News

Trends We’re Watching in 2023, Promising IT Career Training Pathways for Learners and More

• Postsecondary Education Trends We’re Watching in 2023
• Investing in IT Career Training Pathways Shows Promise for Adult Learners
• Partnership with The Chronicle of Higher Education Elevates Learner Voices

Postsecondary Education Trends We’re Watching in 2023

With 2022 in the rear view, Ascendium has kicked off the new year with optimism and excitement. We’ll continue to work closely with our grant partners and will be watching several postsecondary education trends in 2023. Future grant opportunities may be informed by the trends we see, especially if they connect to our goal of fostering upward mobility for learners from low-income backgrounds.

Investing in IT Career Training Pathways Shows Promise for Adult Learners

The growth in nondegree workforce training options present new pathways for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve living wage careers. With so many options available, it's important to consider which models are most likely to result in upward mobility for those learners. IT training pathways that include learner supports and industry partnerships are models that have so far shown success. As a result, Ascendium has strategically invested almost $20 million in scaling these programs.

A Farewell Message from Amy Kerwin

• A Personal Message from Amy Kerwin
• Reflections on Visiting Sing Sing, Plus Resources That Center Incarcerated Learners
• Fund for Workforce Equity Organizations Selected

Free Workforce Trainings Expanded to More Hawai’i Residents

Building on a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, an Ascendium grant supports the University of Hawaii System in coordinating with local industry partners to identify and map career ladders, credentials and degree pathways that lead to a range of high-demand, entry-level occupations.

Latest Numbers Show College Student Transfers Continuing Steep Decline

New data released by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center show that transfer enrollments continued to decline in spring 2022, two years after the start of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Future Workforce Supported by Ascendium with $1,500 Tools of the Trade Scholarships Going to Over 500 Wisconsin Apprentices

Five hundred eleven construction and industrial trade apprentices have been awarded scholarships through Ascendium’s Tools of the Trade Scholarship program this year. In its ninth year, the scholarship program benefits apprentices with financial need in the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Ascendium Education Group Releases 2021 Education Philanthropy Report: Stronger Together

Ascendium Education Group has released its 2021 Education Philanthropy report, Stronger Together. The report tells the story of Ascendium’s philanthropy during 2021 and what can be achieved through partnership and collaboration.

New Report: College Transfers Plunged Last Year, But Highly Selective Institutions Saw Gains

Ascendium and ECMC Foundation funded the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s COVID-19 Transfer, Mobility and Progress Report series to provide institutions and researchers with near real-time data on how the COVID-19 health crisis is impacting transfer students. This is the year-end report and analysis for the 2020-2021 academic year.

A Recommendation to ‘Reset,’ Not ‘Fix,’ Broken Transfer System

The Tackling Transfer Policy Advisory Board released a report on rethinking the traditional focus on transfer to address the need for a modern, student-centered transfer system through changes in federal, state and higher education policies. The board collaborated with the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, HCM Strategist and Sova Solutions to produce this report promoting transfer policy reform. Ascendium supports the Aspen Institute's transfer efforts through our focus area to streamline key learner transitions.