News

Madison-Area Nonprofit JustDane to Develop Hospitality Management Training Program for Residents Impacted by Incarceration

Madison-area nonprofit JustDane is developing a hospitality management training program. Aided by a $55,000 planning grant from Ascendium, the 12-week program will provide a pathway into hotel and restaurant management and entrepreneurship for people experiencing significant barriers to employment.

New Grants Awarded, New Completion Grants Playbook Available, Q&A with Ed Trust and More

• Ascendium Invests $16 Million in Postsecondary Education in Prisons, Math Pathways and More
• UIA Completion Grants Playbook Shows How a Little Can Go a Long Way for Student Success
• Q&A with Ed Trust: Justice Fellows Will Center Voices of the Incarcerated in Postsecondary Education in Prison Policy

Education Behind and Beyond Bars

The country's postsecondary education institutions are ramping up efforts to serve students currently or formerly in prison. Ascendium Vice President - Education Philanthropy Amy Kerwin discusses recent grants that will research quality benchmarks for prison education programs and center the voices of incarcerated students in policy discussions.

San Antonio College Emerges Winner of the 2021 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence

San Antonio College won the 2021 Aspen Prize. This award, funded by Ascendium, Joyce Foundation and Siemens Foundation, honors community colleges with outstanding practices that impact and benefit learners of color and learners from low-income backgrounds.

Q&A with Ed Trust: Justice Fellows Will Center Voices of the Incarcerated in Postsecondary Education in Prison Policy

Ascendium believes it’s essential to include the voices of incarcerated learners in shaping policy on postsecondary education in prisons, particularly with the restoration of Pell Grants for these learners. That’s why we supported The Education Trust in its efforts to launch the Justice Fellows Policy Program. Ascendium’s Toya Wall reached out to Ed Trust leaders to see what’s in store for the new initiative.

UIA Completion Grants Playbook Shows How a Little Can Go a Long Way for Student Success

The University Innovation Alliance has released its Completion Grants Playbook, which synthesizes the experience of 11 institutions in using targeted completion grants to increase student retention and graduation rates. The Ascendium-supported playbook offers clear, practical guidance on how to establish and leverage such grants for students from low-income backgrounds.

Ascendium Invests $16 Million in Postsecondary Education in Prisons, Math Pathways and More

Ascendium’s Board of Directors approved funding for 18 new grants totaling $16 million at its spring meeting. The approved proposals include efforts to improve postsecondary education in prison, restructure math requirements to increase first-year persistence, retention and completion rates, and build the capacity of rural Pacific Island postsecondary institutions to use data and collaboration to increase student success.

Aspen Prize Highlights Outstanding Achievements of Community Colleges

Ten finalists for the 2021 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence were recognized at a virtual ceremony on May 18. San Antonio College, the winner, was awarded $600,000 for the culture of care their college leaders, advisors, faculty and staff continuously extend to each and every student to ensure they are setting their students up for success. The 2021 Aspen Prize is funded by Ascendium, Joyce Foundation and Siemens Foundation.

For College Students in Crisis, Emergency Grants are a Lifeline

Students from low-income backgrounds who struggled to complete their degree during the COVID-19 health crisis have been able to utilize completion grants through the University Innovation Alliance. Support for exploring the development and piloting of these grants was provided by Ascendium in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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