Trellis, a program of Tulane’s Cowen Institute and launched in 2020, celebrated its first graduating class in December. Trellis supports working adults in enrolling and succeeding in Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) online, project-based AA and BA degree programs. Each of Trellis’ graduates, and 90% of the Trellis student body, have tried college before but needed to stop out due to challenges like high cost of tuition, work and class schedule conflicts, or to take care of family members.
Trellis is designed for working adults to return to college and graduate with a degree that will help them advance their careers. The enrollment team works with regional employers like Ochsner Health to identify staff who need a college degree to open advancement opportunities.
Trellis students work full time while pursuing their college degree. SNHU coursework is self-paced and entirely online, so students build their study schedule around their work, family, and other time commitments. Students meet with their Trellis coach once a week to check on progress to goals, troubleshoot challenges, and provide motivation and accountability. Trellis also provides laptops and internet hot spots for students who need them, so technology is not a barrier to student success.
Trellis is currently expanding its employer partnerships to enroll new students. To learn more about partnering with Trellis, or to express interest in applying as a student, contact David Collier at dcollier1@trellisnola.org.