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Ascendium Education Philanthropy is a division of Ascendium Education Group.

Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success

Supporting action-oriented research projects that address gaps in evidence for rural learner postsecondary education and workforce success.

Projects are Underway for this Opportunity

Ascendium is pleased to support seven organizations with grant funding through our Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative. These partners will generate an array of research that advances the understanding of rural learners and the postsecondary education and workforce pathways that best serve them. We look forward to learning and sharing what comes from these projects!

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Congratulations to the following partners who were selected to receive a grant through this initiative.

NC Belk Center Logo
Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research

North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC

UW ccri logo
Community College Research Initiatives

University of Washington
Seattle, WA

Digital Promise Logo
Digital Promise Global

Washington, D.C.

Georgia State Logo
Georgia State University Research Foundation

Atlanta, GA

UI Main stacked 4c
University of Idaho

Moscow, ID

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Urban Institute

In partnership with American Indian College Fund
Washington, D.C.

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Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL

Resources
Momentum PAG resource
Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research

Building Momentum Toward Degree Attainment Through Contextualized English Courses

November 2024

This brief from the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research shares key processes and findings from Stanly Community College as they implemented contextualized English courses. Research suggests that when learners are presented course readings and assignments in English composition classes that are pertinent to their field of study, they understand concepts more readily and are more likely to succeed.

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Great8 PAG resource
Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research

Responding to Rural Community College Student Needs Through “Be Great in 8”

October 2024

This brief describes the key experiences of one community college as they responded to learners’ needs by transitioning to predominantly eight-week courses. It also offers guiding questions for college leaders who are considering a similar approach on their campuses. Because many learners at community colleges are adults enrolled part-time, balancing coursework with other commitments outside of their education, there is an increased need for flexibility and speed at which learners can earn credentials.

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Inspiring Change in resource
Digital Promise

From Childcare to Educare: Inspiring Change in Early Childhood Education for Rural Tennessee

August 2024

Despite the benefits of early childhood education (ECE) service programs for children and families, many ECE providers, particularly in rural communities, face economic insecurity. This report from Digital Promise shows how one program, the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA), mitigates these barriers and outlines actionable steps employers, education and training providers, and policymakers can take to support career growth and livable wages for ECE providers.

VIEW THE REPORT

A black man wearing a lanyard and holding a note speaks into a microphone at a conference.
Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research

Rural College Leaders Program: Supporting Rural Student Success Through Cohort-Based Leadership Development

March 2024

This brief provides practitioners, policymakers, and researchers interested in rural postsecondary education with an overview of the Rural College Leaders Program, highlighting key elements about participation and action planning. The three-year, cohort-based program developed by the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research was designed to address the needs of rural community colleges across the country.

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EP NCStateUniversity v2
Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research

Project Profile: Rural College Leaders Program: Catalyzing Institutions to Improve Student Outcomes

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, the Belk Center evaluates its Rural College Leaders Program (RCLP) to ensure it has the best impact on its partner colleges and the learners they serve. Through evaluation, RCLP will be strengthened and broader lessons from the community of practice shared with other rural-serving community colleges across the country.
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EP DigitalPromise
Digital Promise Global

Project Profile: Exploring the Effectiveness of Skills Training and Wage-Based Incentive Programs on the Social Mobility of Rural Early Childhood Education Providers in Tennessee

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, Digital Promise explores the effectiveness of a skills training program and a wage-based incentive program on the upward mobility of rural early childhood education providers in Tennessee. Findings from the evaluation of these programs will inform policy makers and institutions implementing similar programs in support of their early childhood education workforce.
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EP UniversityofIdaho
University of Idaho

Project Profile: The Effect of Institutional Programs and Practices on Low-Income Rural College Students’ Academic, Psychosocial, and Workforce-Related Outcomes

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, the University of Idaho examines the programs and practices that improve rural college students’ educational outcomes and their transition into the workforce. Data, descriptive reports, and insights will be collected, analyzed, and stored within a new dashboard available to stakeholders who make decisions related to rural postsecondary education.
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EP WesternIllUniversity
Western Illinois University

Project Profile: Surfacing the Needs of Paraeducators Enrolled in Rural Teacher Preparation Programs

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, Western Illinois University examines Paraeducator Teacher Education Option (PTEO) programs. PTEO programs are an alternate pathway to a teaching credential and to the teaching workforce serving rural learners from low-income backgrounds. Stakeholders in rural school districts that employ paraeducators will benefit from the action-oriented research generated.
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EP UniversityofWash
Community College Research Initiatives (CCRI)

Project Profile: Mapping Effective Mentorship for Rural Community College Students

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, the University of Washington’s Community College Research Initiatives addresses the gap in knowledge regarding rural-serving community colleges and mentorship strategies to support rural learners across the nation. A database of mentoring strategies at rural community colleges will be created to advance the understanding of the way to implement evidence-based solutions for mentoring.
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EP GAStateUniversity
Georgia State University Research Foundation

Project Profile: Expanding College Access for Rural and Underserved People in Georgia

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, Georgia State University examines the impact and importance of e-Campus, a distance learning initiative, on rural learners, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. Evidence will be generated on how the initiative enhances equity and how other institutions can make their student success initiatives more equitable.
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EP UrbanInstitute
Urban Institute; The American Indian College Fund

Project Profile: Family-Friendly Tribal and Rural Campuses

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, the Urban Institute, in partnership with The American Indian College Fund, generates insights from tribal colleges and universities about how to best serve learners with child caregiving responsibilities. With these insights, an update will be made to a widely used toolkit that supports parenting and caregiving learners on rural campuses.
View the PDF