RoleCall launches program that connects students, employers, and communities to strengthen workforce retention and long-term regional growth
Buffalo, New York - June 17, 2026 - RoleCall, a national leader in talent attraction and community growth strategy, announced their new WayFindersU offering at their Annual Talent Attraction Summit this week.
WayFindersU is an extension of their existing WayFinders program, which is used across the nation in communities to onboard new residents. WayFindersU expands similar best practices, but is designed specifically to focus on helping communities retain students, recent graduates, and early-career talent populations as they transition from education into the workforce.
Katie Shorey, Director of Engagement at Live + Work in Maine, recently spoke at RoleCall’s Talent Attraction Summit on graduates and brain drain.
“Retention starts years before a student graduates,” shared Shorey.
“When students feel connected—to people, to opportunity, and to place—they are far more likely to stay. WayFindersU makes that connection systematic instead of accidental, and we're excited to see RoleCall’s new program expand and take shape.”
Webinar Opportunity to Learn How Student Retention Drives Workforce and Economic Growth
As cities and regions invest heavily in attracting students to local colleges and universities, many continue to face a critical challenge: graduates leaving shortly after completing their education. Sign up for our upcoming webinar to discover how WayFindersU addresses this gap by helping communities build structured, relationship-driven retention systems that connect students and graduates to local opportunities, mentors, and long-term career pathways.
WayFindersU Webinar:
💙 "Turn Student Retention into Regional Workforce & Economic Growth"
📅 Tuesday, August 11th @ 11:00am CST
👉 Sign-Up: https://www.rolecall.pro/wayfinders-u-webinar
Join us to gain insight and learn more about how student retention can help build the talent pipeline your region needs.
Turning Students into Long-Term Community Members
WayFindersU helps communities actively engage students before graduation and support them through the critical first years of their careers. The program creates a coordinated retention ecosystem that connects higher education institutions, employers, and local leaders.
Key components include:
- Student-to-resident transition programs that introduce students to local career pathways early in their academic experience
- WayFinder ambassador networks made up of local professionals and community members who mentor students and graduates
- Structured engagement systems that connect students with internships, job opportunities, and social networks before graduation
- Post-graduation retention support tools that help recent graduates integrate into the community, both professionally and socially
- Data-informed tracking and measurement to help communities understand and improve graduate retention outcomes
Addressing the “Graduate Exodus” Challenge
Across the country, communities face a common issue: a significant portion of students leave after graduation, resulting in brain drain. This outflow represents a loss of talent, innovation, and long-term economic potential.
WayFindersU helps reverse this trend by building intentional relationships between students and the communities they study in, long before graduation day. By embedding students into local networks early, communities increase the likelihood that graduates will stay and build careers locally.
Strengthening the Local Talent Pipeline
The WayFindersU retention program strengthens collaboration between colleges, employers, and economic development organizations by aligning student experiences with regional workforce needs. This creates a more seamless transition from education to employment, reducing friction and retaining opportunities.
“Communities do a great job bringing students in, but too often the connection ends at graduation,” said Tim Carty, Co-Founder and CEO at RoleCall.
“WayFindersU helps ensure that students don’t just study in a place—they build a life there. That shift is essential for long-term workforce stability and regional growth.”
WayFindersU provides regions an opportunity to avoid economic loss and instead grow their communities with talent and possibilities (Estimate your retention potential). To learn more, visit: www.rolecall.pro/wayfinders-u