Even with the impressive college going and success rates, only about half of income eligible students are participating in our state's promise program. This demands an all hands effort to ensure more of our eligible students and families know about the benefits of enrolling and get the support they need to maintain eligibility through high school and college. Another area where our state leads is in our efforts to ensure quality online and distance education. Indiana was the first state to join the national organization, NC-SARA, to reduce the costs and ensure quality of distance education across state lines, more important now than ever. We were first and now 48 other states have joined us. Recognizing that credential transparency is increasingly important and with nearly 1 million credentials available, Indiana was the first state to engage with Credential Engine, a platform which is designed for learners to show their skills and knowledge and explore career options, while employers will be better able to understand which skills and competencies potential employees have mastered through their credentials. Through the governor's workforce cabinet Indiana is the national leader in aligning funding, programs and policies of workforce preparation, from early childhood to returning adults. Over 57,000 Hoosiers have enrolled in a high demand certificate, and nearly 32,000 Hoosiers have completed a certificate for free, leading an almost $7,000 annual wage gain. Employers are also benefiting from opportunities to upscale their employees through the Next Level Jobs program. 3000 employers have provided training for more than 30,000 Hoosiers who have received training and increased their wages by more than $4,000. Recently, Tony Carnavale of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce was quoted about the impact to our economy of not having enough students in the college pipeline or people trained for 21st century jobs. "The direct loss to the economy "is the workers themselves," Tony said. "If they were trained and ready they would higher wage jobs "and they would add more to the GDP, making us all richer "and increasing taxes, reducing welfare costs, crime costs, "and on and on." This brings us back to the value of higher education often being called into question. In spite of the many reasons why higher education has value, we also see evidence of distrust played out in culture and free speech divides on campuses. A commitment to free speech led the general assembly and the commission to address this issue by surveying students about their concerns and expressing their views. We are working with Gallup and the institutions to measure perceptions and ensure that multiple perspectives are welcome. Higher education is often labeled as not being adaptable but I believe that is a lagging narrative. Over the past two years, due to the impact of COVID, we've seen institutions adjust how they deliver education and respond to changing needs. Schools had to switch to online learning, extend at new deadlines and reset their academic calendars, adjust to travel restrictions, and deal with expenses caused by technology costs, student refunds, and emergency relief funds. Another example of adaptability can be seen through institutions adjusting their curriculum and programs to meet the needs of the knowledge based economy. There's no better illustration of this than the changing landscape in IT curricular offerings. Institutions have added in-demand programs such as cybersecurity, while updating or removing others to keep up with the emerging needs of students and employers. We know higher education is capable of change. By prioritizing overall quality and focusing on affordability, access and relevance, Indiana's higher education system will be poised to adapt to future uncertainties. We must show Hoosiers that education and training beyond high school provides more than a degree and certificate. Higher education can open doors to additional career options and economic mobility. As a first generation college graduate. I know the transformative power of higher education. And as commissioner of higher education, I know that higher education must also be transformed to meet the needs of today's learners and employers. As I conclude my role at the Commission, I'm convinced that higher education is positioned to play its pivotal role to reach our big goal. That at least 60% of Hoosiers will have a quality credential beyond high school by 2025. Ensuring economic mobility, a better prepared workforce