News

2020 Philanthropy Report Now Available, Formation of Rural Postsecondary Research Agenda Underway and More

• Now Available! 2020 Education Philanthropy Report, Empowering Possibilities
• Work Underway for Creation of a Rural Postsecondary Education Research Agenda
• Initiatives Address Transfer from Different Angles

Ascendium Education Group Releases 2020 Education Philanthropy Report: Empowering Possibilities

Ascendium Education Group has released its 2020 Education Philanthropy report, Empowering Possibilities. The report tells the story of Ascendium’s philanthropy during an unprecedented time and the tremendous efforts of our grant partners who were able to advance their work despite numerous challenges.

Now available! Ascendium’s 2020 Education Philanthropy Report: Empowering Possibilities

Ascendium is pleased to announce the availability of our 2020 Education Philanthropy Report, Empowering Possibilities. Our report tells the story of our philanthropy during an unprecedented time and the tremendous efforts of our grant partners, who were able to advance their work despite numerous challenges.

New Fund for Institutions to Explore Student-centric Partnerships, Exploring Technology in Prison Postsecondary Education and More

• New Transformational Partnership Fund Helps Institutions Explore Student-Centric Partnerships and Collaborations
• Open Campus Media Convening and ITHAKA Project Examine Technology in Prison Postsecondary Education Programs
• Strong Start to Finish Convening Encourages Courageous, Ambitious Action

Open Campus Media Convening and ITHAKA Project Examine Technology in Prison Education Programs

Open Campus Media and ITHAKA, with support from Ascendium, are leading efforts to underscore the importance of understanding the role technology can and should play in increasing access to and scaling of postsecondary education in prison programs.

Share Your Thoughts, Results from National Postsecondary Education in Prison Programs Survey and New Follow-up Reports for Rural Matters Podcasts

• Share Your Thoughts With Us!
• The Expanding Role of Colleges in Prison Education
• New Tools to Understand and Better Serve Those with Some College, No Degree

The Expanding Role of Colleges in Prison Education

Last November, we supported The Chronicle of Higher Education to conduct a national survey to gauge views on postsecondary education in prison programs. The results include responses from over 750 college administrators and faculty members from both public and private institutions. A newly-published report summarizing these findings, The Expanding Role of Colleges in Prison Education, weaves stories of incarcerated learners together with survey data showing overwhelming support by respondents for postsecondary education in prison programs.

New Grants Awarded, Pell Grant Ban for Incarcerated Learners Lifted and Several New Key Resources Published

• Ascendium Invests $16.2 Million in Degree Persistence, Health Pathways, Digital Career Growth
• Groundbreaking New National Directory of Higher Education in Prison Programs Released
• Additional Maintain Momentum Grants Benefit Organizations Serving Learners from Low-Income Backgrounds

Groundbreaking New National Directory of Higher Education in Prison Programs Released

The newly released National Directory of Higher Education in Prison Programs from the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison provides the most up-to-date, comprehensive and descriptive overview of postsecondary education in prison programs in the U.S. Learn more about this Ascendium-funded directory.

Ban Lifted on Pell Grants for Incarcerated Learners

In December 2020, the 26-year-old ban on Pell Grants for incarcerated learners was lifted. Learn more about this major victory and what it means for postsecondary education in prison.