In today’s competitive economy, the most successful companies don’t just develop products — they develop people. Retaining and developing talent is the key to innovation, growth and long-term sustainability. However, for many businesses, the gap between employee potential and available training resources is still too wide.
Enter the Coalition for the Common Good, a first-of-its-kind national university system with a mission rooted in equity, access and workforce development. Co-founded by Otterbein University and Antioch University, and led by Coalition President and Otterbein President Dr. John Comerford, the Coalition is pioneering a collaborative model that meets the needs of today’s adult working professionals and learners — and the employers who rely on them.
“As a national system, the Coalition for the Common Good is positioned to address the needs of industries in our states and nation,” shares Dr. Comerford, “providing accessible and affordable workplace education.”
This isn’t a traditional college pitch. It’s an invitation to partner. “We’re not coming to you with a glossy brochure,” continues Dr. Comerford. “We’re saying, ‘Tell us what your people need. Let’s build it together.’”
Whether you’re looking to retain top talent, reskill your workforce or build a culture of growth that helps your employees find their career path, here are five reasons working with the Coalition is good for business — and for the communities you serve.
1. Customized workforce development solutions
Forget generic programs. The Coalition can build stackable certificates and credentialing programs that are designed in close collaboration with your company. That means learning outcomes and deliverables can be tailored to your goals, your industry and your people. In addition, the Coalition member universities offer specialized adult learning environments and degree completion programs, along with a host of exciting graduate programs that align with your organizational goals while meeting the needs of your busy employees.
Programs can be co-taught by Coalition faculty and qualified company managers, helping employees connect new skills directly to their roles — and to your organization’s culture.
Case in point: InnoSource, a national staffing firm, partnered with the Coalition to offer customized certificates to employees to upskill and better prepare them for job placements. One year later, they saw a 100% employee retention rate and a 40% increase in productivity. Their investment in people became a measurable return for the business.
“By bringing in higher education and combining that with the knowledge from the workforce side, I do feel that it is a perfect partnership,” shares Dan Zabloudil, Vice President of InnoSource.” The sky’s the limit for where it can grow from here.”
Antioch University’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief Online Learning Officer Terry Ratcliff elaborates, “The InnoSource project is an excellent example of how the Coalition can utilize the resources of our member institutions to meet the needs of community partners. InnoSource presented us with a training need and we were able to bring the expertise of our faculty to the table to create a solution to a real-world challenge.”
2. Boost retention and internal mobility
Employees stay longer and perform better when they see a future with your organization. Coalition certificates, credentials and programs offer clear, achievable advancement pathways for your workforce — from entry-level to leadership.
Through adult-centered bachelor’s degree completion and graduate programs, along with professional development workshops and stackable credentials, employees can build skills that benefit your business today — while preparing them for new roles tomorrow.
The Coalition works with you to build mutual commitments that encourage retention. Employees stay, grow and thrive — and you avoid the high cost of turnover.
3. Flexible learning for real life
Not every employee can attend an 8 a.m. class on campus. That’s why the Coalition’s programs are designed for the real-world schedules and real-life responsibilities of working adults.
“I think the power of the Coalition is really about minimizing the barriers for people to access higher education by making sure we can meet people where they are — in particular, at work,” shares Michelle Koppitz, Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives for the Coalition and Antioch University.
With evening and weekend classes, online and hybrid options, and synchronous and asynchronous learning, employees can upskill without upending their lives. The Coalition also awards credit for prior college coursework and relevant life experience — recognizing what learners already know and making their path to a credential shorter and more affordable.
For employers, this means minimal disruption to your operations — and maximum benefit from employees who are actively growing their skill sets while staying on the job.
4. Turn in-house training into college credit
You’re already investing in professional development. The Coalition can create credentialing opportunities for your internal programs, turning on-the-job training into recognized certificates that could also become pathways to degrees.
This approach:
- Saves time and money for your organization and employees.
- Validates your training investments.
- Enhances employee motivation.
- Helps workers build long-term, portable credentials.
- Demonstrates your commitment to career growth.
- Demonstrates your organization’s commitment to a more equitable society.
By bridging the gap between in-house training and higher education, the Coalition makes it easier for organizations to build a stronger workforce, creates a stronger value proposition for job seekers and contributes to a more just society.
5. A mission that aligns with yours
The Coalition for the Common Good isn’t just about degrees — it’s about dignity, access and impact. Founded by two historic nonprofit academic institutions with a deep commitment to equity and civic engagement, the Coalition believes that workforce development is community development.
“This is a loss to all of us — that there are 47 million Americans with some college but no degree,” Comerford says. “They had to step out, or life got in the way. We’re here to build a new model — one that brings them back in.”
This model is rooted in partnership. The Coalition helps employers serve not only their bottom line but also their employees, families, neighborhoods and the economy at large.
“Who better to serve than your own people?” Comerford asks. “If we credential them, help them grow, help them build a future, they can lift up their families. Their communities. That’s what this is about.”
When you partner with the Coalition, you’re not just training your team — you’re investing in the human potential that drives your business and your broader impact.
Let’s build the future of work — together
The pace of change in today’s workplace is relentless. Jobs shift. Industries evolve. Skills that mattered yesterday are replaced tomorrow. What doesn’t change is the power of people to learn, grow and lead.
The Coalition for the Common Good is ready to help you unlock that power — in your workplace, in your community and in the world.
Whether you need stackable credentials, customized leadership development, degree completion or something brand-new, let’s start with a conversation. You’ll find that the Coalition isn’t a standard cookie-cutter program. We pride ourselves on being a partner who’s ready to build something bold, unique and successful with you.
We know that when people thrive, your business does, too.
