St. Louis area. As of Fall 2020, it began functioning as an independent school within Washington University. To help the new school align with WashU’s mission to be “in St. Louis, for St. Louis,” this project investigated how University College might better serve working adults and increase both economic mobility and equity in the region.

Our initial research led us to identify four potential paths for working adults returning to higher education (or beginning for the first time). Our project focused on switchers and advancers because of their potential impact for economic mobility and equity.

We conducted interviews with 21 switchers and advancers interested in health, data, and management and administration (the three divisions of the new school). Grouping our insights and how might we questions helped us identify five sets of needs that the University College should attend to.

We worked with staff, faculty, and potential students to ideate concepts for specific programs. Together, we prioritized the ideas and our team conducted three rounds of user testing before moving on to the final recommendations.

We delivered a comprehensive blueprint for Washington University's Chancellor and incoming Dean of University College. The blueprint included suggested pilots and prototypes for new programming. Many of the suggested programs can be found on the since rebranded Continuing and Professional Studies website.

“The results that come from this process are different; they keep what people need on the table all the way through.”

- Heather Corcoran, Interim Dean of University College